After experiencing 5 miscarriages and walking with hundreds of women who have also miscarried babies, I’ve become quite familiar with “the physical process.” Whether a mama needs or is opting for a D&C, whether she is inducing or timing the miscarriage with a medication like cytotech, or whether she is waiting for nature to take its course, the physical process is taxing – emotionally, mentally and physically! So I often encourage women to focus on what they CAN control, which are specific aspects of supporting their body PHYSICALLY throughout the process.
***Diaclaimer – I am by no means a medical professional and encourage you to discuss all things miscarriage related with your doctor. The suggestions below have been deducted as “best practice” purely through decades of experience.
Hydration. Did you know that our bodies replenish blood supply through water intake? So I order for a woman who is hemorrhaging to recuperate and replenish her blood volume, she needs to be more than adequately hydrated. Suggested water intake on an average day is 1/2 of one’s own body weight in oz (so if you weigh 140 lbs, drinking 70oz of water a day is recommended). When going through a miscarriage, I suggest women try to get a gallon of water in their system per day. That includes the days leading up to the physical loss AND the week or two afterwards.
Protein. Having good protein fuels our body with energy, helps steady blood sugars, aids in recovery and builds muscle. Keeping a steady input of protein can significantly aid a woman’s body through the miscarriage process. Eating spoonfuls of peanut butter, having handfuls of almonds, or eggs every morning are just a few ways to nurture one’s body with a good amount of protein.
Iron. As a woman bleeds heavily, not only does blood volume drop, but so do iron levels. Signs of low iron can be shakey legs, dizziness, and weakness or aches in the legs and feet. To keep iron levels up, a woman can consume iron rich foods (red meats, leafy greens & spinach etc…) or take an iron supplement. This should be maintained through one month post miscarriage.
Several other tools to support the body throughout the process are: warm compresses, electrolyte drinks, epsom salt baths, tylenol and ibuprofen. The goal in focussing on the physical process is to regain some semblance of control during a situation which is greatly out of one’s control, while also providing the body with love and support, during a time when a woman typically hates her own body for what it’s doing.
There will be plenty of time after the physical process of miscarrying is over to process all the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of this loss. Now is the time to support the body physically as it too falls victim to living in a fallen world & faces the reality that it too is flawed and broken at times.
Hope and Healing 