Pregnancy after Miscarriage: Tips to Conceive after Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the fetus reaches the age of twenty weeks gestation.  Loss of a baby through miscarriage can be a devastating experience no matter what stage the pregnancy might be.  For many women, the experience of a miscarriage can lead to feelings of loss, apprehension, fear and other varying emotions and the thought of trying to become pregnant again can be very frightening.

However, there is hope for women who desire to become pregnant again as statistical information shows that some 97% of women who have a miscarriage will be able to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.  Even women who have had more than three miscarriages have a 75% chance of having a complication free pregnancy and healthy baby.
 

Tips to Increase the Chances of Conception after Miscarriage
 

The prospect of becoming pregnant again after a miscarriage is a personal decision.  A woman should make the decision after consulting with her gynecologist and only when well prepared mentally, emotionally and physically.  Most healthcare professionals recommend waiting for two or three normal menstrual cycles to allow the uterus and endometrial lining to become stronger before attempting to conceive.

There are certain things a woman can do after experiencing a miscarriage to increase the chances of conceiving and delivering a healthy baby, which include the following:

•    Quit smoking:  cigarette smoking increases the risk of miscarriage and the following; low birth-weight by 20% and preterm delivery by 8% and is responsible for 5% of still births.  A woman who smokes has a harder time of becoming pregnant because of decreased fertility levels, decreased estrogen levels and ovarian suppression. 


•    Folic acid supplements:  studies show that women taking folic acid supplements can protect a developing fetus from neural tube defects such as spina bifida (a life-threatening spinal defect).  Because neural tube defects occur early in pregnancy, experts recommend folic acid supplements for women who are trying to conceive in order to protect the developing fetus in the early stages of development.

•    Limiting caffeine and artificial sweeteners in the diet:  a woman should eliminate or limit caffeine and artificial sweeteners in the daily diet to ensure healthy conception occurs.  Some experts feel a woman should limit caffeine and artificial sweetener intake two weeks after the menstrual cycle and during the last two weeks of the cycle.


•    Restrict Seafood Consumption:  seafood can be high in mercury which can accumulate in the adipose (fatty) tissues of the body and be retained in the body long enough to cause harm to a developing fetus.  Women who are trying to conceive after a miscarriage should limit seafood intake to 12 ounces or less per week to facilitate healthy conception.  Women should also completely avoid king mackerel, swordfish, tilefish, shark and any raw fish products.


•    Most workout routines are safe during pregnancy, but a woman should avoid strenuous activities such as horseback riding, water or snow skiing, kick boxing and scuba diving which can be dangerous for a female who might not know she is pregnant.  Experts recommend a woman who wishes to engage in a fitness routine should stick with a light program that is approved by a physician to avoid any problems or complications.


•    Preconception examination:  the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that all women receive a preconception examination by a physician when planning to conceive.  A physician will test a woman for several different types of infections that can interfere with conception and threaten a pregnancy.   A woman will be checked for sexually transmitted diseases, rubella resistancy, and hypertension and will receive the doctor’s help in controlling any pre-existing health conditions which can threaten or impair conception or pregnancy.


•    Alcohol consumption:  a woman who regularly consumes alcohol is strongly cautioned by experts to stop drinking before trying to conceive.    When alcohol is consumed in large amounts during pregnancy the fetus is exposed to devastating, but preventable, health problems such as mental retardation, fetal alcohol syndrome and birth defects.  By eliminating alcohol from the diet entirely before conceiving a woman completely erases the risk of unnecessary fetal alcohol exposure and the dangerous accompanying risks.


•     Lose weight:  studies show that women who are obese or significantly overweight prior to conception run an increased chance of experiencing a miscarriage.  An obese or overweight woman also has a higher chance of experiencing health-complications once pregnant such as; gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, difficult delivery and an increased risk of stillbirth.  A woman who is overweight should consult with a nutritionist and follow a diet plan to allow for optimal weight loss prior to trying to conceive, crash dieting is never recommended because losing weight too quickly can deplete the body of nutrients which is never a good when trying to become pregnant.


Overview


A miscarriage can be a very devastating experience, but by following the tips above and sticking with the advice of a medical professional it is entirely possible to prepare the female body for healthy conception.  With the proper diet and lifestyle choices many women who have had a previous miscarriage can maximize the chances for conception and go on to have an uneventful pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.