For many women, miscarriages are a deeply emotional, and even traumatic experiences. Not only can the grief of losing a baby deeply affect an expecting mother and her relationships, but there are also physical side effects with which to contend.

It’s important to give credence to each of these steps in order to effectively cope with miscarriages, so if you are struggling to find peace, try these methods.

Deal with The Physical Aftermath

Precisely how much physical repair is required following a miscarriage depends upon how far along the pregnancy was. Many women who miscarry within the first two months are not even aware that they were pregnant; they will simply begin to menstruate with little abnormality.

If you miscarry when you are more than two months along, your doctor can prescribe medication to ensure that your body passes all of the tissue. Your doctor will then want to perform an ultrasound to check that everything has passed. Though these steps are medically necessary, you may find that they cause you a great deal of emotional distress.

Express Your Feelings

Miscarriages are common; around 15-20% of pregnancies miscarry, and those miscarriages are most often caused by a genetic abnormality that could not possibly have been avoided by the mother. Still, many women blame themselves for the loss, adding to the sense of grief they are already experiencing.

Following a miscarriage, your body will take a hormonal rollercoaster ride as it readjusts; this will intensify the entirely justified sensations of anger, jealousy, and loneliness that you may be experiencing.

It’s important to give yourself an outlet to properly express those emotions. Relying on close friends and family works for some women; others choose to seek out religious guidance, and others still find that going to therapy with a grief counselor is a helpful way to air those emotions.

Share Your Story

As much as friends, family, and romantic partners want to be supportive following a miscarriage, many of them simply won’t be able to understand what you are feeling for the simple reason that they will not have experienced it.

Even so, it’s important that you share your story openly, especially if you feel that you need to grieve the loss of your child with a group of others who understand precisely what you’re feeling. For this reason, it may be a good idea to find a support group following a miscarriage, and to attend until you have spoken your piece fully.

Allow Yourself to Grieve

After a miscarriage, some well-intentioned people encourage women to simply let go and forget about the pregnancy without feeling any sense of loss. While comments like these are not meant to belittle your experience, they fail to recognize the love that you already felt for your child. It’s vital that you give yourself as much time as you need to grieve for the baby you have lost.

Talk to Your OBGYN About When You Can Try Again

Every woman’s experience following a miscarriage is different in terms of emotions, but physically speaking, most women will menstruate in four to six weeks, and it’s generally safe to conceive again after one menstrual cycle.

Of course, it’s important to discuss the specifics with your OBGYN and ensure that your body is ready. It’s also important to check in with yourself and make sure that you’re emotionally recovered before you attempt to get pregnant again.

Coping with a miscarriage is an unfortunate price that many women pay on the road to motherhood, but you don’t have to experience it alone; set an appointment with COOB Women’s Health today for assistance getting through this difficult moment.