Just Miscarried - How Long to Wait to Conceive Again?

Updated on January 31, 2008
M.R. asks from North Olmsted, OH
19 answers

I just found out after Christmas that my husband & I were pregnant. However I started to spot the Sunday after New Years and continued until that Friday when I really started to bleed. I had slight cramping & felt somewhat of a 'gush' if you will and realized that i must be miscarrying. I bled for about a week and since then it stopped. My doctor (even though i have no insurance b/c I was laid off and i'm not on medicaid) had ordered me a blood test to take and i have yet to hear from her, but i took a pregnancy test last week and it was already negative so i'm assuming my hcg levels are decreasing as they should be. I'm not upset or sadden by this, and i'm not trying to sound insensitive, but this was not terribly emotional for me. I had a stillbirth (2nd pregnancy) when i was 6 months pregnant and actually had to deliver a baby girl which was horrible. So this pregancy had no ultrasound, no heartbeat, no real connection to even consider that i had a baby in me yet. However, i was reading past posts and i was curious as to how long you should wait or how long some of you may have waited to conceive again. I did have a daughter after what we went through with the stillbirth so I'm not scared to try again, i'm just trying to get some insight on this. It was hard enough to find out information on what a miscarriage really is or what it is like, what to expect or anyting of that nature. If anyone has any advice i would sure appreciate it. Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

I called my doctor last Friday. I was told that my hcg level was already zero. So everything had passed on it's own. I was told to wait 2 cycles perferably, but atleast one. I know my husband and I will be working on it in no time!! lol.. Thank you ladies for all your advice and support!!

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T.A.

answers from Cincinnati on

i had a miscarriage and conceived 2 weeks later. i wasnt trying to get pregnant again but it happened. (really fertile after a miscarriage) my daughter is now 9 years old and doing fine. i dont know what the doctors recommend but my pregnancy went fine with no complications. i would say whenever you are ready to "go for it". Good Luck

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M.E.

answers from Lexington on

i had a miscarriege at 8 weeks with my second pregancy. it was devestating for me, becuase we'd seen teh heartbeat and then a weeka nd a half later i had a gush of blood after work and went to the doc the next day and then there was no heartbeat. i'm so sorry you had to go through 6 months of pregnancy and deliver a still born. I can't imagine the emotional strain that must have casued. I hope things turn out better this time. after my miscarriage/dnc, my ob/gyn said wait 2 cycles before trying again, but i actually got pregnant after my 1st cycle...i am now 13 weeks and things are going fine. best of luck to you and God bless.

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A.C.

answers from Chicago on

I miscarried this past November. I was 8 weeks along, but the pregnancy failed at 6 weeks. I had a D&C at my ob's recommendation and I bled for about 10 days after. I was told to wait for one normal menstrual cycle before trying (and by the way it took me almost 7 weeks to get my period again so it could take a while). He told me that waiting for one normal period ensures that my hormones and uterus are back to where they need to be, thereby reducing the risk of another miscarriage. Reading everyone's responses shows that we are all told different things. I guess there is no general consensus among doctors about exactly how long to wait, but they do all say that you should have a normal period before you try again. I wish you the best of luck!

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J.C.

answers from Cleveland on

M.,
I too had a miscarriage at 14 weeks in June of 06. I had to have a DNC, and my OB told me to wait at least one cycle before trying again. I chose to wait 8 months and became preggers again in Feb of 07. I did deliver a very sick baby boy, but he is gaining strength day by day, and I have no regrets. Good luck in whatever you do.
J.

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A.W.

answers from Cleveland on

I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I had 2 back-to-back. I recently found out that I had Fibroid tumors that caused the miscarriage. My doctor says it is best to wait three months after a miscarriage. However, I would ask your doctor what may have caused your miscarriage. Consider having another ultrasound done to check for any abnormalities in your uterus, tubes etc. Just be on the safe side.

I am looking forward to conceiving again. However, I will need to wait about 6 months after the fibroid surgery removal

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S.E.

answers from Cleveland on

I think it varries on how far you wre in the pregnancy. You obviously were not very far. I had two misscarrages early on as well. After my first miscarraige, my doctor said wait 1 cycle. I did, got pregnant right away, and misscarried that one. Well, I just wasnt up for D&C #3 yet. Doctor said wait 1 cycle again. Really encouraged me to get going again. I waited I think 5 months. That turned out to be my son who is sleeping in my arms right now.

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T.S.

answers from Lexington on

M.,
I think it's real important that you see your Doctor on this one. most likey everything is fine, but you need to be sure. Also if you're looking for some supplemental income and still be home with your kids, let me know. Our company also has a health savings plan!
T.

www.workathomeunited.com/T.
www.livetotalwellness.com/T.

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J.B.

answers from Dayton on

You need to wait at least 2 cycles(periods) before trying again. Also the cycle you had with your miscarriage does not count so 2 regular periods after the miscariage and you can try again!

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D.B.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi M.,

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I was reading some of the advice other women have posted already. I also had two back-to-back miscarriages as some have stated. My first one was at 14 weeks and the second was at 9 weeks. I was advised by my OB/GYN to wait through two cycles after each miscarriage before trying again. I found out that I have MTHFR (a blood-clotting disorder) which prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the baby. I am happy to say that it is treatable and I am now pregnant again and have reached week 17.

Take care of yourself and have fun trying again.

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A.T.

answers from Columbus on

I have recently experienced two miscarriages myself and am trying to conceive again. My first one was an experience like yours in May of 07. After visiting my OB I was instructed to make weekly visits for blood work until my hormone levels were normal. Which took about 2 1/2 weeks. My doctor told us we could try as soon as I received my next period. Their really wasn't any waiting at all. So we did and quickly became pregnant again. After doc visits, ultrasounds and all at 4 months suddenly their was no heartbeat. I had to have a D & E this time around. Still doc said as soon I have my next period we could begin trying but it may take a bit longer for my to adjust. This was just in Oct of 07 and we are still trying. I hope this helps.

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N.C.

answers from Dayton on

Hi M.,
I had a miscarriage before conceiving my son and it was very early on, similar to your story, we had just had a positive pregnancy test and then a week later, I miscarried. My midwives told me that it was fine to try again whenever I felt ready. So, about 2 months later we did conceive again and went full term. They explained that the miscarriage often gets the hormone levels where they need to be in order to carry full term. But, I would always recommend true medical advice, as I am not qualified. There are Women's Clinics in Dayton and in Kettering and they often help women with no insurance. Their services are free, free pregnancy tests and free ultrasounds, and they can refer to an OB/GYN that can also help. Their number is ###-###-####. I don't know much more about them, other than maybe their medical expertise can help.
Good luck.

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C.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

Wow - i had the same thing happen to me about the same time. My gynocologist is my friend and i talked to him about it. He did have me come in to do an ultrasound to make sure that there was no extra debris in the uterus (i was sure i was fine). But, he told me to wait to have one normal period and then try the next month.

Good luck!

C.

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S.B.

answers from Cleveland on

M.,
I had a miscarriage in October of 2004. I was 11 weeks pregnant and had to have a DNC at my doctor's request. It was about 6 weeks later that I ended up pregnant again and also miscarried that one, but I passed that one on my own. I bled for about 10 days or so. My doctor wanted me to wait a few weeks and then he was going to do blood tests and such to see why this was happening. 2 weeks after the second miscarriage, I just had this feeling that I might be pregnant again and took a test and it was positive. That was when I got pregnant with my first son and everything went great from there. My doctor was a bit concerned that it was so close though, he did say that you should wait until you have at least one menstrual cycle in between. I hope all goes well for you and good luck!!
S. B.

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S.B.

answers from Lexington on

I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks, so had to have a D&C. I had to wait three months because of that. I'd say since it happened "naturally" and you didn't have any procedures, anesthesia, etc. you could go ahead and try, but call your OB/GYN to be sure or wait the three months. I wouldn't go on any BC, just use condoms so your hormones don't get messed up. It worked for us. My miscarriage was in September 2002 and we waited until Christmas time...I was pregnant by January and now have a beautiful 4 year old boy!

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R.P.

answers from Youngstown on

If I remember right we were supposed to wait about 6-8 months - I was worried about the spacing between our kids - but I love it now!

Don't rush it - It is all in God's Plan.

Sorry for what you went through - I know how you feel - it didn't get me emotional, either - I was at about 2 months - but had the horrible experience of bleeding those gushes for 2 months until the doctor finally said this is enough. I had a D and C. Doctor said that my body still thought it was pregnant. That was why the bleeding went on so long.

have a great day!

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C.O.

answers from Columbus on

The advice I was given (15 years ago) was 4 months. I also lost a pregnancy at 6 months. You sound amazingly mentally healthy, good for you. (I ignored the adivce and started trying at about 3 months, I couldn't wait, but it took 6 months before my body was ready to go again, things happen when they are meant to.) Relax, and enjoy your family.

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K.F.

answers from Cincinnati on

M...I am really sorry about both of your losses.I just wanted to let you know that I had a miscarraige in oct of 06, and got pg again in dec. Neither pg was planned but there was no ill effects on my body getting pg so soon after the pg. Good luck~K.

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M.R.

answers from Cincinnati on

I had a very early miscarriage too. Actually, the pregnancy 'failed' around 6 weeks but I didn't miscarry until about 10 weeks. My doctor wanted me to try to naturally miscarry, but if it took too long she would have ordered a D & C. Fortunately, although it took a little bit of time, my body took care of it. After that, my doctor requested I go through a menstrual cycle before trying to conceive again. So, in a nutshell, wait to miscarry, have a full cycle, then try again. I've sent you a PM with more details of the miscarriage itself.

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J.W.

answers from Columbus on

Sorry to hear about your ordeal. I know from my personal experience last summer, when I had a miscarraige, my OB said to wait at least 3 cycles (months)! But I also didnt miscarry on my own, had to go in and have a DNC. But i did conceive at exactly 3 months after!

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