Miscarriage

My first pregnancy ended up as a miscarriage and an evacuation of uterus was done a month ago. Can I try again to conceive after my first menses?

The emotional impact of miscarriage to the woman is always a mixed one. It is natural for you to want to conceive right away after going through the heartache of losing a baby. On the other hand, you may also experience apprehension, anxiety, sadness, guilt and even anger after the miscarriage. Whatever feelings you may have, it is important that a rational decision be made when you are physically and emotionally ready.

From the medical standpoint, patient is encouraged to wait for 2-3 menstrual cycles for the womb to recover and for its lining to become healthy before trying to conceive. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises a waiting period of at least six months. But a recent study in Scotland suggests otherwise. The researchers found that there was no medical advantage of such a delay. Their data showed that the sooner a woman conceived again, the better her chances of having a healthy pregnancy. The women were less likely to miscarry again or had other pregnancy-related complications compared with those who waited for a longer period of time. A consensus among the gynaecologists as to how long a patient should wait before trying to conceive is yet to be reached.

Many women are concerned whether a repeat miscarriage will happen. Statistics have shown that at least 85% of women will go through a successful pregnancy subsequently.

Although there is nothing you can do to prevent a miscarriage, preparing yourself for the next pregnancy by making healthy lifestyle choices is important. Eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight by regular exercise and taking prenatal vitamins and folic acid supplement will help improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy.