Study: Waiting Six Months To Try For Baby After Pregnancy Loss Not Necessary

There’s no need for women to wait six months after pregnancy loss before trying for another baby, according to new research.

The World Health Organization recommends women wait at least six months after a miscarriage or abortion before becoming pregnant again, to help avoid complications with the next pregnancy. However, this latest research is calling for a review of the international guidelines for birth spacing after miscarriage or induced abortion.

Dr Gizachew Tessema, from Perth’s Curtin School of Population Health, led the new study which has been published in PLOS Medicine. The researchers investigated more than 49,000 births after miscarriage and almost 24,000 births following abortions in Norway between 2008 and 2016. They looked for any adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, large for gestational age babies, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

They found that conceiving within three months of a miscarriage or abortion isn’t linked to increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes: “…these results suggest that women could attempt pregnancy soon after a previous miscarriage or induced abortion without increasing perinatal health risks,” the research explained.

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The researchers say the findings should prompt a review of the current guidelines.

“We believe that our findings are reassuring for women or families who attempt pregnancy soon after a miscarriage or induced abortion without increasing the risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes,” Dr Tessema told The Guardian.

“The upshot is that you can have your children when you like, but there are caveats. Firstly, at least some time is needed to recover from the previous pregnancy. This will vary from person to person, but if I had to pick a number, it’s at least six weeks. Anyone concerned should consult a GP or obstetrician when planning a pregnancy.”

In 2021 Dr Tessema also led research into how long mums should wait between having babies – which WHO suggests is two years.

“We compared approximately 3 million births from 1.2 million women with at least three children and discovered the risk of adverse birth outcomes after an interpregnancy interval of less than six months was no greater than for those born after an 18-23 month interval,” Dr Tessema said.

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28 Comments

- - Ellen said
  - 07 Jul 2024
    4:04 am
My eldest was not even 4 months old when I fell pregnant with my second and all went well. Actually it felt as if my body knew what to do

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 30 Nov 2022
    4:20 pm
I didn’t even know about this. Better tell my second daughter to get back in

- - mom485263 said
  - 27 Nov 2022
    6:07 pm
I didn’t know about the 6 months waiting period but I think each and every person is unique. Some may need more time others may not.

- - MrsJReilly said
  - 27 Nov 2022
    2:05 pm
I didn’t know about waiting 6 months. I think it’s a very individual thing though – some people might be ready to try sooner, some later.

- - mom93821 said
  - 26 Nov 2022
    6:40 am
A sensitive and individual personal issue.

- - mom101628 said
  - 25 Nov 2022
    2:49 pm
Think people just follow their own natural inclinations with this.

- - mom462038 said
  - 25 Nov 2022
    10:50 am
I dont think many women abided by this anyway. They decided for themselves. Some were ready before the 6 months while others needed more time

- - TraceyGail said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    6:34 pm
This might well be true but everyone is different and some need more time to recover mentally and physically.

- - tessie said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    1:21 pm
I never knew about having to wait for a period of time after suffering a miscarriage. These findings need to be made available to women so they can collect all the facts

- - Summer said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    12:32 pm
Everyone’s body is different in response to different things! So maybe one could get normally pregnant after three months and everything would be fine but others not!

- - mom486197 said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    10:38 am
I think it’s a personal choice and you need to do what is right for you and your body.
- mom93821 replied
  
  27 Nov 2022 , 8:03 am
  Completely agree, a time for reflection.
- - mom486400 said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    10:23 am
I found the 6 months really good to wait cause I needed it for my mental health before trying again after a miscarriage.

- - cassy26 said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    9:44 am
This is great news. I know quite a few people (myself included) who suffered a miscarriage and went on to have a healthy baby within three months..

- - rovermum said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    9:31 am
I’ve always been guided by what my Doctor thinks is best for my body.

- - Ellen said
  - 24 Nov 2022
    8:55 am
That is good to know for those who’re trying

- - Motherhoodmama said
  - 23 Nov 2022
    10:54 pm
Great to know, very informative! I know someone who got pregnant immediately after a miscarriage with beautiful twins

- - Frankiielot said
  - 23 Nov 2022
    10:24 pm
I really feel so sorry for women who go through miscarriages. I hope we can find some sort of miracle thing that will make them a thing of the past and never happen!!!

- - CrystalG said
  - 23 Nov 2022
    9:29 pm
Extremely interesting! I think each woman and her body is unique so there’s not a one rule fits all with this kind of thing.

- - Mum.of.2. said
  - 23 Nov 2022
    9:14 pm
Interesting! I had a pregnancy loss in Jan 2020 and was told to start trying after the next cycle as I’d be super fertile. I fell pregnant the next month and now have my healthy 2 year old rainbow baby Noone ever told me to wait 6 months!

- - mom489365 said
  - 23 Nov 2022
    9:01 pm
Interesting read, I had a miscarriage 12 years ago and had to have a curette, the nurses there said I should wait at least 6 months to try again but my gynaecologist said no time like the present, as long as you feel comfortable. We waited about 3 months and tried again successfully.