Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Getting pregnant after a miscarriage: What you need to know

Sarah Prager
By

Miscarriage is a painful loss for anyone to go through and it’s more common than you think. One in five pregnancies end in miscarriage but it’s not often announced widely. These losses can happen up until the 20th week of pregnancy (after that they are considered a stillbirth) and while the physical and emotional toll can be very different in the first trimester versus the second trimester, the grief of losing a pregnancy is something to be worked through no matter how many weeks along you were. Getting pregnant after a miscarriage can almost feel taboo given the gravity of it all, but pregnancy after a miscarriage can bring many families a wide array of emotions.

There is a physical and emotional toll to be worked through before trying again, but how long do you have to wait before trying again and how long should you wait? Does having a miscarriage increase your risk of another one and can your previous miscarriage affect your new pregnancy? We’ll answer your questions.

How soon after a miscarriage can I get pregnant?

It’s possible to ovulate as soon as two weeks after a miscarriage, which means you could get pregnant about two weeks after a miscarriage. Chances of getting pregnant on the cycle right after a miscarriage are actually higher than another cycle because the uterine lining is thicker from the pregnancy, making it easier for the fertilized egg to implant.

Related

It’s recommended not to have sex for two weeks after a miscarriage to prevent a risk of infection since your cervix is still open during that time, so you shouldn’t try before two weeks.

Recommended Videos

How soon after a miscarriage should I get pregnant?

A study from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology “supports the hypothesis that there is no physiologic reason for delaying pregnancy attempt after a loss.” However, “whether a couple needs time to heal emotionally after a loss may be dependent on many factors.” The researchers added that “although emotional compared with physical readiness may require individual couple assessment, previous research has found that a speedy new pregnancy and birth of a living child lessens grief among couples who are suffering from a pregnancy loss.”

What does all of that mean? There are both physical and emotional factors to consider. While your body may be ready almost immediately to get pregnant again, waiting until you’re emotionally ready is also important. However, getting pregnant again quickly can also help with the grief of your loss. It’s a very personal decision and journey and could depend on where both you and your partner are in the grieving process and that hard-to-define feeling of readiness to try again.

Alena Popova/Shutterstock

Is pregnancy after miscarriage safe?

There are a few medical considerations to take into account for your personal situation, but in general, yes, pregnancy after miscarriage is safe. If your miscarriage was “completed” and there is no remaining tissue from the lost pregnancy, you can be physically ready for pregnancy again right away. Those clinical terms can sound harsh for such an emotional loss, but in terms of physical readiness, that’s the situation.

According to the Mayo Clinic, having one miscarriage does not increase your risk of a second miscarriage. “Most women who miscarry go on to have healthy pregnancies after miscarriage. A small number of women — 1 percent — will have repeated miscarriages. The predicted risk of miscarriage in a future pregnancy remains about 20 percent after one miscarriage.” However, if you have had two or more miscarriages, your risk of future miscarriages does increase and you should talk to a fertility specialist if you haven’t already. If you have experienced two or more miscarriages, it’s recommended you take several tests (blood, chromosomes, ultrasound) but if you have one miscarriage those are not deemed necessary.

Getting pregnant after a miscarriage can be full of conflicting emotions as you remember and continue to grieve the pregnancy that was lost and still rejoice in the new pregnancy. You may also feel scared that you could lose this new pregnancy and have trouble feeling excited. Seeking counseling can be helpful to navigate these complicated feelings. Reach out for support from your partner, friends, and family whenever possible, and remember that it’s OK to never forget the one you lost while still being happy for your new rainbow baby.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sarah Prager
Sarah Prager
Contributor
Sarah is a writer and mom who lives in Massachusetts. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National…
Have a 5-year-old? Then you may need help dealing with those big emotions
Teaching your child to cope with the ups and downs
Parent hugging her child

If you have been around 5-year-olds for any length of time, you know their emotions constantly run on all cylinders. It's frustrating to try to help a small child regulate their emotions while they are screaming at you, but how you handle it is so important to their development. Instead of saying your child is just having a tantrum and leaving them to it, approach those big feelings another way.
Teach your child the language to use
If you want your child to communicate, they need to know the words to use. Toddlers have their emotional releases so loudly because they don't have the language to tell you what's going on. With a 5-year-old, your kiddo should be armed with the vocabulary to say how they feel.

Whether you use books, videos, or flashcards, by 5 years old, your child should know the proper language to express their feelings. This starts with you as a parent, as your kid is always watching you. Talk out your emotions as you feel them, and you'll have a child who is used to talking out their emotions, too.
Create a calm-down kit

Read more
What does the chickenpox look like? Here’s how to know you’re about to be in for an itchy time
Is your child scratching at a rash? Then what does chickenpox look like is a question you need answered
A mother applying cream to her child while they both are in bed

Most parents these days don't have to worry about their child getting chickenpox, thanks to the success of the vaccine. But there's still a possibility your child could catch it if they can't get vaccinated. If that's your little one, what does chickenpox look like so you know how to take care of it? Here's the rundown if it's been a minute since you've had to deal with this type of pox.
What to be on lookout for
The main symptoms

Fever
Exhaustion
Headache/stomachache
Itchy rash accompanied by bumps
Blisters filled with liquid
Lots of scabs after the blisters pop
Blotchy-looking skin

Read more
What is the most common birthday month? The holidays play a key factor
The most common birthday dates (and the most common month) have one thing in common...
Getting ready for an outside birthday party

Have you noticed there's a specific month when everyone in your child's class has a birthday? Notice months that no one seems to have a birthday at all? There's a reason for that, and it has to do with the timing of the holidays. The most common birthday month that will keep you baking treats for your children's friends and have you constantly running from birthday party to birthday party is at the start of the school year for a reason.
Every child seems to be born in this month
No secret to September
Yes, September has the most common birthday dates. Why? Well, do the math backward, and where does that land you? During the holidays! And what do we do during the holidays?

Between the parties, gatherings, the holiday spirit -- and perhaps the holiday drinks -- we are in better moods, which leads to more adults enjoying each other's company. Plus, it's cold outside and we stay indoors longer. Track those nine months, and September is where the babies land.
The most common birthdays in order

Read more