Pregnancy can bring out a range of emotions, and it is not unusual to experience several overwhelming thoughts when one is planning pregnancy after a miscarriage. While some women want to conceive as soon as possible after a loss, others may take some time to recover from it. Each pregnancy and body is different. How soon you can get pregnant after a miscarriage depends on several factors such as your overall health, how far along you were in the previous pregnancy, your and your partner’s emotional health, and the doctor’s consent. Read this post to learn about the prerequisites and precautions when getting pregnant after a miscarriage.
How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Miscarriage?
Fertility may return immediately after miscarriage, and hence it is suggested to use contraception until you are ready or your doctor permits you to get pregnant again. While some doctors recommend having at least one period before trying to get pregnant, the others recommend a waiting period of two to three months before conceiving again (1) (2). In a general manner,The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum interval of six months to the next pregnancy to reduce risks of adverse outcomes (3). and correct iron-deficiency anemia. Your doctor will evaluate all factors and recommend a suitable time duration for you to wait before getting pregnant again.
When Should You See A Doctor Before Attempting To Get Pregnant Again?
Your Ob/Gyn may refer you to a maternal-fetal specialist, reproductive endocrinologist, or a genetics specialist to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy if you (2):
Have experienced two or more miscarriages
Are aged about 35 years
Have a condition (such as diabetes hypertension, anemia or thyroid disorders) that can affect your fertility
Are experiencing issues with fertility
Which Tests Are Recommended Before Attempting Pregnancy After Miscarriage?
If one miscarries in the first trimester, the doctors usually do not recommend any tests as the tests may not find the cause of miscarriage in the first trimester. More than 70% of miscarriages are due to non recurrent genetic abnormalities. However, for women who experience repeated miscarriages in the first trimester or a miscarriage in the second trimester, the healthcare provider may recommend one of the following tests (4).
1. Chromosome studies
Chromosome studies such as karyotyping can help look for chromosomal problems in you and your partner. Karyotyping can count the number of chromosomes and see if there are any abnormal changes in the chromosomes. If the doctor can acquire the contents of conception, they may also test it for other chromosomal conditions.
2. Hormone tests
The doctor may run some blood tests to check for hormonal imbalance. They may also conduct an endometrial biopsy to check for hormonal imbalance by extracting a small piece of the uterine lining and examining it.
3. Blood tests
The doctor might ask you to get tested for autoimmune conditions, such as lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), check for disorders, such as thyroid problems and blood-clotting disorders, or check for progesterone levels.
4. Examining the uterus
The doctor may perform an abdominal ultrasound to check the reproductive organs such as the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Other tests include hysteroscopy (a special scope is inserted through the cervix to examine the uterus), hysterosalpingography (an X-ray of the uterus), or sonohysterogram (saline is sent into the uterus through the catheter, and high-frequency sound waves are used to create images of the insides of the uterus) (5) The doctor will suggest an appropriate test depending on the overall health and other conditions.
What Is The Risk Of Having Another Miscarriage?
About one in five women experience early miscarriage (during the first three months of pregnancy). However, the good news is that most women go on to have successful pregnancies after a miscarriage (6). Women who have experienced one or two early miscarriages are not at a higher risk of recurrence (7). About 15% of women experience sudden miscarriages, about 2% experience two miscarriages in a row, and only about 1% experience three losses in a row. These statistics explain the recurrent pregnancy losses.
After one miscarriage, the chance of a second miscarriage is about 14-21%.
After two or three miscarriages, the chance of a loss is 24-29% or 31-33%, respectively.
However, these statistics may differ based on the factors such as maternal age, cause of miscarriage, and previous history of live birth.
Can You Improve Your Chance Of A Healthy Pregnancy?
Since the underlying cause of a miscarriage is not always known, there is no certain way to prevent a miscarriage. The following tips may help in having a healthy pregnancy (8) (9).
Take your prenatal vitamins, including folic acid and iron
Do not skip any antenatal appointments.
Follow all of your doctors’ advice if they can identify and are recommend any measures based on the cause of the previous miscarriage.
Avoid smoking, drug abuse, or alcohol consumption.
Reach a healthy BMI range if you are overweight or obese.
Control your pregnancy weight gain if you are overweight or obese in pregnancy.
Take all measures to prevent infections such as toxoplasmosis, have rubella vaccine before pregnancy if not immunized.
Avoid certain foods such as raw or undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products, raw or undercooked eggs, and certain kinds of fish.
Limit your caffeine intake.
Stay active and do safe exercises during pregnancy.
How To Manage The Stress Of Trying To Get Pregnant Again?
It is normal to be surrounded by overwhelming emotions such as fear, anxiety, stress, guilt, sadness, worrying about losing one more baby, or forgetting the lost baby after having another baby. It is okay and only natural to feel all of these emotions. Share your feelings with your partner or your loved ones. A strong support system can help you get the necessary support during pregnancy after a loss. Your support system may comprise (10):
Family
Friends
Healthcare provider
A counselor
Local or online support groups of other parents who have experienced a loss in pregnancy
When Would Your Doctor Ask To Wait Before Getting Pregnant?
Your healthcare provider may ask you to wait for some time or until some investigations are done in the following circumstances (11).
If you had a molar pregnancy
If you had an ectopic pregnancy
If you have an illness or infection or are using any medicines that are not recommended in pregnancy
If you experienced a late miscarriage
If you have had repeated losses in pregnancy
