Pregnancy After a Miscarriage

If you are finding this article after suffering a miscarriage, we are so sorry. Dr. Harper has assisted many women in similar situations, and we grieve with you and remind you that no matter how you feel, your miscarriage is not your fault.

Experiencing a miscarriage often results in feeling more sadness than you have ever felt before. That is very normal, and it is important to take time after a miscarriage to heal not only physically but emotionally, too.

In this article Austin fertility expert Dr. Ruthie Harper provides you with some information to help you understand some of the circumstances that surround miscarriage and to give you hope that many causes of miscarriage can be overcome. Dr. Harper has assisted hundreds of women in successfully carrying a pregnancy to term after miscarriage – and she is here is to help you, too.

The Emotional Toll of Miscarriage

Most women experience a roller coaster of emotions after suffering a miscarriage, ranging from numbness, disbelief, and sadness to anger, guilt, and even depression.

Physical symptoms can also accompany the emotional distress of miscarriage, including: fatigue, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate, damaged relationships with family or friends and even self-harm.

The Three Stages of Grief After Miscarriage

The grieving process involves three steps, and this is especially true after miscarriage:

• Shock and/or Denial
• Anger and/or Guilt and/or Depression
• (Eventually) Acceptance

Each stage of grief after a miscarriage takes longer to go through than the previous one. There will be progress and there will be setbacks. Many things can trigger a setback including baby showers, someone else’s new babies, seeing a new or nursing mother, thoughtless comments by others, holidays, and even family get togethers.

Remember to respect your own needs and limitations as you work through your grief and begin to heal. And remember, while miscarriage is a deeply personal and private loss, you don’t have to face this alone.

Some steps that can help you work through your grief after miscarriage are:

• Allowing yourself as much time as you need to grieve, as well as the opportunity to remember.
• Talking about what’s going on with your partner, a trusted friend, a counselor, or a spiritual leader.
• Reaching out to those closest to you, and specifically asking for understanding, comfort, and support.
• Seeking professional counseling for both yourself and your partner.
• If you’re not ready to talk, writing your feelings down. For example, if you’re angry, write a letter and get it out of your system.
• Protecting yourself by avoiding situations that you know will be difficult – like a friend’s baby shower or a family gathering with people who ask insensitive questions.
• Engaging in healing activities that let you experience your strong feelings of grief in a safe way: listen to music, cry in the shower, paint or draw, walk in nature or with your dog, go for a run, scream, or hit a boxing bag or pillow.
• If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support & assistance from a trained counselor. If you feel that you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.

Also remember that men express grief differently. So, a male partner may be more action-oriented and less inclined to share feelings. This does not mean that he is not grieving.

Additionally, have a frank discussion with your doctor about your physical and psychological health. Discuss when your hormone levels will return to normal, as this can dramatically impact your emotional health. Understand how long you might still have physical symptoms, as well. Your physician (as well as your insurance company) can also make a referral to a counselor who is trained in the emotional impacts of miscarriage.

‘Trying Again’ After Miscarriage

If you have suffered the grief of a miscarriage it is important to know that you are far from alone. In fact, as many as 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, although most of these occur before a woman misses a menstrual period or knows she is pregnant. Even so, about 15% to 25% of ‘known’ pregnancies end in a miscarriage.

The encouraging news is that miscarriage is usually a one-time occurrence. Most women are able to successfully conceive and carry a baby to term after a miscarriage. According to the Mayo Clinic, only an extremely small number of women — just 1 percent — will have a repeated miscarriage.

So, for most women, the big question becomes: when is the best time for pregnancy after miscarriage?

Every woman is different, so there is not a one-size-fits-all answer. The only universal fact is that sex should be avoided for two weeks after a miscarriage to prevent an infection. And remember, a woman can ovulate and become pregnant as soon as two weeks after a miscarriage. So, if you are not yet physically and emotionally ready to “try again” after a miscarriage use protection until the time is right.

Then, once you feel emotionally and physically ready for pregnancy after miscarriage, it’s time to ask your health care provider for guidance. In most cases it makes sense to ensure that your doctor is a fertility specialist who understands the intricacies of female fertility. A specialized fertility doctor can help you determine any underlying cause(s) for your loss.

Dr. Harper also recommends that you find a natural fertility specialist, like herself, to help you prepare your body to be in the best condition to conceive and carry a baby to term. In many cases, some specific simple and natural lifestyle adjustments can help your body carry a pregnancy to term.

Testing After Miscarriage

Your OBGYN may initially recommend in-office tests such as Ultrasound, Hysteroscopy, Hysterosalpingography, Sonohysterography, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to rule out any structural problems with the uterus. But, in most cases, abnormalities of the uterus are not the cause of miscarriage.

If the uterus looks OK, comprehensive testing by a fertility specialist like Dr. Ruthie Harper can assess your body’s readiness to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Blood tests can help detect problems with the hormones, the immune system, nutritional deficiencies and more – so that the body can naturally be brought back into balance.

Natural Fertility After Miscarriage

The basis of natural fertility treatments is fostering a healthy, balanced environment where sperm and egg can meet at the appropriate time for fertilization and the subsequent implantation of the embryo. Natural fertility allows women to understand their own bodies in order to take the steps that will improve their ability to sustain pregnant naturally.

Dr. Harper utilizes innovative modalities that focus on nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, bioidentical hormones, and other methods of rebalancing the body to naturally facilitate conception and maintain a healthy pregnancy. If you are in the Austin, Tx area she welcomes you to schedule a consultation. And if you are outside of the greater Austin area she will be happy to consult with you via phone or telemedicine.

Pregnancy After Miscarriage with Natural Fertility

If you have suffered the pain and grief of a miscarriage, Dr. Harper opens her practice doors to you with compassion, and more than twenty years of natural fertility experience. She is here to discuss your situation and help you on your personal journey to feeling emotionally and physically ready for pregnancy after miscarriage.

Schedule an appointment today and let us help you discover your personal path to total health, wellness and balance, though the science of personalized integrative medicine so you can achieve your dream of growing your family.

Pregnancy After Miscarriage: 512.343.9355