38 answers

How Do You Relax and Enjoy You Pregnancy After a Loss

Hi Mamas! I need your help again. I just found out that I am pregnant. It is VERY early in the pregnancy, a lot earlier than most people would find out since I am seeing a reproductive endocrinologist for fertility issues. After a second round (this is our second try at injectables and IUI), I found out this morning I am pregnant. My first round of injectables and IUI resulted in pregnancy on the thirds try back in April. After a few difficult month the pregnancy resulted in miscarriage. So my question is this - how do I relax and not obsess over every twinge, gas pain (sorry if TMI), and minor spotting (implantation bleeding) that occurs? Obviously this pregnancy if very important to me, I've waited so long. it's going to be a lllooonnngg 40 weeks after finding out so early. I would like to relax and enjoy my time with my baby as he or she grows, but I also don't want to be unrealistic about what could happen. Anyone been there? Any words of wisdom or support? You are all so great. I look forward to your replies.

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

It's been a while since my original post, but I wanted to wait until I had some news. I went for my first blood test and ultrasound since my last blood test two weeks ago. Everything is good, measurements are good, heartbeats were seen. I haven't gotten my hcg levels back yet from the doctor's office, but so far everything looks good for our TWINS! I want to say a great big thank you for all the responses I received. I am sorry so many of you have been where I was, but your words of support were so helpful.

Featured Answers

There is a self-inquiry process called "The Work" that is extremely helpful for dealing with stressful/fearful thoughts. The book is "Loving What Is." The website is thework.com

More Answers

I know EXACTLY what you are going through...

In 2000, I found out I was pregnant, carried for 15 weeks and miscarried. I got pregnant again in 2002 and miscarried at 14 weeks. Since I carried so long in both; I had to deliver in both situations. Neither pregnancy, were they able to determine why we lost our baby boys.

We waited a few more years. (I was 38 when I got pregnant again) We couldn't afford the specialist that was suggested because it wasn't covered by insurance and the money just wasn't there.

December 2005 - my husband said, do you want to try one more time? I got pregnant. I had the same thoughts and conversations with my husband. We prayed A LOT and just said - WE ARE ***NOT*** going to live, waiting for the "other shoe to drop". We are NOT going to wait for this pregnancy to end. We ARE going to ENJOY every sign that is given to us that this pregnancy is going to last.

I hadn't felt kicks in the first two pregnancies; however I started feeling the kicks and again...just thanked God for that "additional" feeling of life.

There were a couple days that I couldn't feel her moving. I remember sitting on the edge of my bed praying, "God, if this isn't meant to be, I won't like it...it will really SUCK again; however I want to thank you for the feelings of this baby that I wasn't able to feel in the first pregnancies." I was crying like mad; however really meant it.

I read something that the grief support lady gave me while still in the hospital for my first loss. "Gone is the innocence". Meaning: once you have lost, you can never go back to that "wide-eyed awe" of being pregnant.

I am here to say that I believe you can get that back. You have to "re-wallpaper" your mind to think toward what could happen and rejoice (find joy) in every yucky thing that happens during pregnancy...Love your nausea...LOVE the fact that you have to go to the bathroon 100 times a day...LOVE LOVE the fact that when you pass by the hamburger joint, you have to stop or you are going to hit someone :)

Again, all you are doing is saying to yourself OVER AND OVER AGAIN that you are not going to live your life, waiting for death. You are going to enjoy every day for what it gives you.

Can I get an AMEN!! I read this response back and it sounds a little preachy and I am sorry - just really passionate about this. My mother-in-law would call me every week and ask me if the baby was ok or was it dead...Can you imagine? I kept telling her that she was crazy and the baby was fine and that I CHOOSE to believe that this one was going to work out. But enjoy every day that you are given...being a mommy (being pregnant). It rocks!

Take care and good, good, good luck!
J.

3 moms found this helpful

I used Hypnobabies, a self-hypnosis curriculum for pain management during childbirth, and it came with a daily affirmation-type cd that I felt was very helpful to me as I am a worrier by nature. I cannot relate to your mc experience exactly but am deeply sorry for your loss. Check out hypnobabies.com...I really thought it was a cool way to connect and feel calm during pregnancy. Good luck!

Congratulations! It sounds like you have gotten some great emotional advice so my recommendations will be more on the medical side.

I miscarried three times inbetween my first two children and was very nervous during the pregnancy with my second child and the start of my current pregnancy.

It helped me to have medical reassurance and my RE was very patient with me. Before six weeks, you can have your blood drawn to verify a pregnancy and verify that your hormones are rising appropriately (a few days later). I had them draw at 5 weeks just for extra reassurance.

At 6 weeks a heartbeat can been seen on an ultrasound. A "good" 6 week ultrasound with good measurements and a heartbeat over 100 bpm is a big hurdle. I also have an 8 week sono.

At 10-12 weeks (depending on the person), a heartbeat can be heard during a regular checkup.

I agree with thinking positively, but it is hard after what you have been through. I found that having medical proof, even good hormones on a blood test, was very helpful for me to get through the first few nervous weeks.

Hoping you have a wonderful, smooth, pregnancy.

hi i too lost a baby at 16wks and had to deliver a still born. it was the most heartbreaking thing i ever had to go through and am still going through to this day. because i was already showing alot i had a lot of questions from friends people at work and even just acquantances that i would bump into from time to time. it has been 2 months and people still ask when im due or what did i have? it really makes things very uncomfortable because i weigh about 130lbs and am only 5'7" so i don't look pregnant at all, but i guess some people don't stop and think before they speak. anyway i just found out i was pregnant about a week ago and it should be about 7 weeks into the pregnancy if im counting right. im very very scared and don't want to go all the way to 4 months again and miscarry. im really not sure if my heart can take it again. but like most other posters i have left it up to God to decide if i am ready for another child. you may not understand his plan, but it's always in our best interest.
hope things go well and i would just do alot of reading and being with family to take your mind off things.

yep, it sounds like everybody has some of the simular ideas, and that is, to relax your mind. find something else to do to keep yourself from giving this tooooo much thought, you could stress yourself out.reading good books,stay active ,nothing vigorous. and say to yourself I'M GOING TO BE FINE, WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE. Try some breathing excersise. youre going to be fine G..good luck .

So sorry to hear of your loss. I know how hard it is to relax and just enjoy this pregnancy. After 2 miscarriages, I got pregnant with my daughter and I was very nervous. My husband wanted to start thinking of names and I said I can't, it was all too risky and I didn't want to get attached. And he said, "From the moment life begins, it's all a risk." Somehow that was a comfort. That we can do the best we can but we can never really control what happens. I know that's weird, but somehow there was comfort in recognizing that this was out of my hands. I'm not particularly religious, but I'd say you have to have a spiritual approach to this all. Whether that's church or praying or meditation or whatever so you can kind of let go and know that whatever happens, you'll be ok and you'll be a mom one way or another.

All that said, you have every reason to feel good about this pregnancy. Miscarriage is really common and doesn't indicate you'll have another. And nature is pretty spectacular -- most pregnancies are just fine, the huge majority of pregnancies can't be disturbed if you try and result in perfectly healthy babies. You'll be nervous because you've "lost your innocence" - you know first hand what can happen. But you just have to walk that wire of hopefulness and letting go of expectations. As the pregnancy progresses, you'll feel more confident - but I'm not sure any of us lose our fear completely. Then the baby is born and boy, the worrying really starts! I think it's for a lifetime:-)

Congratulation and best of luck to you, G.. I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy! When mine "stuck" it was great and once the baby's here, you forget all the struggle.

Take care,
S.

congrats and good luck. yes, it's hard to be all excited after 2 losses. i had the same issue and now have a healthy 1 year old. on my 3rd pregnancy, my doctor had me on a baby aspirine for awhile. you might want to ask you ob/gyn about that....

I know how hard it is to try to stay positive after a loss. I've had 2 miscarriages in a row -- april 2008 and August 2008. Although MDs say your nervous system and nutrition cannot affect a healthy pregnancy -- [my miscarriage in aug was of a healthy pregnancy. based on testing fetus was completely normal and all tests so far have some back negative for something wrong with me] -- my homeopathic doctor disagrees. He says the nervous system affects all bodily functions. I was extremely nervous with my last miscarriage b/c of the m/c in April.

Try to think only positive thoughts. Also relaxation is very important. Meditate or do some light yoga when you feel yourself getting nervous to take your mind off of it. I have also heard accupuncture is a good thing to do to help you relax.

Also drink TONS of water -- 1 qt of water for every 50 lbs of weight per day and round up. So for example, if you weigh 130lbs, you should drink 3 qts of water/day. Also, eat 9 ozs of red meat/week. In Chinese medicine, the liver controls the uterus. If you are iron deficient, your uterus will either abort or hold on to a pregnancy too long (I was 10 days overdue with my 20 month old son). These are all things my homeopathic doc told me about, I thought I'd share them with you in case any of it might help.

Good Luck -- I hope you will be celebrating a birth in June/July 2009!

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