how soon trying to get pregnant after miscarriage

[mb2006]

I've read in my prgenancy books and on forums and I've been told by doctors to wait 1 to 3 cycles before trying to get pregnant again after having had a miscarriage recently. But there doesn't seem to be any research to back this up...no one can tell me if there's a medical risk if I get pregnant sooner. Does anyone know? I am 36 years old and had a m/c on my first pregnancy last month and I'm eager to try again. If it's for emotional reasons that people say to wait, well getting pregnant again will make me feel better as that was my goal, but I don't want to have an increased risk of another m/c by getting pregnant too soon. But time is an issue b/c I am 36 and just starting to have children now. I know this all may be pointless if I don't ovulate again soon, but hoping thinsg get back to normal soon. I had a natural m/c and my hcg levels are almost back to normal or zero. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[mellymel]

i had a friend who mis carried her first pregnancy she was about two months. She waited two cycles before trying again, and did get pregnant but around her 5 months later things went wrong and she lost the baby. The doctor told her she should had waited a little longer to get pregnant so her body and cycles could get back on track, but she wanted a baby so bad she tried again when she felt like she could do it.  So i guess the best thing to do is to wait a few cycles and once everything seems to be back on track and the doctor gives you the okay you can try again. Best of wishes i hope i helped some.

- Melissa

[mb2006]

Ok. Good to hear your friend's story as I was about to try sooner than even getting my first period after the recent m/c. I had planned to wait one cycle but then decided this weekend not to wait just b/c I am so eager to get pregnant again, but now I guess I should wait at least one cycle. It's just that I read some women's stories how they got pregnant very soon after a m/c (less than a month after), so maybe it's variable but best to wait at least one month. Thanks for your comment.

[ourlittlepenut]

Dear everyone on board,
  This is my first time writing on this, but I have read so things and I just lost my first child. I want that back I want to feel it growing inside of me. We only made it to 12 weeks, and i am still really upset by all if this. But now I find my self upset that other people have children, because we lost ours. I am just ready to try again but my doc, says to wait 3 months before we try again. Is that true? I wish we could try sooner.

[mb2006]

Where did you read or hear about the 50% chance of having another miscarriage b/c I have not read ot been told that in my research on this topic. If anything, I've read there is not an increased risk of having another miscarriage after having one, and it goes up only a little after a 2nd, but perhaps the risk goes up a lot more if after 3, 4, and 7 m/c. The risk for the general population for having one miscarriage is 1/5 for women below age 35 and 1/4 for above age 35, though not sure if even greater risk for over age 40.

My dilemna now after having had one m/c is how long to wait to try to conceive again and that seems to be so variable, but I've decided that common sense is to wait one cycle and not much more given my age of 36 and so increased risk of other problems (i.e., fertility issues, genetic disorders with baby, etc.) if don't try soon.

[kimberley_82]

I am a mother of one and Have had 7 miscarriages, Yes 7.  Yes, after you have one miscarriage you have a 50% chance to have another.  After a miscarriage depnding on how far a long you are you should at least wait 2 cycles.  After a miscarriage ask your doctor and don't feel shy when you should try again.  No matter what some one says you can still be pregnant before your period is late.  I was told by my aunt once when I was younger that some woman can have a miscarriage once a month with out evan knowing it.  I researched this and it is true.  One out of every 3 or 4 pregnancys end for many reasons in miscarriage.

[BabyOnBoard(wishing)]

I too had a m/c...I was eleven weeks.  It was extremely hard, especially because I had started bleeding the week before the m/c.  I went to the hospital thinking that the pregnancy was over, and they gave me great news.  I saw the baby moving, everything looked normal, the baby's heart rate was 155 (which apparently, when it is over 100, your chance of m/c is about 10%), everyhting was normal, except for the bleeding.  I proceeded to see my obgyn and he too said the heart rate and size and everything was fine.  Then four days later, the same thing happened.  I started bleeding again, went to the hospital, but this time I thought it was nothing again, cause I had been reassured by both the hospital staff and my obgyn, but the baby's heart stopped bleeding.  I had a DNC and they told me to follow up with my doctor in 6 weeks, and that I should get my period in 4-6 weeks.  Well, I did follow up, and avoided trying to conceive until I spoke to my doctor.  When I did speak to him, he did an exam and said that I had to eggs ready to pop and it was possible to have twins that month.  He told me if I wanted babies to just try right away. Not to wait.  I went home all excited, thinking that it would happen right away.  It didn't:(...I thought I might be pregnant, becasue it was 9 weeks after my m/c and I still hadn't gotten my AF.  I took a test only to find out that it was negative.  I thought OK, it'll happen nect month.  Well, this is next month and I know my AF is coming.  It sucks.  
Now that I know I can try again, with the blessing of my doctor, that's all I've been doing.  I got pregnant the first time trying, but now when I really want it, its not happening.
I say try right away...I'm kicking myself for not trying the first few weeks after my m/c.
I guess it'll happen when its meant to happen, but it becomes such a roller coaster ride.

[mb2006]

To Baby on Board, thanks for sharing your story and sorry about your loss and troubles. Stay hopeful as I do hear about so many successful full term pregnancies after a first miscarriage. I appreciated hearing that your doctor told you not to wait as I kind of went against everyone's advice and started trying before my next period (which I haven't gotten yet). When I first saw that I was ovulating by an at home test last week, I didn't try to get pregnant though it was tempting b/c I worried about possible miscarriage risk if tried too soon. But then 2 days later I said the hell with it and my husband and I had sex so don't know if I missed the window of ovulation time or I'll have problems getting pregnant again this time. It took me 2 months last time and you said on your first month trying, so that's good I think to know we both are fertile and hopefully decreased chances of problems conceiving, but remember healthy couples with no prior difficulties often take a few months to conceive anyway. It's easier for me to tell someone else that, but believe me I'm very eager for it to happen again too, so need to remind myself these things. Good luck and let me know if you get pregnant again soon!

[mb2006]

Update: I did get pregnant again about 3 weeks following the early m/c but then now 2 weeks later just had another early m/c. I'm sad and the midwife was kind of upset that I did not wait but I never learned any real info/research to support waiting. But here I am with my story that ended in another m/c perhaps b/c I did not wait long enough or maybe just by chance again as 1/4 women over age 35 have a chance of m/c each time. Although I hate to wait even longer now, I guess I will to try that approach now before trying to get pregnant again.

[MOM@21]

I'm new to this sight, I just lost my baby on Friday July 7th. I found this on the march of dimes webpage. Hope this will help clear things up.

A woman should not attempt to become pregnant again until she is physically and emotionally ready and she has completed any tests recommended to determine the cause of the miscarriage. Medically, it appears safe to conceive after a woman has had one normal menstrual cycle (if she is not undergoing tests or treatments for the cause of her miscarriage). However, it may take much longer before a woman feels emotionally ready to attempt pregnancy.

Many women who have experienced miscarriage worry that they will miscarry again. Fortunately, the great majority of women who have had one miscarriage will go on to have a successful pregnancy the next time, as will 60 to 70 percent of those who have experienced two or three losses.

[countrygirl30458]

hey
im 21 years of age and had my first miscarriage at 6 wks and 4 days it was the hardest thing for me to accept. they couldnt find the heartbeat. i want to try again asap i really want one that i can love, hold and charish for the rest of my life. what do i need to do? someone please help me thru this, this really hearts.

[moetp]

Well I am 21 years old and I have a 2.5 year old daughter. I was pregnant last month and I was so anxious to know because I was a few days late. I was indeed pregnant and so excited. The next day or so I began to feel severe abdominal pain. The pains sudsided the next day but came back the day after that. I went to the doctor and they said I was fine and the pregnancy was ok also, it was the change of my body that was causing my pain they said. I knew that was false. The next day or two I m/c. I was about 6 weeks pregnant. The strange thing was that the bleeding lasted only a 5 days like a period. Now I have been waiting for a period and nothing. I have the breast tenderness and some feelings of sickness in the mornings. Today I took a pregnancy test because I just had that feeling and both tests I took were positive. I am so scared and confused. Could I actually be pregnant again so fast? I am going to make a doctors appointment.

[Tara26]

I m/c also 5 weeks ago, and had no period yet.
I too think I'm pregnant again.
Done 2 tests both negative at 4 weeks (last week)

All my symptoms have come back too, I feel same as last time.

Does anyone think I am and that I just need to wait a week or two?

[Allie1980]

Hi Everyone---

I'm 25 yrs old and wasn't even trying to get pregnant, but my husband and I had sex one time without a condom in June, and I got pregnant....  We found out on July 13th we were five weeks...  However, we went on vacation this last week, and I miscarried...  We went to the hopsital on July 21st.  My hcg level was only 153...  the OBGYN said she thought I had already lost the baby...

Before I even knew I was miscarrying, I remember seeing something funny in the toilet.  Once I saw a large bloody clot, and later in the day I saw this bean-shaped pink fleshy ball thingy that kind of looked like a sponge.  Did I pass everything?  Do you think that was it?  

I didn't even have a chance to be referred to an OB doctor before I miscarried.  Should I set-up an appointment with an OB doctor anyway?

[scaredt2death]

I recently suffered a miscarriage on the 27th of July and I was just six weeks and six days pregnant but the effect of that loss has made me a puddle of emotions.  I too have been looking for the answers to how soon do I wait and though I haven't found any research to back up waiting two or more cycles or three months I have found consistent suggestions to wait at least three weeks to allow my body to adjust to the change in hormone levels and to assure that my body has cycled everything out of my system.  I would like to start trying right away but I am contemplating waitng until my next period has begun so that I have some dates and so that I will know that my body is prepared to move on and care for the next pregnancy.

The one question or concern that I have that I haven't been able to find any info on is weather I perhaps caused my body to reject this pregnancy by changing my eating habits and vitamin intake to rapidly.  We didnot expect to conceive so quickly so my eating habits were attrocious and I wasn't taking any vitamins.  The moment we found out I started eating the required amounts of vegetables and protien and taking folic acid and calcium supplememnts. Any comments?  I am open to here anything.

Also my bhcg level is still at 684.  Doesn't that seem odd for a true miscarriage?

[Keeping Hope Alive]

To Allie1980.  Yes I think you passed the baby.  The same thing happened to me and the midwife said by the way I had described it I had miscarried naturally.  Definitely call your doctor or midwife because I had to see my midwife two weeks after the miscarriage.  I'm feeling great now but am just waiting to be on a normal cycle so we start trying to get pregnant again.  Good luck and I'm sorry for your loss,

[foxygirlpa]

hello everyone i just had a miscarage it happen to me two weekes ago i when to my appt and we were looking at my child all of a suddin the hert stoped and my baby died i was 9 weeks so they asked me if i wanted to have the misscarige natural or if i wanted a dnc and i told them that i couldnt go another night sleeping with my unborn child dead inside of me so i had a dnc now im wondering how long should i wait for me and my husband to try again this was our first pregnancy and we both want a child so bad i hope someone can help me out thank u

[mel49ers]

I recently had a miscarriage, my first one. I was about 5 weeks.. I swear if I hadn't taken a pg test, I would not have known though, my only symptoms were heavy heavy bleeding and pain in my lower back. I am 35, with 2 healthy children.. age 5 & 12.. So this was a horrifying experience. I guess I never dreamed it would happen to me (not that I'm that special).. but it just caught me completely off guard.  Now I wonder, since it was not painful (physically) and I only bled for 2 days.. if I should wait to try again or not. I don't want to wait, but the thought of experiencing a m/c again is terrifying.  I keep thinking, if I hadn't of known.. I would have kept trying just thinking it was a menstrual cycle.. Any suggestions.. should I wait or carry on as normal?? I feel fine physically..

[stillwaiting7]

Hi...I am new to this so sorry if I spell everything out..I had two losses last year. I found out that I was pregnant and lost my first baby at 14 weeks. I did not know I had lost the baby until I had some bleeding. They diagnosed my baby with a fatal umbilical cord problem. I was told by my OB to try again in three months. I like alot of you was so afraid and excited I just wanted to get out there and try again. And try is what we did I got pregnant on the 3rd month. We were so excited but only told a few people. I lost that baby at 10 weeks due to a blood clot in my uterus. I had a D&C on both. I ended up in the hospital a few weeks after the last D&C with massive blood loss with complications after the pregnancy. I was told then to wait at least a year (in my case). I would like to recommend to anyone trying after a loss to wait a few months to let your body get back to normal. Even though your heart is aching for a baby..It has been just over a year and we feel safe to try again. Good luck to you all who have been down my same path.

[luvbug02]

I had a misscarage in the very beginning just lik eyou if i hadnt taken the test i wouldnt have known because i miscarried the next day but my doc said to wait through one normal cycle and period then you can try. BABY DUST to you

[SarahWegs]

HI everyone..
I found out I was pregnant on my birthday 6/30 and found out that I was m/c on 7/5.. My doctor told me to wait 2 cycles at least. Which I don't know if any of you are like me or not.. But that's hard. He told me to use a "barrier" method. I'm afraid to take birth control because I was on the Depo shot and that was the issue for me as to why it took 3 1/2 years to get pregant. So I didn't want to use a contraceptive. And we didn't we have been together a few times since the bleeding stopped on the 12th. Any how. I am now at 4 weeks after my m/c and am wondering if you can be pregnant? I am feeling all the feelings that I did when I found out I was pregnant. Is that possible? I took a test today and it was negative. Should I wait longer or has anyone had these feelings also?
Please let me know. Thanks!

[mellie43]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I am 43 and was pregnant up until Monday of this week.  Started spotting a little brown/pinkish on Monday.  HCG level was only at 25 on Tuesday and by Tuesday afternoon, cramping and bleeding started.  Miscarriage is still continuing as I type this.  Wondering when we can try again?  With my age as a factor, time is running out.  My Day 3 FSH was at 8.57 a few months ago and since I just got pregnant, I at least know that I still can get pg.  Just don't know why this pregnancy had to end.  I was only about 3 weeks from conception date.  Any commments would be appreciated.

[HannahJJ]

I was reading the board and thought I'd share my story.  I found out I was pregnant in February.  I hadn't missed my period yet, but my 2 yr old son told me he saw a baby, so I went and took an early pregnancy test.  It was faintly positive, and we were excited.  Unfortunately, I got a faint positive, then a "negative", then a positive, then a "negative" (all with the same brand of pg test).  My husband was going to be out of town the following week, so we were just going to wait until he got back from class for me to see the ob/gyn, since we could only be "more pregnant" in our minds.  Unfortunately, that following weekend we miscarried.  I, like so many of you, didn't want to wait... and we conceived again in April (on our anniversary, no less).  I know it sounds crazy, but again, my 2 yr old son said, "I see babies".  So, again, I took a pg test, it was faintly +, took another, and another, and got a strong +.  That weekend I had a m/c.  I went in to see my ob/gyn two days later.  She told me we had tried too soon.  Basically, you need to let your body get your hormones and everything else back to "normal" before trying to get pregnant again.  I guess the reason I never really gave much thought to that was because my mom had a miscarriage right before she had me, and I think I turned out just fine... ;)  Seriously, the doctor told her I was a pseudo-pregnancy because he didn't believe she could've (should've?) conceived again so soon.  My ob/gyn didn't give me a specific time period to wait, so I really don't know just how long one should wait.  She told me to let my cycle get back to "normal" and try again, and that would probably take 3-6 months.

[trying for mths]

i am so sorry to here about everyones sad news. i have been trying to get pregnant and i am having trouble. my husband leaves for iraq on november 3 and he wants us to get pregnant before he leaves. any suggestions?

[clem7468]

Hi everyone. I m/c at six weeks on June 26th.  Up until Aug 11th, i spotted everyday.  Now, I'm not spotting any longer, but there are no signs of my AF arriving any time soon.  I was told by my dr to try again as soon as we felt we were ready.  We're ttc right now so wish us luck.  My dr says conception after miscarriage is up to each person and how they feel.
Good luck to everyone.