Recovering from a miscarriage
RECOVERING from a miscarriage can be emotionally and physically draining — a thousand questions will linger. No matter how hard you try, you end up at the same dismal place. This makes it difficult to heal and move on. For some women, the thought of becoming pregnant after such a traumatic experience can be difficult; for others, the overwhelming desire for a child will have them trying to conceive soon after.
But are there specific things to take into account before considering pregnancy after a miscarriage? Dr Keisha Buchanan, obstetrician-gynaecologist at ICON Medical, shares a list of do’s and don’ts.
“Miscarriage is a very common event; approximately 30-40 per cent of pregnancies end in miscarriage,” she said.
“Most miscarriages are as a result of genetic defects that are incompatible with life, and result in a spontaneous loss. Other miscarriages, however, are as a result of underlying recurrent pregnancy factors such as cervical insufficiency where the cervix prematurely dilates in the second trimester, as well as lifestyle choices and other medical conditions.”
WHAT TO DO
Seek counselling
The loss of a child can be heart-rending and emotionally draining. Counselling is therefore important to help a woman deal psychologically with the stress that comes with this event.
Get rid of unhealthy lifestyle choices
Cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use are among some of the causes of miscarriage. Try only to ingest or inhale substances that are healthy for you and the baby.
Prenatal care is important
There are no excuses when it comes to prenatal care. Make sure to seek early prenatal care so that you can be fully assessed for possible problems to be identified and addressed so as to prevent further complications that could lead to miscarriage or harm to the foetus or yourself.
Feed yourself well
Proper nutrition is important in future pregnancies, and intake of vitamins and folic acid is important prior to and during the pregnancy. You want to abandon unhealthy eating practices that could harm you or the baby, so reduce the intake of fatty foods and replace them with fruits and vegetables.
Exercise and follow a healthy diet
If you are overweight, weight loss prior to pregnancy can help to lower the risk of miscarriage. Obesity is among the common reasons for miscarriage, and so you should shed as many pounds as you can before trying to conceive again.
Manage pre-existing medical conditions
Proper management of underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, seizures and removal of fibroids before pregnancy are examples of the ways to decrease the risk of recurrent miscarriages.
Complete medical procedures that will increase your chances of a full-term pregnancy
Some women require the insertion of cervical cerclage to prevent miscarriage. This is a stitch that is inserted in the cervix after 12 weeks gestation to prevent the cervix from opening prematurely.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Don’t blame yourself
Ninety-nine per cent of the time, a spontaneous abortion has nothing to do with anything that the mother has done. So stop trying to find reasons to blame yourself. Instead, focus on getting better while allowing yourself to grieve. Just get all the medical advice you need as you try to conceive again.
Don’t stay in environments that could harm you or your child
Stay away from situations that are stressful or harbour violence (physical or verbal), or areas where you may be exposed to second-hand smoke.
Don’t self-medicate
It is important that you take special note of what you are ingesting. Some medications can be harmful to your baby and may cause spontaneous abortions.
