Having a miscarriage was one of the most devastating things that I have ever endured. Along with the pain, came the utter confusion about what to expect next. I scoured the internet for advice but quickly found out that there is not a lot of really valid information out there.
I had no idea when to expect my body to get back to normal. I knew there could be some irregularities relating to my period. However, I didn't know when to expect it and what to exactly might happen.
Continue reading to find out what you could expect after a miscarriage, including whether heavier periods after a miscarriage is a normal thing to endure or a cause for major concern.
What Happens to Your Body During a Miscarriage?
One of the first things that happen during a miscarriage is the cervix will soften so that the baby can exit. This is the same process that would normally occur during a healthy delivery.
Some women who miscarry experience contractions just like the contractions that would help a baby be delivered. After a miscarriage, the body will try to expel the pregnancy-related tissue. This might happen suddenly or gradually over a few days.
Headaches After a Miscarriage
After a miscarriage, you may notice a throbbing headache. There are many reasons why you might have a headache after a miscarriage. It could be from medicines, dehydration, tension, or emotional turmoil.
What Does it Mean to Empty the Uterus?
One of the least talked about topics about miscarriage is when the body passes the gestational sac or fetal tissue. It is definitely disturbing, but is an unfortunate reality for women who miscarry.
When women endure a miscarriage towards the beginning of their pregnancy, they may actually pass the the gestational sac in which the embryo has been developing. Another thing that can happen is the passing of gray-colored "fetal tissue," or parts of the placenta.
Not all women experience the passing of gestational sac or fetal tissue. In fact, many women will only see a lot of tissue and blood. Regardless of the case, it is still disturbing to say the least. It is important to note that you can still have a miscarriage, even without seeing blood.
What Happens to Your Hormones After a Miscarriage
The hCG hormone is the hormone that is associated with pregnancy and is what home pregnancy tests look for when determining if you are pregnant or not. This hormone may take a while to return back to normal levels in your body after a miscarriage has taken place.
The length of time that it will take for your hormones to return back to normal levels will depend on what stage you were in the pregnancy when the miscarriage occurred. For example, if you had the miscarriage around the tenth week, hCG will take longer to disappear than if you had the miscarriage around the fifth week.
If your body has not yet expelled the fetal or placenta tissue, then the hCG hormone may still be present. A pregnancy test might still show a positive result until the hormone returns to normal.
When to Expect Your First Period After a Miscarriage
When you have a miscarriage, your body responds as though you are having your period. Therefore, you will most likely ovulate about 14 days after the miscarriage and you should expect your period in another 14 days. To recap, you should have your first period around 28 days after the miscarriage.
However, most women have irregular periods to begin with so the exact amount of time that it will take to have the first period may vary.
In any case, if the period has not taken place within 6 weeks after the miscarriage, then there may be a problem.
You should notify a physician if your period has not taken place by the seventh week after a miscarriage. You should also call your doctor if you get a positive reading on a pregnancy test more than three weeks after the miscarriage.
What to Expect With Your First Period After a Miscarriage
You might not experience any changes when you have your first period after a miscarriage. Some women report very little spotting or a light flow. However, for a lot of women, the period is much heavier than normal and may include blood clots.
Some women may even experience a period that stops suddenly and then resumes a few days later. Other women may have bleeding for several days or even weeks. If your period stops and hasn't returned after 20 days, then your period is probably over.
So, Should You Be Worried About Heavier Periods After a Miscarriage?
For the most part, heavier periods after a miscarriage are usually nothing to be concerned about. Although you may hear of some women having lighter periods, others still have periods that are a lot heavier.
Do not be too concerned about heavier periods unless you are also having other symptoms to accompany them. Heavier periods alone are somewhat to be expected.
However, if you also are experiencing your period for more than just a couple days, if the pain is worsening, or if you have a fever, you could have an infection.
To Wrap Up…
If you think you have had a miscarriage, you should meet with your physician immediately. Your physician can help you learn what more to expect and can warn you about any possible complications, such as persistent bleeding, worsening pain, or a fever. You do not have to go through this alone.
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