Pregnancy after miscarriage
It’s natural to want to become pregnant again after losing a baby, but it’s best to wait until you’re physically and emotionally ready.
Research shows that if you’ve miscarried before you’re more likely to miscarry again. Your uterus needs time to recover and the endometrial lining has to become strong and healthy again. Medically, it’s safe to conceive after you’ve had one menstrual cycle, but it might be a good idea to wait until you've had several so your caregivers can more accurately date a future pregnancy. or until you feel ready to conceive again.
Up to 20 percent of women have a miscarriage in their first trimester but it’s likely the overall miscarriage rate is higher, since many women have them without even realizing they’re pregnant and may just assume they’ve had an unusually heavy menstrual period.
Around 85 percent of women who’ve had one miscarriage and 75 percent of women who’ve had more than one go on to have a successful pregnancy. That’s reassuring – but your fear of having another miscarriage will probably never go away and during early pregnancy you'll constantly dash to the bathroom to check if you're bleeding and fear that every stomach cramp signals the worse.
Even if you lost your baby very early in pregnancy, it’s likely you’d bonded with her emotionally and made plans for your future together. With this in mind, you’ll probably still be grieving for your first pregnancy during your second. If you’re finding it hard, or are overly paranoid about losing this baby too, speak to your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife – they may recommend counseling.
Speaking with other moms who’ve had successful pregnancies after miscarriage may help calm your fears – why not put a message on our chat forum?
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 05/07/2007
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