Post D&C Bleeding & Recovery: What to Expect

Question
On June 6 I had a D & C due to a miscarriage.  I had a light period for about 2 1/2 weeks.  I stopped bleeding for about a week and started having sex again with my husband.  Then I started bleeding lightly again and it has now been 4 weeks since the D & C and I just want to know if this is still from the procedure or am I having my period.  Also when can my husband and I start ttc again and is it possible that I could already be pregnant??  Thank you....

Answer
Dear Lindsay,

The first period after a miscarriage/D&C is rarely ever normal. It can be early, late (most often), heavier (most often) or lighter than normal. Typically you will have bleeding for about a week after the procedure and sometimes some lighter bleeding/spotting for up to a week after that. Most women will get their first real period after about 4-6 weeks. In the meantime, you can experience some wacky symptoms which are caused by your body trying to get hormones regulated again. Your hCG level is coming back down to a non-pregnant level and other hormones are trying to get back into a normal cycle pattern as well.

The general recommendation is usually to wait through 2-3 regular cycles before getting pregnant again. This is simply to allow the body to heal and for those hormones to get back to normal levels. This is the ideal.

Though not impossible that you'd be pregnant again already, it isn't likely. Usually women do not ovulate again quite that quickly. More than likely you are having your first period after the procedure with this new bleeding 4 weeks after the procedure. It may simply be a lighter period than normal this first time.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I apologize for the delay in the answer - I was on a rare vacation for the 4th and for some reason this system didn't schedule it as it should have. I wish you well.

Brenda