Conception after D&E

[ElizD]

I found out I had lost a fetal heartbeat at 13 weeks and had a D&E on June 22nd.  We waited until after my first period to begin trying again - it was normal and I haven't had any complications.  We've tried for the last three months and I have not become pregnant.  I have three children and, including the one I lost, the longest it ever took was two months.  Is it too early to call my doctor or begin worrying?  I'm thirty-seven so I don't want to wait too much longer.

[Forum-M.D.-SP]

Even though you are getting a little bit older, I feel that it is still a bit early to call your MD. Normally, the advice is to try for a year. At age 37, I think it is reasonable to seek advice after six months of trying, if you do not get pregnant. Sorry about your miscarriage, and good luck.

[rp17]

Hi.. Sorry to hear of ur losses. I had a missed miscarriage and also had to have a D&E in Dec '06 at almost 17 weeks, it was a natural twin pregnancy. I was devastated (and still am). I got my periods back 2.5 months later (mid march), and have since been trying to conceive again (7 months now). This was my first pregnancy and i got pregnant in my 2nd cycle after comng off the birth control pill. Now i also feel "is there something wrong"? did something go wrong with the D&E to now prevent me from becoming pregnant? I am now stressing about becoming pregnant, i want it soo bad that's all i think about. My cycles also seems to be getting longer and longer.. the last 7 months my cycles have ranged from 31 - 42 days.. is this normal? I feel like i am becoming obsessed with becoming pregnant.. any advice as to how to stop obsessing/stressing and how to relax would be very welcome. Also has anyone else had problems conceiving after a D&E??

Thanks!

[ElizD]

I'm so very sorry to hear about all you are going through!  I hope and pray that everything turns out alright for you. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my situation.

[BG-MN]

I also had a D&C last June at 9 and 1/2 weeks (after seeing a heartbeat).  It was devastating.  I was told to wait two cycles to try to conceive, as the uterine lining isn't really ready to receive a pregnancy until it builds back up.  After waiting the two cycles, I got pregnant the second cycle after that.  One thing my RE tried that  I think helped me conceive more quickly is that he had me taking progesterone in the second half of my cycle.  Unfortunately, this pregnancy isn't going too well (my RE is predicting a miscarriage), but I am really old to be trying to conceive (46), so that is likely a function of my older eggs, not at all the D&C.  I think you've got plenty of time left, but if you're concerned, I think you should go to an RE asap and let them advise you.  The more stressed out you get, the harder it will be to conceive, so maybe they'll either put your mind at ease, or find some problem they can treat, or otherwise give you helpful advice.  Best wishes to you!

[ElizD]

Thank you so much for your comments.  I don't know why, but it does help to hear all this from someone else.  I think I already knew everything you were saying, but it is much more reassuring to hear it from someone other than family.  My doctor told me that I am just no longer naive when it comes to pregnancy and he was so right.  Before, it seemed so easy to get pregnant and carry to term.  Now I know the reality.  Thank you again, for all that you wrote!

[MNHall]

Hi!  I'm no doctor, but I too experienced a loss, so I thought I'd give my input, if that's okay.  First of all, I am so sorry to hear about your loss.  I had a D&C at 10 1/2 weeks in June of 2006.  I know it's a very very emotional situation and I'm so sorry that you had to go through it.  

After my loss, I went on a message board and talked with TONS of women as I coped with my loss, started to try again, then again became pregnant.  It was so nice to talk with a group of women that understood what I was going through, at all stages!  Through my journey it seemed like there is nothing really normal or usual that happens after a loss, except that everything is normal and usual.  It seems like most of the people that I talked to, their doctors would not do much in terms of testing unless the woman experienced 2, sometimes 3 losses.  

Even though you have conceived your other children quicker, it may take a couple of months for your body to figure itself back out and even in the perfect situation, isn't it something like a 20-30% chance of conception each month?

The good news is that you know you can conceive and you know you can carry to term...so while that doesn't make it any easier as you are trying and it doesn't take away the pain of a loss....hopefully your body is back on track and you will be pregnant again very very soon!

I personally wouldn't worry about it in terms of your chances of conceiving, but I'm wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy very very soon!!!!!