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This article answers some of the questions you might have about trying for another baby when you may be dealing with feelings of loss and emotional ups and downs after a miscarriage. If you want to try for another baby after a miscarriage, it’s fine to do this as soon as you feel emotionally and physically ready. If you do try again, it’s possible to get pregnant within weeks. But how long it takes you to feel ready to try again will be unique to you. Miscarriage can be a traumatic experience, and you may have feelings of loss, sadness, anxiety or depression. These feelings don’t always happen straight away and can appear days, weeks or even months later. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about getting pregnant after a miscarriage. You may feel exhausted at the thought of trying for another baby. Or you may be determined to try again. Whatever your feelings after a miscarriage, don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends or your doctor. Your partner may also have feelings that they’re struggling to deal with, which they may find hard to talk about – especially if they feel their role is to support you. It’s important to discuss how you’re both feeling. If you and/or your partner aren’t ready to become pregnant again, you should consider using birth control (contraception) as soon as possible. Read more about coping with early miscarriage. Your menstrual cycle after a miscarriageEveryone is different, but you can expect your periods to return within 4 to 8 weeks of a miscarriage. Ovulation usually happens before that, so getting pregnant after miscarriage is possible within weeks. Once your periods have returned, there’s no medical reason to delay trying for a successful pregnancy after miscarriage. However, doctors usually recommend that you avoid sex until any miscarriage symptoms, such as bleeding or pain, have stopped completely. Are you more fertile after a miscarriage?In the past, people were sometimes advised to wait 6 months to improve their chances of getting pregnant after a miscarriage. However, it’s safe to try for a baby whenever you feel ready, as long as miscarriage symptoms have stopped. Many people go on to have normal pregnancies, even after a number of miscarriages. There are also some ways you can help boost your fertility and prepare your body for pregnancy if you’re trying again, including eating the right nutrients. Read more about nutrition for pregnancy. Am I more likely to have a second miscarriage after a first?While miscarriage is common – it affects between 10% and 20% of pregnancies – most people will be able to have a healthy pregnancy after a miscarriage. Multiple miscarriages are quite rare, and less than 1 in 100 people loses 3 or more pregnancies in a row. If this does happen, you may be sent for tests to find out why you’re having miscarriages. However, the cause of recurrent miscarriage is unknown in about 50% of cases. If you’re worried, talk to a doctor, especially if you think you have any risk factors for miscarriage. These can include:
The latest statistics suggest that your risk of miscarriage by age is as follows:
How to lower your risk of miscarriage in early pregnancyIn early pregnancy, the most common known cause of miscarriage is genetic problems (chromosomal abnormalities) that stop your baby (foetus) from developing properly – and these can’t be prevented. Often, the reason for a miscarriage isn’t known – so again, there’s nothing that could have been done to stop it happening. But there are some things you can do to lower your risk of miscarriage, including:
When to speak to a doctor after a miscarriageYou can speak to a doctor about any fertility concerns you may have after a miscarriage. You may be offered tests if you’ve had trouble getting pregnant, or if you’ve had 3 miscarriages in a row. A doctor will be able to advise you about treatment options for any fertility problems, as well as how to take care of yourself if you’re planning another pregnancy. Read about how to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Health questions answered
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