Losing a baby is devastating, both emotionally and physically. For many couples, the emotional strain is made even more difficult by the question of whether or not they will be able to have another baby. Before you try to conceive again, it is important to make sure that you are ready.
Emotional Considerations
Some are ready to try again immediately after the miscarriage, while others need a period of time to morn the baby they lost. One of the first considerations you need to make before trying to get pregnant after a miscarriage is whether or not you are emotionally ready. Be sure to include your partner in this discussion. Getting pregnant after a miscarriage is emotional for both parents.
Physical Considerations
Once you are emotionally ready to get pregnant again, talk to your OB-GYN about when and how long does it take to get pregnant again after a miscarriage. Most doctors will recommend that you wait for one to two cycles before trying to get pregnant again. Periods after a miscarriage are often disrupted, because the body is still getting rid of the hcg hormone, which suppresses ovulation during pregnancy. For this reason, your period may not return when you expect it to after a miscarriage. Also, waiting for a couple of cycles before trying to conceive again ensures that all of the remnants of your lost pregnancy are no longer in your body, which can make it difficult to successfully conceive again.
Keep in mind that when you miscarried plays a role in when you can try to conceive again. Early miscarriages without heavy bleeding often do little to disrupt a cycle. In this case, your doctor may not tell you to wait longer than one complete cycle before trying again. Later miscarriages resemble mini labors and are harder on the body, so you may need to wait a few months to give your body a chance to recuperate.
Increasing the Odds of Successful Conception
Most women who have had one miscarriage are not tested, as miscarriages are fairly common. However, if you have had repeated miscarriages, your doctor may wish to run some tests to determine if there is an underlying cause for the miscarriage. If there is no underlying physical condition, trying to get pregnant after a miscarriage is the same process as getting pregnant any other time.
If you want to increase your odds of getting pregnant after a miscarriage quickly, start tracking your basal body temperature each day. When you notice that it increases slightly, you are likely ovulating, and this is a good time to try to conceive. Keep yourself healthy by taking a prenatal vitamin, drinking plenty of water, and eating a healthy diet. Eliminate caffeine from your diet, because it actually increases the chances of having an early miscarriage.
While you are unlikely to forget the emotional pain of the baby that you lost, you are probably going to be able to conceive quickly with the right planning. The new baby that you will soon be holding will begin to take the pain away from your loss.
