Suffering one or more gestational losses is a terrible experience that can deeply affect a couple , and that requires the support of family, friends and professionals to overcome it.
In this sense, Dr. Paloma Baviera – Gynecologist and Obstetrician specialized in human reproduction at the Equipo Juana Crespo Fertility Clinic – affirms that before the woman becomes pregnant again it is important to address both the psychological and the medical aspects , giving an expectation realistic of each case and the procedure to follow after recovery.
We have talked to her about the things to consider before trying a pregnancy again after having one or more miscarriages.
Psychological support is essential
Suffering an abortion is a very hard experience, which can deeply mark the woman and her partner. For this reason, the experts from Equipo Juana Crespo insist on the importance of emotional accompaniment to the environment, as well as psychological support from health professionals.
For Marta Valiente, general health psychologist and specialist in assisted reproduction, anxiety, depression and addictions at Equipo Juana Crespo, the accompaniment of a couple in the gestational grief would go through:
- Validate the emotions of both members of the couple, both individually and jointly
- Support the parents’ pain, making it easier for them to feel understood and supported
- Blame what happened
- Inform about the nature of the grieving process, as well as facilitate the dialogue of this experience
If after the abortion the couple is going to try a new pregnancy, “it is very important to experience grief in all its phases, so that the symptoms do not reappear in the next pregnancy,” the psychologist advises.
Once the psychological issue has been addressed, what medical aspects should be taken into account?
For Dr. Baviera, the most important thing is to establish a relationship of trust with the couple and offer realistic expectations about a new pregnancy , according to her specific case.
In general, most women do not need any additional treatment or they will be able to get pregnant again without problems, but it is necessary to report that the risk of a new abortion will increase with age , rising to 20% in older women. 35 years and 40% in those over 40 years.
“Complementary tests are recommended to try to identify the cause , although 50% of recurrent abortions will go undiagnosed” – explains the doctor.
Among the most frequent causes of repeat abortions demonstrable by clinical analysis and studies are genetics and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but it is advisable to rule out other probable causes such as uterine malformations, thrombophilias, endocrine, infectious, autoimmune causes, endometrial factors. ..
Once the problem is diagnosed, if any, the corresponding treatment will proceed if this is possible.
Types of abortion and waiting times to attempt a new pregnancy
Another fundamental aspect that must also be taken into account before attempting a new pregnancy is the recommended waiting time between the abortion and the new search .
In this way, Dr. Paloma Baviera speaks of the following assumptions:
- In cases of miscarriage of a few weeks
After the first menstruation after the abortion, the search can be started again, sometimes even two weeks later you can already have a normal ovulation and some women become pregnant in this period.
- Abortion of a few weeks requiring curettage
When the abortion does not occur spontaneously , there are two ways to act: either by administering vaginal tablets prescribed by a doctor to help the uterus expel the remains, or by performing a curettage, which is a surgical intervention in the uterine cavity.
Although the risk is minimal, curettage could lead to subsequent bleeding or infection , so watch for certain alarm symptoms, rest, do not have sex, and do not use tampons for two to four weeks later.
After the quarantine or after the next menstruation, the woman should go to a gynecological check-up where the doctor will offer guidelines and recommendations to try a new pregnancy.
- Late abortion (12-22 weeks) with curettage
Dr. Baviera explains that the protocols when acting in these cases may differ from one center to another, although in most cases it is chosen to administer a combination of drugs via the vaginal / oral route to help the expulsion of the fetus. and posterior curettage is very common to remove the remains of the placenta.
When abortion is late, it is important to take into account that the body may take up to two months to recover, in addition to hemorrhagic and infectious complications being more frequent.
- When the baby dies inside the womb in the third trimester of pregnancy
If the death of the baby in the womb occurs after the fifth month of pregnancy, induction of labor or even a cesarean section will be necessary to extract the baby.
In these cases, menstruation usually recovers after a month and a half , but that does not mean that the woman’s body is ready for a new pregnancy. Thus, from the physical plane, the gynecologist recommends waiting two months if it was childbirth or a year if it was cesarean section.
Thus, in general, a woman’s body recovers from an abortion in one or two months, depending on how many weeks pregnant she was at the time of loss. But the physical plane is not the only thing that matters , so it is also necessary to address the psychological plane to face a new pregnancy in the best possible condition.
Photos | iStock
Acknowledgments | Dtra. Paloma Baviera, Team Gynecologist Juana Crespo (IG, Facebook, Twitter)
In Babies and More | “Giving birth knowing that your baby will not live”: a mother faced with the very hard decision to interrupt the pregnancy due to a serious malformation, New Zealand will give three days of leave for bereavement to couples who suffer a spontaneous abortion, The seven most common myths about miscarriage that are not true
