Your body will need time to heal after pregnancy loss, just as it would after any pregnancy. Here are some common physical experiences you may encounter and gentle ways to care for your body as it recovers, depending on how far along your pregnancy was.
Women often feel confused or distressed by the sense of having no real control over their body.
Many feel as if their body has betrayed them or feel guilt that somehow through their thoughts or actions, they caused their pregnancy loss to occur. Sadly, pregnancy loss is common and normal, and this does not mean that you will not be able to become pregnant again the future. In the case of early pregnancy loss many parents feel cheated that they have nothing tangible to show for their pregnancy and no memories to grieve over. This can be a particularly lonely time if their pregnancy had not yet been announced as there are few people to acknowledge their loss or offer support.
physical symptoms that may occur
- Vaginal bleeding & cramping
- Your period may return within 2–8 weeks
- Constipation & muscle pains
- Lactation & tender breasts
- Insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite
- Headaches & anxiety
After you have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, your body changes back to its non-pregnant state over a period of weeks.
Vaginal bleeding gradually lessens and your period may return within 2 – 8 weeks of a pregnancy loss, which means that your fertility will also return and another pregnancy is possible unless you take precautions. Your recovery is unique to you and depends on how far along you were and the type of treatment you received. Other physical symptoms such as bleeding, constipation and muscle pains can also continue after you have returned home, so we encourage you to listen to your body and take the time to nurture and nourish your body during your recovery. Reach out to your treating doctor if you are concerned about your physical health, especially if your physical symptoms are getting worse over time.
During the initial shock, some mothers will have a very real reminder that they have had a baby when their milk comes in.
Some feel reassured by the proof they had a baby while others can feel it is a cruel reminder. The start of lactation can also be physically uncomfortable and in some cases extremely painful. You may be very tender and leaking milk. ‘Letting down’ milk can be easily triggered, and you may find this upsetting, given you have no baby to nourish. There are options to stop lactation – including medication – which you can discuss with your doctor. You may also consider non-medical ways to ease your lactation such as avoiding constricting bras, using breast pads to absorb the milk, using cold compresses or avoiding breast stimulation. Alternatively, you may like to consider donating your milk to a milk bank if there is one near you or using your milk to create a piece of jewellery to remember your baby.
Physically, grief can be an intense experience.
Parents may experience insomnia, tummy upsets, loss of appetite, headaches and anxiety. Mothers have described an intense physical craving to hold their baby, like their arms are aching. Slowly returning to everyday activities such as exercise, work and other activities is encouraged, and listening to your body and responding when the grief is becoming overwhelming and additional support and care is needed.
Developed by Bare Mum in collaboration with Red Nose Australia.
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