Scared after miscarriage

I have a 3 1/2yr old and have had 1 miscarriage.  I am 23 and would like to have another child but am worried that the stress of a toddler boy may cause me to not get pregnant or miscarry again.  How can I up my chances of conceiving naturally?

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
My first response was--get a babysitter!
I have three 2 1/2 year old boys, and am very sympathetic!
Your best bet is to eat and sleep well, get regular mild exercise and take a prenatal vitamin.  If you need to lose a few pounds do it now.  A normal Body Mass Index improves fertility.
You can also start to monitor your cycles--the most fertile days are on cycle days 11-16.
(Counting day one of your period as day 1 of your cycle).  Having intercourse every day or every other day during this time is optimal.
Smoking can reduce fertility and increase chances for miscarriage, so a good bad habit to get rid of if necessary.
It is very natural to be pregnant and have toddlers too--most women do, so your son won't do any harm, but definitely be kind to yourself and get as much help as you can!
Good luck!
Dr B