It is natural to feel nervous about getting pregnant after a miscarriage. Remembering your last pregnancy, you may easily slip into worrying about this baby. It may help you to know that most women who get pregnant after miscarrying go on to have healthy babies.
Here are some things you should know and things you can do to reduce your risk of repeated miscarriage.
Reduce Your Risk of a Future Miscarriage
Keep in mind that repeated miscarriage is the exception, not the rule. Only about 1% of couples have two or more miscarriages in a row.
Most of the things that cause miscarriage are beyond your control. Even so, talk to your doctor and take these steps to reduce your risk:
- Take the time you need to heal physically and emotionally after a miscarriage.
- Discuss the timing of your next pregnancy with your doctor. Some recommend waiting a certain amount of time (from one menstrual cycle to 3 months) before trying to conceive again.
- Get on a schedule of regular prenatal visits. You may need to go for more frequent checkups to monitor your pregnancy.
- Give up tobacco, alcohol, and any illegal drugs so you can have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
- Keep conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure under control.
- Keep your weight within a healthy range.
- Stay active. If your healthcare provider gives you the thumbs up, incorporate gentle exercise into your healthy pregnancy plan.
- Eat a healthy diet with lots of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Cut back on caffeine. Limit yourself to 200 milligrams of caffeine or less. That’s about a cup of coffee a day.
If You Have More Than One Miscarriage
If you have another miscarriage in the future, see your doctor for an evaluation.
You can receive treatment for many of the conditions that trigger miscarriage, including hormone imbalances and abnormalities in your cervix or uterus.
There is about a 50/50 chance that one of these tests will uncover a condition that caused your pregnancy to end abruptly. Some doctors rec. waiting until 3 miscarriages for further evaluation. Ask your doctor what is right for you.
- Blood and/ or genetic tests
- Hysterosalpingogram, an X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes
- Hysteroscopy, viewing the inside of the uterus with a thin, telescope-like device inserted through the vagina and cervix
- Laparoscopy, a surgical procedure to view the pelvic organs with a lighted device
Take heart; 60% to 70% of women who have had two or more miscarriages in a row go on to have a healthy baby.
