After a stillbirth, you’re likely to experience a time of grief. Some people find the notion of becoming pregnant again overwhelming. Pregnancy may be therapeutic for some women. If you decide to try for a baby again, here are some things to expect.
After a stillbirth, conception
About half of women who have had a loss opt to get pregnant again. 1 It’s not uncommon to feel anxious or depressed with successive pregnancies and the postpartum period with your new child.
Your prior stillbirth’s mental health symptoms will not disappear if you give birth to a new baby. Regardless of whether or not you decide to have another baby, it is a good idea to get emotional help following a pregnancy loss.
Getting it right at the right time
No medical evidence exists to support a certain waiting period before trying to get pregnant again. Waiting three months after a miscarriage to allow your body to recover to normal does not have any substantial physiological advantages.
Researchers have shown that couples who attempt to conceive again within three months following a miscarriage have a higher success rate than those who wait longer.
For most couples, the choice to conceive again is based solely on their mental and emotional preparedness for another pregnancy, unless there are medical problems that need a longer waiting time. Here are some of the risk factors for stillbirth, as well as measures to keep your mental health in check while pregnant.
Stillbirth Risks
A stillbirth happens in the United States once in every 160 pregnancies. Fetal mortality that occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy is considered to be a stillbirth. While some stillbirths can be prevented, there are others that can’t be.
You should consult your doctor if the reason of your stillbirth has been determined. Many women who have been through a miscarriage or stillbirth can go on to have healthy and safe pregnancies in the future.
Stillbirth is connected with a number of risk factors, including:
• In vitro fertilisation (IVF) raises the chance of stillbirth by two to three times after controlling for other factors.
• Diabetes and high blood pressure increase the chance of a stillbirth in pregnant women.
• Data from throughout the world shows that male newborns have a 10% greater chance of dying in childbirth than female babies.
• Women who are younger than 15 or older than 35 have a greater risk of stillbirth compared to those in the middle of this age range.
• When a woman’s pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is 25 or above, she has an increased chance of having a stillbirth.
• The chance of a future stillbirth is increased among women who have had hypertension, tiny for gestational age newborns, caesarean sections, and/or previous stillbirths.
• High stillbirth rates are linked to several pregnancy problems, including placental abruption, foetal growth limitation, genetic disorders, infection, and term labour.
• If you are expecting twins, your chance of stillbirth is 2.5 times greater than if you are expecting a singleton.
• Non-Hispanic Black women are twice as likely as other racial groupings to have stillbirths.
• There is an increased risk of stillbirth associated with illicit drug use, tobacco use, and secondhand smoke exposure.
• About 10% of stillbirths are linked to anomalies in the umbilical cord, which is a common cause.
Don’t smoke while pregnant (and don’t breathe in secondhand smoke), obtain prenatal care on a regular basis, and follow all of the basic guidelines for safe pregnancy. Make sure you’re healthy before you get pregnant if you’re overweight or have diabetes or high blood pressure so that you can have a better pregnancy result.
Talk to a knowledgeable person about your situation
In the past, people were advised to wait a year before attempting to conceive again. Even though you’re generally urged to wait a year before trying for another baby, research on over 14,000 births in 2019 indicated that conception occurring sooner than the recommended year carries low risk.
But it’s a good idea to give your body and mind time to recuperate from the physical and emotional trauma of pregnancy and childbirth, as well. It might be difficult to figure out the optimum time to try again, and you may get conflicting advice from specialists.
Consult an expert in pregnancy, such as a consultant obstetrician, who is likely to have greater experience with stillbirths and can assist you in discussing your personal circumstances. It is possible that your hospital has a consultant who specialises in the treatment of stillbirth survivors.
Consider waiting for test findings before making a decision
Depending on the results of any post-mortem examinations or post-mortem testing, you may want to wait for the results before making any decisions. You’ll want to know whether these results indicate a specific issue that might jeopardise a future pregnancy or if it can be remedied.
Your age and overall health may also play a role in the scheduling of your next attempt.
You will have a postnatal checkup with your GP six weeks following the delivery to check on your physical well-being. If you’re ready to talk about future pregnancies, you can do so.
Consult an Obstetrician if you had tests done following the death of your baby and want to know what the results suggest for a future pregnancy. This visit may necessitate further testing.
Consider starting your folic acid regimen and making any required lifestyle adjustments, like as stopping smoking and drinking alcohol, before deciding to try for a second time.
What is my fertility like after having a stillbirth?
Your next period might occur around 5 to 6 weeks following the birth of your kid. However it is typical to bleed for a few weeks following the delivery of a baby. This is termed lochia. Lochia starts after the delivery, is heavy and red for 3 to 5 days and then is brown or pink and lighter for roughly 10 days, occasionally more. It might be hard to discern if the blood is your menstruation or lochia.
You will probably ovulation and be fertile 2 weeks before your first period thus you might fall pregnant fairly fast after the loss. However, it is advised to wait until any scars have healed (for example from an episiotomy or rip) and your cervix has re-closed, to reduce the danger of infection (for the mother) (for the mother).
You may find it beneficial to discuss contraception with your GP, midwife or health visitor until you feel ready to try again.
People also search
Is it safe to get pregnant right after a stillbirth?
Research published in the Lancet reveals that there is no need to postpone the delivery of a second child following a stillbirth. There is little scientific evidence to support the idea that women should wait a year before starting a family again.
Is it easy to get pregnant after stillbirth?
Pregnancy can occur within two weeks of a stillbirth since you will likely ovulate and be fertile two weeks before your first period. For this reason, it is best to wait until any scars from an episiotomy or rip have healed and your cervix has re-closed (for the mother).
Does stillbirth affect future pregnancy?
If you’ve experienced a stillbirth, you’re more likely to have difficulties during your next pregnancy, according to research. Because of this, more attention is needed. The likelihood of problems is influenced by the circumstances surrounding the death of your infant.
When can I try for a baby after stillbirth?
If you’ve had a miscarriage, you may not need to wait three months before trying for a baby again, according to new research published today in Obstetrics and Gynecology! After a pregnancy loss, the World Health Organization recommends waiting a minimum of six months before trying again.
