Positive outcomes for pregnancy after miscarriage
Friday August 6th, 2010
Women who conceive shortly after a miscarriage do not face a raised risk of complications, researchers said today.
Experts
from Aberdeen University, UK, write on the website of the British Medical
Journal that: "Any miscarriage is associated with distress and prompts
questions about the optimal timing of the next pregnancy. How long a couple
should wait before trying for another pregnancy after a miscarriage is
controversial."
Guidelines from the World Health Organisation recommend waiting at least six months for full mental and physical recovery.
But British experts said the new findings mean couples should not be afraid of trying for another baby as soon as they like.
The researchers, led by Professor Sohinee Bhattacharya, looked at figures from 30,937 women who had a miscarriage in their first recorded pregnancy and subsequently became pregnant.
Those who conceived again within six months were less likely to have another miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy than those who waited six to 12 months. Women who waited more than 24 months were more likely to have an ectopic second pregnancy.
Conceiving again within six months was linked to a lower chance of caesarean section, premature birth and low birth weight, but higher chance of an induced labour.
The team conclude: "Women who conceive within six months of an initial miscarriage have the best reproductive outcomes and lowest complication rates in a subsequent pregnancy."
They believe that the current guidelines may need to be reconsidered. "In accordance with our results, women wanting to become pregnant soon after a miscarriage should not be discouraged," they state.
And Dr Tony Falconer, president elect of the UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, added: "If you wish to be pregnant, trying again soon, whenever you feel physically and emotionally ready, does not increase your risk of miscarrying next time. It may be worth taking this opportunity to talk to your GP about anything you can do to prepare for a pregnancy."
But Mervi Jokinen, of the Royal College of Midwives, urged caution because of the emotional impact of miscarriage.
She said: "This survey's findings may be relevant to women in the UK, where there are an increasing number of older first-time mothers, who may not be able to leave a longer gap before trying for a baby again."
Dr Julia Shelley of Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, adds in an editorial that the results are surprising, and writes: "Further research into this question may need to wait for data from more sophisticated datasets or specifically designed research studies."
Shelley, J. Miscarriage and time to next pregnancy. The British Medical Journal, 2010;341:c4181.
Tags: Childbirth and Pregnancy | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology | World Health
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