MISCARRIAGE

by Royal College of General Practitioners

After a miscarriage............

Many couples have lots of questions to ask but because it can be such a distressing time, they may not occur to you immediately. Perhaps we can help by answering some of the most common questions.

Why did you miscarry?

You may find it hard to believe but many miscarriages happen without any obvious cause. About one in five pregnancies are lost, and in a third of these something may be wrong in the way the baby is growing.

Sometimes an illness, like German measles, can affect the pregnancy and a miscarriage may follow.

Many women ask themselves this question again and again after losing their baby, but it is very unlikely that anything you've done caused the miscarriage. Try not blame yourself.

Will it happen again?

If you've had one miscarriage you are not more likely to have one in your next pregnancy than any other women. Even if you have had 3 miscarriages in a row, there is still a greater than 50% chance that you will have a successful pregnancy next time.

There is no known treatment which will make you less likely to miscarry your next pregnancy. Don't forget, the odds are in favour of your next pregnancy being successful. It is not known if rest does any good, but it certainly makes sense to look after yourself.

How long should you wait before trying again?

After a miscarriage you should have something like a heavy period for a few days. This will gradually decrease over a week or two. Use sanitary towels not tampons to reduce the risk of infection. Tummy ache should be eased by paracetamol or aspirin. If you get severe pain or bleeding, fever or offensive discharge you should contact your GP.

There is no particular time interval which makes you more or less likely to miscarry again. It is sensible to wait until you have had least one normal period (if you had a regular cycle prior to the pregnancy you can expect your period to return within 4-6 weeks), but wait until you feel sure you are ready, in yourselves, to cope with another pregnancy.

It will take a couple of weeks for your body to settle down, so wait for about a fortnight before having sex again. It may actually take longer than that before you are interested in sex again. It is a time for couples to be very patient and understanding with each other.

How soon can you get on with your normal lifestyle?

People vary a great deal. You will probably feel quite low, mentally and physically for at least a week. You will gradually get stronger and then will be able to get on with things as before.

If you go out to work you will probably need about a week off.

Because they are so common, it is quite likely that you know someone who found the experience of miscarriage so distressing that they felt depressed for some time afterwards. Others get over it quickly. Both reactions are quite normal. Try to share your feelings with your partner, encouraging him to say how he feels too. Men often feel that they have to be brave, but may be terribly upset inside. Do not be surprised if you do find yourselves very emotional at this time. The pain you feel will ease as time goes by.

Where can you turn for help?

There are may people who can help you through this difficult time.

You may feel very lonely at home but there are several places where you can find help. For example, your GP, Health Visitor or Midwife at the Health Centre.

You may find that a relative or friend has also suffered a miscarriage and that it helps to share your experiences with someone else who has had a miscarriage.

The Miscarriage Association has an active local group (see below). Perhaps you would like to give them a ring? They are always ready to listen and will understand how you feel. They also have a lot about miscarriage.

How can you give your next baby the best start?

Healthier parents have a better chance of having a healthy baby, so try to improve your general health by, for example, giving up smoking or increasing the amount of exerciamount of exercse you take.

Come and ask your GP or Practice Nurse for further advice on how to get healthy for pregnancy.

The Miscarriage Association also has information about care to take before getting pregnant.