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What should I do after I’ve miscarried?

If you have miscarried at home, you should see your doctor to check that the miscarriage is complete and that you do not need any treatment.

If you have a negative blood type, check with your doctor whether you need a dose of anti-D after your miscarriage.

Book a check-up with your doctor within 6 weeks after your miscarriage. They can provide support and talk to you about contraception or planning future pregnancies.

If you have any symptoms that are worrying you, or if you need support, see your doctor sooner.

What happens to the pregnancy tissue?

If you miscarry at home, you may decide to collect any tissue you pass in a container. You may choose to send the tissue to a laboratory for testing to try to find a cause, especially if you have had 2 or more miscarriages. Talk to your doctor or midwife to decide if this is right for you.

You don’t have to collect the pregnancy tissue. Some people find it too upsetting. If you live in a rural or remote area, you may be too far away to send the pregnancy tissue in time for testing.

If you miscarry in hospital and do not make any specific requests, the pregnancy tissue is most often checked in a laboratory and then cremated. You may be able to participate in the cremation service. You can also choose to have the pregnancy tissue given to you.

Tell the hospital staff if you have cultural beliefs about what you’d like to do with the pregnancy tissue.

Are there any legal obligations?

Legal obligations following your miscarriage may vary according to your state or territory. Your health team will inform you of any requirements.

Generally, if you miscarry in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the birth and death of your baby are not formally registered. This means that you will not receive a birth or a death certificate.

You can ask for an optional certificate recognising early pregnancy loss. Red Nose Grief and Loss has information on applying for an early pregnancy loss certificate with your state or territory's Births, Deaths and Marriage Registry.

You are not legally required to have a funeral, burial or cremation, although you may choose to do so.

Can I have a funeral for my baby?

While there is no legal obligation to have a funeral after a miscarriage, you may choose to make your own arrangements to mark your loss.

You may choose to approach a private funeral director or your religious or spiritual leader about having a funeral, burial or cremation. You may also decide to bury your baby in a private garden if you own the land or have permission from the owner.

Your hospital may offer a memorial service to commemorate pregnancy loss.

What are the physical effects of miscarriage?

You may have vaginal bleeding for up to 2 weeks.

If you experienced any early pregnancy changes, such as nausea or breast tenderness, these should resolve after the miscarriage has passed.

If you have had a miscarriage close to 20 weeks of pregnancy, your breasts may produce milk. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have any questions or concerns.

What are the emotional effects of miscarriage?

Having a miscarriage can lead to many different emotions. There are support services available to help you and your partner.

People react differently to having a miscarriage. Some common emotions include:

• shock and confusion
• numbness and emptiness
• grief and sadness
• guilt
• anxiety and fear
• loneliness and isolation
• anger

It's important to remember that in most cases, miscarriages happen without any known reason and aren’t caused by anything you did or did not do.

Emotional effects can be especially strong after recurrent miscarriages. The more miscarriages you have, the higher your chance of developing depression and anxiety. Your health team can recommend a support group if you feel you need it.

Read more about the emotional effects of miscarriage at ForWhen's website.

The effect of a miscarriage on your relationship

Support from your partner can help you heal after a miscarriage, but some people find that their relationship suffers. You might feel upset if your partner reacts differently to how you expected. Understand that you each may be coping with your grief in different ways.

You and your partner can provide valuable support for each other. If either of you is finding it hard to cope, reach out for professional help.

Support from family and friends

Some people find it helpful to seek practical and emotional support from friends and family.

Some people may not feel comfortable discussing miscarriage with family and friends, especially if they didn’t know about the pregnancy. Some people feel that their friends and family do not understand how significant the loss is.

What does this mean for future pregnancies?

Most people who have a miscarriage can have a healthy pregnancy in the future. Your chance of miscarrying again is higher if you:

• are older
• smoke
• live with obesity
• have a uterus with a different shape or some health conditions

If you are worried about your chance of miscarriage, discuss this with your doctor.

If you have had 2 or more miscarriages, your doctor may recommend that you see a fertility specialist.

How soon can I become pregnant again?

It’s safe to get pregnant again soon after a miscarriage — there’s no medical need to wait. Your health team may recommend you wait until you feel emotionally and physically ready before you start to try for another pregnancy.

Ovulation happens before your period, so it’s possible to become pregnant even before your first period after your miscarriage.

How do I plan for another pregnancy?

It can take time to be emotionally ready for another pregnancy after a miscarriage. Discuss how you feel with your partner.

Looking after your physical health is also important as you plan for another pregnancy. Make sure you are taking a folic acid supplement. Speak to your doctor about managing any health conditions you have.

Other things you can do to increase your chance of having a healthy pregnancy include:

• avoiding smoking
• avoiding drinking alcohol
• limiting your caffeine intake
• being physically active
• maintaining a healthy weight

Resources and support

Talk to your doctor or midwife for information and advice on what to do and how to look after yourself if you experience a miscarriage.

Miscarriage Australia has resources about what to expect physically and emotionally after miscarriage.

Red Nose Grief and Loss provides support for people affected by pregnancy loss, stillbirth, baby or child death. You can call them on 1300 308 307 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pink Elephants provide information and peer support for anyone affected by early pregnancy loss.

Languages other than English

NSW Health has information for parents after a miscarriage in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Read this booklet to support your journey after losing your bub from Care around Loss by the Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth.

Supporting family, friends or employees after pregnancy loss

When a family member, friend or employee has a pregnancy loss, you might not know what to say or do. Visit Bears of Hope for brochures and guides.