Our deepest sympathies for the tragedy you’ve experienced, friend! Miscarriages are never easy, it doesn’t matter how old your developing baby was before the event—you likely imagined what they would look like, who they would grow up to be, how much you already loved them.

In the wake of this event, you’re likely to experience a deep sense of loss and other symptoms of grief while you mourn the miscarriage. However, you can also expect a number of other side effects of this difficult event.

Here are a few of the things you can expect in the days and weeks following a miscarriage. You may not experience everything on this list. In fact, some women experience a “missed miscarriage” where they miscarry without experiencing outward physical signs. But no matter what life looks like after your loss, we recommend staying in close contact with your doctor during this time.

Post-Miscarriage Symptoms

1. Changes In Your Breasts

After a miscarriage, you can expect breast discomfort of some kind, including enlargement/engorgement or leaking milk. These are temporary and should stop within a week but you can ease the discomfort with ice packs and a supportive bra.

2. Abdominal Cramps

You may also suffer with lower abdominal pain similar to menstrual cramps. You can expect this to last about 2 days after the miscarriage.

3. Bleeding

After a miscarriage, you can also experience light bleeding or spotting. Some women report bleeding similar to a menstrual period lasting up to a week after a miscarriage. Your period should resume as normal within 3-6 weeks.

4. Sadness

Grief after any loss is normal. However, any time a body goes from being pregnant to not being pregnant, there is an extreme shift in hormones that can affect brain chemistry. Know that your grief may peak immediately after your miscarriage as the pregnancy hormone (hCG) has drastically dropped and feelings of sadness typically accompany such a drop.

When Should I Call My Doctor?

There are other symptoms that may arise after a pregnancy loss; if you experience any of these, please see your doctor right away or go to an emergency room for care.

* High fever and/or chills
* Severe cramping that doesn't stop, or any cramping that lasts more than two weeks
* Heavy bleeding (soaking more than two maxi pads per hour for two hours or more), or any bleeding that lasts more than two weeks
* Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Another key emergency indicator is symptoms of excessive blood loss. If you experience lightheadedness, pale or clammy skin, or an increased heart rate along with significant vaginal bleeding, call 911.

Infection

Infection, which can complicate and prolong recovery, is also something to watch for after a miscarriage. Infection isn’t common and there are measures you can take to help prevent it:

* Take showers instead of baths
* Use sanitary pads rather than tampons
* Do not have sexual intercourse
* Do not douche
* Do not go into swimming pools or hot tubs

Vagina Practicals After A Miscarriage

You probably have a ton of questions about things like sex, pregnancy, and periods after a miscarriage. Remember, not all miscarriages are the same. You may have had a natural miscarriage or needed surgery. You may have even missed your miscarriage altogether. The reality is, there are no one-size-fits-all recommendations for how to re-engage your body after a miscarriage. Keep in contact with your doctor or OBGYN to ensure that you’re not rushing into things before your body is ready!

Sex After A Miscarriage

You can have sex after about two weeks if you had a natural miscarriage. If you had a surgery-induced miscarriage, you will need to wait longer to have sex after a miscarriage to give your body more time to heal

Periods After A Miscarriage

For a few weeks, up to two months, your period may look different; you may experience spotting or heavy bleeding. However, by the second month after the miscarriage, your period should return to normal since it takes about 60 days for your uterus to return to its previous state and for the pregnancy hormone (hCG) to drop.

Pregnancy After A Miscarriage

Right after a miscarriage, getting pregnant again might be the last thing on your mind. But if you are immediately ready to try again and your doctor has cleared you to have sex again, it’s recommended to wait 1-2 full menstrual cycles after a miscarriage to try for a another pregnancy. This will allow more full physical healing and hormonal re-balancing. Just be sure your doctor approves of your decision to start trying again since they have the best understanding of your physical recovery and how ready your body is to conceive again.

Friend, we pray that the next few days, weeks, and months are restorative for you. As you continue your recovery and healing journey, be patient with your mind, heart, and body and we hope you get the space and time to grieve your loss.

Visit The Source for free or low-cost professional counseling if you’d like a trustworthy person to work through this with. Our counselors are licensed and trained to support women and help them through difficult times. Click the button below to get connected with a Source counselor today!