Pregnancy After Miscarriage: Tips and Advice

Content medically reviewed by Jared Sander, MD

If you have experienced a miscarriage, it's understandable you may be worried about trying to get pregnant again. However, it may be comforting to know many women who miscarry go on to have successful pregnancies.

"Miscarriages are unfortunately common," said Dr. Jared Sander, OB/GYN at Essentia Health. "We often can't identify a clear cause, which can make them even more emotionally challenging. However, when miscarriages occur, we want to work closely with women to help them get pregnant again, if they choose to."

Your Body After a Miscarriage

Miscarriage is defined as a pregnancy loss within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most miscarriages happen within the first trimester—often before the first signs of pregnancy appear. Your body will resume normal menstrual cycles as the pregnancy hormones leave your body. While you may have pregnancy hormones in your blood for a month or two after you miscarry, you can ovulate within two weeks of a pregnancy loss. 

Many doctors recommend waiting until you get your first period after miscarriage before trying again. This will make it easier to know when you conceive. However, if your miscarriage was due to a molar pregnancy (a mass or tumor formed inside the uterus), ectopic pregnancy (the fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus) or illness, you should wait until your OB/GYN clears you before trying again.

“How soon you start trying again is ultimately up to you and your partner,” Sander said. “Your physical health plays an important role in how long you should wait, but you and your partner should also feel emotionally ready.”

Reducing Your Risk of Miscarriage

You may not be able to prevent a miscarriage. However, you can take steps to lower your risk and increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy. For example –

• Do not drink alcohol or use non-prescribed drugs.
• Follow a pregnancy nutrition plan.
• Get plenty of exercise.
• Schedule a preconception checkup.
• Manage stress and anxiety.
• Quit smoking or vaping.
• Take a daily prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid.

If you have medical conditions that can affect your pregnancy, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your primary care provider or OB/GYN about how to best manage them. You should also call your provider if you have more than one miscarriage (known as recurrent miscarriages), as they may want to run tests to see if they can determine what’s causing you to miscarry.

Managing Your Emotions After Miscarriage

There’s no right or wrong way to feel after a pregnancy loss or as you start thinking about when to start trying again. Just as everyone’s pregnancy is different, everyone’s miscarriage journey is not the same. Conflicting emotions are to be expected. You may –

• Feel really sad
• Not feel sad or even feel relief
• Feel scared or anxious
• Want to start trying again as soon as possible
• Want to wait for a long time before trying again
• Be unsure you want to try again

However, if your anxiety or sadness negatively impacts your day-to-day activities, you may want to be screened for mental health concerns. 

“A therapist can help you better process your feelings after losing a pregnancy,” Sander said. “Your partner may also benefit from talking with a professional.”

Pregnancy After Stillbirth

A pregnancy loss after 20 weeks is considered a stillbirth. A stillbirth is just as emotionally devastating as a miscarriage and can have a greater physical impact on your body, depending on how far along you were in your pregnancy and how you delivered.

Any pregnancy after stillbirth is considered high risk. If you decide to try for another child, talk with your provider about how soon it will be safe to start trying and whether you need genetic or other testing to identify potential problems.

Your Essentia Health obstetrics, midwifery, or family medicine with obstetrics provider is your best resource for all your pregnancy questions and concerns. Your provider can advise you about other health issues that could be affecting your risk of a miscarriage and help you get to peak preconception health.