One in four women have experienced a pregnancy loss. 

The chances that you know someone who has gone through it and/or experienced it yourself are very high. Because it’s so common, miscarriage and loss often get brushed off as “normal” by much of the healthcare community and maybe even your friends and family.

 Talking about loss makes people uncomfortable and as a result many women suffer in silence.  Pair this with the lack of guidance and support from providers and you have a recipe for both physical and mental trauma that can impact future pregnancies.

 Although nearly 15% of pregnancies end in loss, it’s not normal and not something you should have to face alone. We need to radically change conversations and the standard of care for women after loss because: 

• Your pregnancy was real and deserves to be validated.

• There are additional tests available that your doctor probably isn’t telling you about that reveal a lot about you and your partner’s fertility health.

• There are nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of loss in the future. 

• A community of women are in your same shoes, and there’s no reason for you to suffer by yourself.

I have a special invitation for you at the end of this post, but first I want to educate you on how you can support your healing body and the nutrients you should pay attention to after loss.

Loss takes a toll on your body

In the first weeks after fertilization, your body gets busy laying the groundwork for the babe’s future home. This includes developing an entire new organ (the placenta), providing nourishment to the embryo, excreting waste, and upping sex hormone production to support development.

All this work happens in a short period of time and takes an enormous effort for your body to complete. 

When a pregnancy is no longer viable, your uterus has to expel the tissues, heal any ruptures, and shrink back down to its original size. Physically this is a lot of work but the emotional stress of a loss can increase demand on your thyroid and adrenal glands.

This means that even if your pregnancy loss occurs fairly early it can still take a huge toll on your body.

3 Nutrient Concerns After Loss

Iron

If you experienced heavy bleeding during/after your loss, your iron levels could be affected. 

Iron is used to make hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Common symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue and shortness of breath.

Iron-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet:

• Red meat*

• Shellfish*

• Organ meats*

• Canned sardines*

• Quinoa

• Lentils

• Beans

* Heme iron sources absorb better than plant-based iron

Tip: Cooking your food in an iron skillet can also increase your iron levels since the iron from the skillet can be absorbed into the foods.

Selenium

Selenium is a trace element and nutrient your body uses for optimal hormone and thyroid function, DNA production, and reproduction. 

Research shows that women who have gone through miscarriage have lower levels of selenium and adding more into the diet could boost fertility in the future.

Foods high in selenium include:

• Brazil nuts

• Eggs

• Sunflower seeds

• Mushrooms

• Brown rice

B vitamins

B vitamins are necessary for optimal energy levels, brain function, metabolism, and normal DNA replication.  After a loss, B vitamins can help increase your energy levels, red blood cell production, and improve your chances of carrying a pregnancy to term in the future.

High in B vitamin foods include:

• Salmon

• Dark leafy greens

• Organ meats

• Eggs

• Chicken

• Nutritional yeast

Taking care of your body

Recovering from a loss can take time. I know it’s tempting to jump right back into trying to conceive again but if you’re deficient in any of the above nutrients it can complicate future pregnancies as well.

 For that reason, I typically recommend waiting 3 months after a loss to give your body time to replenish and reset. Pushing yourself can put more stress on your body and create problems with ovulation, so please take your time.

 Have you experienced a loss and you want to take the next step in your fertility journey within a supportive and understanding environment?

Are you looking for natural options to reduce your risk of future loss and improve your pregnancy outcomes? 

If you want more support than, “just keep trying,” or “it’s normal,” my Rainbow Roadmap Program is for you! 

 Rainbow Roadmap is a 12-week group program designed to support your unique physical and mental needs after loss. Click here to apply and if you have questions my Instagram DMs are always open!

 

Cheers,

Whit