Miscarriage is still sadly one of those topics that tends to be hidden away like it doesn't exist, leaving women that experience it often feeling very alone and isolated. Women often feel the need to hide their pregnancy until they are past 12 weeks where the risk of miscarriage drops, and if they do miscarriage then often they are encouraged to just accept it and move on. When I experienced my miscarriage a couple of years back it was the most awful experience and like nothing I have endured before. Those who have had a miscarriage will know how helpless you feel, like you have no control over what is happening to your body and your baby, with a whirlwind of emotions from extreme stress, shock, fear and anxiety to heartbreak, grief, loneliness and depression.
I remember being angry at my body for not being able to support my growing baby, I felt guilty like it was my fault. In my case I still don't know what really happened, all I know is that I was feeling very anxious because at 7 weeks pregnant I just didn't feel right, I didn't feel pregnant like I did with my son, and so I wanted to get a dating scan just to check everything was okay. That turned out to be a nightmare as we where given a trainee who was obviously very inexperienced and was very rough with the procedure. I ended up starting to spot that night and even got a call the next day to say that the trainee had forgotten to take some measurements and that they wanted me to come back in. I said no and that since the scan I had started bleeding, to which they replied that it wouldn't have been from the ultrasound. I continued to have light bleeding for another week which caused a lot of stress and anxiety. After a week of spotting the flood gates opened and we rushed to the doctors to be told that I was currently miscarrying and that there was nothing I could do other than go home, rest, and let my body naturally pass the fetus, which was the most awful part of the whole experience.
Not long after I found out my thyroid was under-active, so I still don't know if there was something not right from the beginning, if it was was my thyroid, which plays an important part in maintaining a healthy pregnancy, or if it was the ultrasound. I will never know, but the experience has made me much more aware of how I treat other women when they come to see me after they have had a miscarriage. I feel like now I not only have the trained experience of how to heal these women with herbs, nutrients, diet and lifestyle suggestions but I also have the personal experience, which is why I want to share what really helped me to heal from my miscarriage, and ultimately go on to have a healthy and successful third pregnancy.
Below are some ways that you can heal yourself after miscarriage and prepare for a successful pregnancy.
NOURISHING WARM FOODS
When we loose a lot of blood through menstruation, miscarriage or childbirth it is important that we support healing and strengthening of tissues by consuming lots of hearty warming, nourishing foods such as:
- Root Vegetables - Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Carrots, Potatoes, Brussels, Beets, Parsnips, Turnips etc
- Warming Spices - Cinnamon, Cardamon, Ginger, Black Pepper, Cayenne, Garlic and Horseradish
- Soups and Broths - Support and warm digestion making the absorption of nutrients easier and more gentle on your digestive tract
- Stews - Wholesome hearty stews with lots of veggies, legumes, herbs and spices to build blood, strengthen tissues and support energy
- Wholegrains - Brown Rice, Quinoa, Rye, Spelt, Barley etc
- Iron Rich Foods - Leafy Green Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds, Wholegrains, Dried Apricots, Dates, Eggs, Nettle Leaf, Quinoa
RESTORE NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
- Iron - Taking an Iron supplement in addition to Iron rich foods can help restore iron levels after blood loss
- Magnesium - Supports the nervous system and can help to ease stress and anxiety as well as boost energy
- Zinc - Important for balancing hormones and healing tissues
- B Vitamins - Important for functioning of the nervous system and hormone production
OIL MASSAGE
- Fertility Massage - Helps bring fresh blood to the womb, encourages circulation, reduces stress hormones, encourages detoxification and relieves stagnant and old blood from the tissues.
- Castor Oil Packs - Reduces inflammation, promotes circulation and increases detoxification of tissues in the pelvic cavity
HERBAL MEDICINE
- Vitex - Balances hormones by increasing progesterone levels required to support a healthy pregnancy
- Motherwort - Anti anxiety and mild sedative activity
- Schisandra - Liver detoxication of excess hormones as well as nervous system and adrenal support
- Withania - An adaptogen for supporting nervous system function and regulating the immune response
- Yarrow - Relieves congestion, toxins and inflammation in the pelvic cavity as well as stops excess bleeding
- Shatavari - Supports the adrenals and increases resistance to stress, female reproductive tonic
- St Johns Wort - An anti depressant to help support mood and emotional wellbeing
- Passionflower - A natural mild sedative for calming stress and anxiety
- Lemon Balm - Anti depressant and great for calming nerves and easing anxiety
- Dong Quai - Increases pelvic circulation, blood tonic, anti spasmodic and estrogen balancing.
- Black Cohosh - Balances estrogen levels, encourages blood flow to the uterus and tone the pelvic floor muscles
- Licorice - Reduces the stress hormone cortisol, anti inflammatory and supports the adrenals.
FLOWER ESSENCES
- Billy Goat Plum - Relieves shame about ones physical body
- Turkey Bush - Boosts creativity and and confidence in ones ability to create a child
- Sturt Desert Pea - Eases emotional pain and sadness
- She Oak - Balances hormones
- Sturt Desert Rose - Helps with feelings of guilt, remorse, low self esteem
- Waratah - Gives strength and courage
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
- Grief Counselling - It can be helpful to work one on one with a grief counselor to help give you individual support
- Support Groups - Either online (I found a great one on facebook) or in person groups can be helpful in joining with other women who have been through the same experience of loss.
- Journalling - Can be a powerful tool for understanding and releasing emotions, I found this to be very helpful.
If you or someone you know would like personalised support with healing from miscarriage please contact me at kate@littleyarrow.com to find out about my 1:1 Natuopathic Sessions either at the clinic or via Skype.