Your nutritional needs may not change at all after a miscarriage, depending on the circumstances of the miscarriage and your nutrition before you miscarried. If you had significant blood loss, which occurs most commonly in ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, you may need to build up your iron stores. If you're considering another pregnancy in the near future, staying on folic acid, which helps prevent birth defects, is essential.
Iron Requirements
Most miscarriages result in some blood loss, but ectopic pregnancy--pregnancy that implants most commonly in the Fallopian tube rather than in the uterus--can cause hemorrhage and large amounts of blood loss in a short time if the tube ruptures. You may become anemic if you lose large amounts of blood. Anemia could affect your next pregnancy; anemia during pregnancy can cause preterm labor and low birth weight, the March of Dimes warns. Even if you're not planning another pregnancy, anemia could slow your recovery and cause fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, dizziness and irritability. Continue prenatal vitamins to get the iron you need and up your intake of iron-rich meats and other sources of iron such as fortified cereal and dark leafy green vegetables.
Folic Acid
If you're considering trying to get pregnant again, keep taking 400mcg of folic acid a day to decrease your risk of neural tube defects. Taking folic acid at least one month before you get pregnant and through the first three months of pregnancy reduces the risk by 50 to 70 percent, BabyCenter reports. Folic acid also helps your body make new red blood cells.
Calcium
Pregnancy can deplete your calcium stores, so build them back up with 1,200mg of calcium per day from diet or supplements. If you do want to get pregnant again, adequate calcium stores will help protect your bones and teeth from calcium loss during pregnancy.
Getting Enough Calories
Many women experience depression after a miscarriage. Hormonal changes can increase your sensitivity at this time and your emotions are already running high. Many women find it difficult to eat when they're depressed, but you do need to maintain your normal calorie intake for your body to heal and repair damaged tissues. Allow yourself comfort foods to get you through a rough time, if that's all that appeals to you. A few days or a week of less-than-optimal nutrition won't hurt you in the long run and may help you through a rough spot, especially if you ate well before the miscarriage. Once you get back on your feet, you can start thinking about improving your diet.
