Losing a pregnancy due to a miscarriage can be emotionally and physically difficult. What do you do if it happens to you? What happens to your body, and what can you expect in a subsequent pregnancy? Here we provide reliable, scientifically backed information on what to do in the event of a miscarriage, recovery, and how to manage the risks in a new pregnancy.
What is a miscarriage and how common is it?
A miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. In most cases, it is an early miscarriage (before 12 weeks), and it is more common than you think: about 10-20% of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage. The causes are often chromosomal abnormalities of the embryo, which are beyond your control. Other factors such as an abnormal uterus, infections, hormones, and external influences can also play a role, but most miscarriages simply happen due to bad luck.
What does a miscarriage do to your body?
Physically, a miscarriage causes bleeding and abdominal cramps. The pain often feels like menstrual cramps and can be accompanied by heavier bleeding, sometimes with blood clots. In some cases, you may not notice the miscarriage, for example in a missed abortion, where the embryo stops growing early in the pregnancy and you start bleeding shortly after your period should have started.
From the moment you become pregnant until recovery after a miscarriage, enormous hormonal changes take place. Your hormones (such as HCG and progesterone) drop quickly after a miscarriage, which can lead to fatigue, mood swings, and sadness. Usually, your period returns within 4 to 6 weeks, which is a sign that your cycle is getting back on track.
Recovery after a miscarriage
After a miscarriage is confirmed, your body enters a phase of physical and hormonal recovery. During pregnancy, the hormones HCG, estrogen, and progesterone are greatly increased. After a miscarriage, these drop quickly, which affects your mood, energy level, and menstrual cycle. It can take several days to weeks before your hormones are back in balance. Usually, your period returns within 4 to 6 weeks, which is a sign that your cycle is recovering.
How a miscarriage progresses physically varies depending on the situation. In many cases, you can wait for the natural course: your body then expels the pregnancy tissue itself. This can be accompanied by bleeding, cramps, and clots. If the body does not do it completely on its own or if it takes too long (longer than 2-3 weeks without clear progress), medication (misoprostol) can be used to empty the uterus. In some cases, a D&C is necessary, a minor procedure in which the pregnancy tissue is removed through the cervix, for example in cases of heavy bleeding, incomplete miscarriage, or if you develop a fever or persistent abdominal pain, which may indicate an infection. The choice between the natural course, medication, or a D&C depends on your health, your personal situation, and the policy of your doctor or midwife.
What are the risks in a subsequent pregnancy?
On average, the chance that your pregnancy ends in a miscarriage is about 15%. If you have had a miscarriage before, the chance after this is 80% that you will have a successful pregnancy now. After two miscarriages, that is still 75%. Only after three miscarriages in a row can the risk of repeating a miscarriage rise to 30-40%.
If you have had multiple miscarriages, it is good to investigate with your doctor or gynecologist whether there are underlying causes. Sometimes genetic abnormalities, hormonal problems, or structural problems in the uterus can contribute to recurrent miscarriages. In such cases, doctors may suggest targeted treatments or additional tests.
How can you reduce the chance of a miscarriage?
Although a miscarriage is often beyond your control, you can increase the chance of a healthy pregnancy yourself by living healthily:
- Healthy diet: Make sure you have a healthy and varied diet. Eat as organic as possible. Make sure you take 3 meals a day with proteins, healthy fats, and fiber.
- Avoid harmful substances: Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. These substances increase the risk of miscarriage and can damage the health of your baby.
- Limit caffeine: Limit your caffeine intake to a maximum of 200 mg per day (about 1-2 cups of coffee). Too much caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Lifestyle: Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. Both being overweight and underweight can increase the risk of miscarriage. Avoid stress, get enough rest, and go into nature regularly.
- Medical care: Make sure you have any chronic conditions (such as diabetes or thyroid problems) well under control before trying to get pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you use medications, so you can switch to safe alternatives during pregnancy.
- Support your hormones: Make sure you have the right and sufficient vitamins and minerals to support your hormones before and during your pregnancy. Think of folic acid (folate 400 mcg per day), vitamin D, zinc, Q10, Selenium, Iron, etc. MomPwdr has the only premium nutritional supplements that contain exactly the right vitamins and minerals to help your body recover from a miscarriage and prepare you hormonally as well as possible for a new pregnancy.
When should you see a doctor?
If you have heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain that does not subside with rest, or a fever, contact your doctor immediately. These symptoms may indicate an infection or that there is still tissue in the uterus, which requires further treatment.
If you have had multiple miscarriages, it is wise to be examined by a specialist. This can help identify any medical causes and develop a targeted treatment plan.
It is normal to need to let your body and mind recover after a miscarriage. Give yourself the time to get back in balance both physically and emotionally. If you have had a miscarriage and want to prepare for a subsequent pregnancy, contact MomPwdr for guidance. Our team of experts offers advice on nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle to help you with your recovery and give you the best chance of a healthy pregnancy.
