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| |    Recovery After Miscarriage by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Physical recovery In general the physical part of the recovery after miscarriage is fairly easy. Your pregnancy symptoms, if they didn't subside already, will be gone within a few days. Whether you have a D&C (dilatation and curettage) or not, your bleeding should stop over one to two weeks. To avoid infection, until your bleeding resolves you should avoid putting anything into your vagina: no douching, no tampons and no sexual intercourse. Inform your doctor if you develop increased bleeding, severe cramping, or fever, since these can be signs of complications. Physically, most women can be back to normal activities including work as soon as two days after a miscarriage. Emotional recovery Emotional recovery after a miscarriage can be a much longer and more challenging process. The feelings that you and your partner experience after miscarriage may surprise you. Some people feel guilty, as if they caused the loss. It is also normal to grieve after a miscarriage, with anything from feelings of mild sadness to a full-blown grief reaction. You may find anniversaries (such as your due date) particularly difficult. Some people find solace in their partner, or in other friends and family. There are also support groups for people who have lost a baby. Returning to your everyday activities While some women are relieved to return to work for the distraction it provides, many others feel that they cannot face work soon after a loss. Emotional recovery is at least as important as physical recovery, so give yourself the time you need. Discuss your medical leave with your practitioner. Trying again Many couples feel a pressure to conceive immediately, to "undo" the sense of loss. We generally recommend three months, or two menstrual periods, before trying again to conceive. This is not because of added complications if you conceive quickly. Unless you lost a lot of blood at your miscarriage, there aren't any. Rather, the reason for waiting is to allow heart and soul to mend a bit. In addition, fertility is quite low after any pregnancy, and periods may be irregular for a few cycles. If you are trying to conceive during that time, every day that your period is late you will wonder if you are pregnant. The stress of always wondering can be tremendous, particulary with the diminished fertility during that time. Discuss with your practitioner your plans for trying again.
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