Coping with miscarriage

Every miscarriage is different, some women miscarry before realising they're pregnant, while others have had healthy scans in the past, then find out something's gone wrong. 
While nobody knows what really causes this to happen, we do know that miscarriages are most common in the first trimester (12 weeks). 

The first thing you need to know is that it's not your fault! Whether you followed the perplexing (and often contradicting) guidelines of what you should and shouldn't do during pregnancy or not, these things happen. Problems with pregnancy are very common, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. It also doesn't mean you won't be able to have a baby in future. Most hospitals will only begin to run fertility tests after three consecutive miscarriages, as this could be a sign of underlying problems. 

Your doctor will be able to tell you what type of miscarriage you have experienced, and will probably give you leaflets and advice on what to expect. 

This differs depending on how advanced the pregnancy is. 

In early pregnancy you have the option to let nature take it's course, or have surgical management. It is your choice, you should choose whatever feels easier to you.
A natural miscarriage can take anything from a few days to a couple of weeks. You will feel fatigue, pain and heavy bleeding. It is similar to period pain, but unfortunately stronger. 

If you choose surgical management, the foetal tissue will be removed in one go. You will feel some discomfort afterwards, and may experience a few days of bleeding. 

In later pregnancy medical action needs to be taken. You can have surgical removal or induced labour. 

In cases of induced labour or caesarian section, you may pass large blood clots and have lower abdominal cramping after the birth. Your body will take time to recover from this, and you might experience breast swelling and a change in hormone levels. 

It's important not to distance yourself from friends and family during this time. You and your partner will need some time alone to come to terms with what's happened, but talking to other people will help. There are lots of places for people to talk about their experiences online. Forums have been set up, where a caring community of members help each other through the rough patches and cheer each other on when things are improving. It's always worth talking to someone who knows exactly what you're going through, and you're bound to make new friends. 

For the men going through this, it's a hard time for you too. Most men feel they need to be strong for their partners when this happens, and don't let themselves grieve. It's OK to cry, it's normal. Please don't try to avoid this, as women can interpret it as you not caring. You'll need to support each other and talk about how you feel. 

While at first it seems the grief will consume you, each day gets a little easier. It helps to have a proper goodbye to your baby, which is often overlooked with early miscarriages. Anything from a quiet moment with your partner to releasing a balloon with the baby's name on it can help give you closure. 
 

While doctors recommend you wait until you've had a normal period before trying to conceive again, it depends on how you feel physically and emotionally. While some women feel the need to replace the lost child quickly, others can't contemplate getting pregnant again for a long time afterwards.

Again, this depends entirely on how you feel. Miscarriage is tough on the body, you'll need to recover before going through the strains of pregnancy again. Take as much time as you need and don't let yourself feel pressured into anything. 

After making the decision to try again, you can become quite anxious. Anxious about whether you'll be able to conceive, how long it will take, whether you'll miscarry again etc. This is normal. Of course you'll be concerned, but don't let it become an obsession. Relax, let things happen naturally and you'll be happier for it. 

I hope this helped if you're experiencing/ have experienced a miscarriage. If you have any questions, or want to talk about it contact me and I'll be happy to help.