Frustrated after conflicting recommendations

nwshay · April 2016

Ok- What has everyone been told about TTC after a loss? How long to wait?

A little back information. I had a CP back in November, was given the go ahead to try again, got BFP on my first cycle trying in December, and then found out I had a blighted Ovum at 8 wks (was only measuring 6). Ended up not miscarrying naturally so it was medically induced. I started bleeding on Feb 13th, which didnt end until around the first of March. The doctor that I have been seeing told me that once I have my first AF (and HCG is at zero) I was good to start trying.

I had my level check a week ago and they were at 7, the on call doctor said I should be ok to not come back for another draw since they are so low- BUT said to use protection for 3 months! Its a group practice (Group Health) So I understand that whatever doctor is in that day who reads my results gives me information. 3 months is a long time. I'm ready now. I have an over the phone appt with my doctor (the 1 that said after my first menstrual cycle), but not until the 15th.

Still waiting for AF anyway- Such a long wait. Never thought I'd want to see my period.

What are your ladies experiences in this area? What have you been told and what did you ultimately decide? I think were going to go off of the first docs opinion until we talk to her. After 1st AF sounds great, unless it's dangerous or risky. I've been doing some reading though, and it sounds like most new research shows its OK to try right away, and that its more successful. Who knows though? This whole journey is so confusing and exhausting.

MWoodside · April 2016

After my first loss at 14 weeks, I was told 3 months. When I asked for clarity my Dr said "1 month for physical healing, 2 more for emotional healing". I truly needed that time so we did TTC again after 3 mo. It took 3 more (so 6 total) to get my next BFP.

After my second loss at 9 weeks, I was told to allow my body to have one full cycle after my loss bleeding stopped and they we could TTC again. We ended up waiting 6 months to try and have tried for 3 cycles so far. No BFP yet.

For me, I have to be mentally ready to face another loss again before I feel ready to TTC again. Personally, I am not mentally ready for that right away so I don't regret waiting either time. I've heard lots of stories about Drs saying waiting at all wasn't necessary. I've heard lots of stories of people getting a BFP the very next month and going on to have a successful pregnancy. But for me, I needed to wait to allow me heart to heal and my mind to be ready to face the possibility of another loss again.

SnobunnieMel · April 2016

I was told by my doctor at my 2 week post d&c to start trying then. He is in the camp of trying right away, that waiting for AF is not even necessary. We had a lengthy conversation about this. There are lots of studies that came out that show statistically better success rates in those who try immediately versus waiting 3 or 6 months. I asked about endometrial lining concerns and he pointed out that in a normal cycle you bleed for 5 days and by day 14 your lining is ready for implantation, so in a post d&c cycle where it can take up to 4-6 weeks your uterus should have plenty of time, not to mention your lining is at its thickest from pregnancy already.

That being said, I think a lot of doctors say wait for AF more for dating purposes than anything else as well as to help with piece of mind for the patient. I think there is a much higher anxiety level if you get pregnant before a period with worries of "body not ready". This is not from
personal experience yet, still in that waiting for AF since my procedure as well.

dpjennifer · April 2016

I had a d&c at around 8 weeks, 2 days after I found out the baby stopped growing around 5.5 weeks. They were afraid it was a molar pregnancy (which you have to wait a long time to TTC again). However, since the results came back clear and the procedure went smoothly I was told to just wait until after my first cycle ended to try again. Apparently the norm used to be 3 cycles, because doctor's were afraid the time was needed for your body to heal. But, my doctor said that more recently the evidence doesn't show that waiting 3 cycles, as opposed to just 1 cycle, made much difference physically. However, she did say we could start trying to conceive again after one cycle if everything was cleared (which it was) AND we were emotionally ready.

Spartanrd4 · April 2016

The OB who did my D&C (who is not my regular OB) said wait 1 cycle, the OB who I followed up post op (he is in the same practice as my regular OB but I couldn't get an appointment with her because she was booked) said 3 cycles. I am going to see my regular OB next month because I am due for my pap smear, so I'm going to ask her what her opinion is (she is the one I trust the most). Hopefully I have my first AF by then- my last hcg was 21 so have another lab draw next week.

fivetimesnoluck · April 2016

All of the various answers lead me to believe there is not a "right" answer. I think the most important thing is that you are emotionally ready. My doc always said two cycles and we have typically been slow to get back on the horse, so that wasn't problematic for us, but I have known of and heard of many successful pregnancies that were conceived before AF showed again after MC.

MooFish2364 · April 2016

My dr told me we were ok to start trying again as soon as my Hcg was back to zero and I got negative pregnancy tests. We did end up waiting until after my first AF to start trying. We are both in our 30's and don't want to put it off too long. We would like to have two children but as of now I would be happy with just one!

I also received conflicting information. When I first spoke to my dr about my d&c he told me that we should wait two weeks or until the bleeding stops before we had sex again. When I was leaving the hospital after one of the nurses told me to wait 6 weeks! I thought that was crazy and decided to do a bit of research and just go with what my doctor said and wait two weeks.

ThePax89 · April 2016

I suffered a loss at 5 weeks in Nobember '15. I was told to wait 2 cycles for dating purposes. Since she didn't state that it was dangerous, I got pregnant immediately and never had my period in between.

Due to a chromosomal complication, I lost that baby at 10 weeks. (D&C). I was told to wait 2 cycles to try again.

Wishilivedinflorida · April 2016

With my first loss, the OB who did my D&C said we could try right away after the initial two week moratorium on things in vagina. The OB that I saw for the follow up appointment a week later said wait two cycles. We ended up splitting the difference and just waited for the first cycle after AF and conceived again on the second cycle anyway.

Nobody said anything to me after this second loss. I think they assumed I "knew the drill." I go for follow up tomorrow. We plan on waiting for some bloodwork to come back before trying again anyway, but it will be interesting to hear another opinion.

My personal opinion is to do whatever you feel is right for you, as long as there isn't a legitamate medical reason to wait other than "emotional readiness" (molar, for instance). I personally would wait for first AF or at least start temping right away so that if you conceive right away, that you have some dates to go by. I can't imagine not knowing my dates and having PGAL brain all at the same time. That's just me.

BornReady · April 2016

I was told 2-3 months to let my body get back to "normal", but I was having none of that and waited until my first period to do OPKs etc. As fate would have it, my body took care of the wait all on it's own with short cycles, very short luteal phases etc. that would have made pregnancy difficult to achieve anyways. Like PPs have said it looks like the research leads more towards not having to wait, but in my case my body just wasn't on board right away anyways.

mandi135 · April 2016

The doctor who diagnosed my m/c at 10 weeks told me to wait until after my first AF purely for dating reasons but my normal OB told me I didn't need to wait and when I get the blood draw with 0 hcg to consider that day 1 of my cycle for her purposes. I'm going with waiting for my (hopefully last) blood draw, which is in a week and then we'll start TTC. I've been charting in the meantime and checking CM just in case so that I have that information if we get a BFP before my next AF. My cycles are really irregular anyway due to PCOS, so I think waiting for AF would be even more stressful in this context.

It is so interesting to read all the different recommendations doctors give - no wonder TTC can be so tricky with all the different information out there.

catiecatp · April 2016

My GP told me to go ahead with trying right away because we know so little about my regular cycle (off of BC) that we'd need at least 3-4 months in order to have any reliability for dating - so I would need a dating ultrasound regardless... And she wasn't going to recommend 3-4 months with an early loss.

stephann85 · April 2016

I have a very similar story to yours. I got my first BFP on January 1st. Found out a couple weeks later that I would miscarry because of a blighted ovum. At 9 weeks I partially miscarried and ended up with a D&C on February 5th. My numbers had dropped to 11 by my 2 week follow up appointment. I was told I could start ttc again after my first AF. I hope this helps.

nwshay · April 2016

Thank you ladies for sharing your experiences! I appreciate it!

Cubslove12 · April 2016

I was told after both my miscarriages wait one AF, then try again! My doc also told me I could wait a bit if needed, but not to wait 6 months.

roper2617 · April 2016

I was given the green light to start TTC whenever we felt ready (after a US that showed everything was clear), which for us was roughly a week after mc bleeding had stopped (so 3 weeks after MC). It was recommended that we wait until first AF for dating purposes, but we decided not to do that. I held the belief that my uterus wouldn't allow me to get pregnant if wasn't ready.

KarenBeth714 · April 2016

I had a d&e for a loss at 16 weeks. My doctor said only wait 1 cycle ( after the first normal af after) I was surprised she said we could start again so soon but she reassured me that your body bounces back pretty quick.

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