Grief Counseling Education and 5 Tips to Dealing with a Miscarriage
Dealing with a miscarriage can be heartbreaking for both you and your partner. By practicing good self-care in the days and weeks following this tragic event, you can ensure that you will maintain your mental and physical health and prepare yourself for the next steps in your family planning. Read on for five tips to follow if you’ve had a recent miscarriage.
1. Follow Up with Your OB/GYN
According to Vitals, seeing your medical provider after your miscarriage can help determine the cause of the miscarriage. While this is a very common occurrence in early pregnancy, recurrent miscarriage can be a sign of an underlying condition that your doctor may be able to treat. According to Dr. Gilbert W. Webb, medical care is also important to ensure that you are physically healthy after a miscarriage, particularly if you’re planning to try to get pregnant again.
2. Pay Attention to Physical Recovery
It may take several weeks before your body feels normal again following a miscarriage. Many women experience vaginal bleeding, cramping, and breast discomfort. Ask your doctor how you can best treat these symptoms. If possible, consider taking time off work or limiting normal activities until you feel better; however, if you are up to your usual routine, that’s fine too.
3. Grieve Your Loss
You’ve experienced a profound loss, and giving yourself a chance to feel the emotions associated with this loss is an important part of the grief process. It’s normal to feel sad, angry, disappointed, and confused following a miscarriage. Share these emotions with a partner and/or trusted friend. If you feel you’re struggling with resuming normal life, you may want to seek professional counseling.
4. Seek Counseling if Need Be
If you’re having trouble dealing with your emotions after having a miscarriage, ask your provider for resources. He or she may be able to recommend a counselor that can help you sort out your feelings. In addition, a pregnancy loss support group in your area can be an invaluable resource.
5. Prepare for Future Pregnancies
When you feel emotionally ready, it’s usually safe to get pregnant again as soon as your menstrual cycle returns to normal. Every woman is different, though, so talk with your doctor about your individual situation.
While miscarriage can be devastating, keep in mind that the majority of women who experience a loss go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies. If you have several miscarriages, talk with your doctor about ways to solve the underlying issues and improve your fertility.
By Lizzie Weakley
(My name is Lizzie Weakley and I am a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. I went to college at The Ohio State University where I studied communications. I enjoy the outdoors and long walks in the park with my 3-year-old husky Snowball.)
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