Getting pregnant after a miscarriage

Losing a bay is a devastating experience no matter how far you were into your pregnancy and the thought of getting pregnant again can be a real source of anxiety for many couples. To help you feel informed and reassured we share the answers to some common questions about trying to get pregnant again after a miscarriage.

When can we start trying again?

To a large extent this depends on how both you and your partner feel. Some couples decide to to start trying again right away while other's feel that they need to wait a while. There is no right or wrong answer, you need to recover both physically and emotionally and only you will know when you're ready. Having said this many health care professionals do recommend that you wait between 3 and 6 months, or at least until you experience one 'normal' menstrual cycle, before trying to conceive again .

Once you do decide to start trying for another baby it can be a good idea to visit your doctor for a pre-conception check up as they will be in the best position to advise you of any precautionary measures you should take based on your individual circumstances and medical history.

Will a miscarriage affect my fertility?

Having a miscarriage will not affect your fertility and most women do go on to enjoy healthy pregnancies. Even after recurrent miscarriages (defined as 3 or more losses in a row) there is still a 70% - 80% chance that you'll carry another pregnancy to full term. However, if you do experience several miscarriages in succession your doctor is likely to suggest you investigate further as this may signify an underlying fertility issue that they can identify and treat.

How can I stop it happen again?

One of the many fears that couples have after a miscarriage is that subsequent pregnancies will end in the same way. However, it's important to remember that nothing you did would have caused the loss and you shouldn't feel guilty or blame yourself in anyway. Pregnancies that end in miscarriage are usually the result of an anomaly in the developing foetus that meant it simply wasn't able to survive until full term. While, for this reason, there is no way you can completely prevent it from occurring again, it does mean that in all likelihood your next pregnancy will be a healthy one.

Despite this when you're trying to conceive it does help to make sure that you look after yourself to ensure that your body is a healthy place to grow a baby once you fall pregnant again. Eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise and only including alcohol and caffeine in moderation are all good practices to follow. Refraining from smoking and making sure you take folic acid supplements are also a must.

How can I cope with the stress?

Losing a baby can make you feel alone even if your family and friends are trying to be supportive. However, it's really important that you try to minimise any stress or anxiety that you're feeling. Talking about what you're going through whether this is to a counsellor (your doctor should be able to put you in touch with one if you feel it would help you overcome your grief), to your partner or to strangers on a forum should really help you to cope. It's also really important to look after yourself and finding a channel to help reduce any anxiety your feeling, be it yoga, massage or something entirely different, can be a good idea.

Whether you're looking for support from people who really know what you're going through or just fancy a chat with others who are trying to conceive too then why not visit the AskBaby forums