A Post-Pregnancy Loss To Do List:
Attend your final doctor’s appointment
Confirm there is no fetal tissue remaining
Get a D&C, or take another round of Cytotec to remove anything remaining
Get frequent blood draws to ensure your hCG levels are going down
Find a therapist who specializes in pregnancy loss
Find a support group
Cry, scream, punch a pillow
Try to stay in touch with friends and family, but stay in bed all day
Smile politely at co-workers who say, “at least you were early in your pregnancy,” and return to your office to cry
Ruminate if you will ever bring a living, breathing baby into this world
Immediately start planning your next pregnancy because your doctor says you are physically ready.
Whew. I wish someone told me about this list before I had my first pregnancy loss. I wish I had known how invasive, intrusive, heartbreaking, and exhausting a pregnancy loss would be.
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