After Miscarriage: A Naturopath's Guide to Recovery
Written by Vaughne Geary, Naturopath and Doula | Reviewed June 2026
As a Doula, I have come to understand and honour the truth that birth and death cannot exist without the other. For many on the beautiful and brutal journey of motherhood, there exists a commonly shared but under-acknowledged experience: miscarriage.
The fact of the matter is: miscarriage is still a birth, but it has a very different outcome.
One in five pregnancies will end in miscarriage during the first trimester, often leaving parents adrift, grappling with confusion and grief on a deeply physical and emotional level. Common feelings following a miscarriage or termination for medical reasons (TFMR) include sadness, anger, numbness, shame, guilt, jealousy and embarrassment, amongst many others. All of them are valid. None of them have a timeline.
What follows is not a checklist. It is a guide built from years of supporting women through this experience, to help you find your way back to yourself, in whatever order feels right.
Physical recovery after miscarriage
Cramping and contractions can range from mild to severe over the course of several days. Blood loss can be significant. Headaches, nausea and a kaleidoscope of emotions are all common, and all depleting.
It is important to monitor a miscarriage closely. While many are experienced at home without complications, please seek professional medical advice if you experience severe blood loss, faintness, intense pain or fever.
Create a comfortable environment that allows you to rest: lie on the couch, sleep when you need to, and stop. Avoid strenuous activities and high intensity exercise while your body heals. Asking for support from your partner, family and friends may feel uncomfortable, but it will create a loving nest around you. They often feel relieved to have something practical they can do.
Nutrition after miscarriage: what to eat
Miscarriage depletes your body at a nutrient level that most people do not talk about. Blood loss affects iron. The demands of early pregnancy deplete folate, choline and zinc before many women even know they are pregnant. Recovery begins at the cellular level, and what you eat matters.
- Protein at every meal to aid tissue repair and healing. A palm-sized serve with every meal or snack. Eggs, nut and seed butters, beans and legumes, organic cheese, lean meat and wild-caught fish are all ideal. Organic liver, if you can manage it, can be frozen and grated into pasta sauces or casseroles to also boost iron levels gently.
- Healthy fats to support hormone regulation and blood sugar as your body adjusts, while helping you absorb the nutrients you most need right now. Choose avocado, ghee, fatty fish, chia, hemp and flaxseeds, nuts, olive and coconut oil.
- Deeply coloured vegetables and fruits in dark green, red, orange and purple. Antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory, full of the vitamins and minerals your body is asking for. Add berries to a smoothie and leafy greens such as kale, spinach or silverbeet to whatever you are cooking.
- Whole grains for comfort and nourishment. Brown rice, quinoa, oats, freekah, barley and buckwheat are all excellent choices. White bread and refined baked goods are inflammatory and best set aside while your body is healing.
- Bone broth to support physical repair and recovery. Rich in collagen that supports muscle and tissue repair, it is warming, healing and full of vitamins and minerals. You can make it at home or find grass-fed powder or liquid forms at a health food store.
- Healing herbs for increased support. Raspberry leaf, lemon balm, nettle, alfalfa, rose petals, motherwort and withania (ashwagandha) are nutrient-rich, strengthen the uterus and support your nervous system. Sipped as teas throughout the day, they offer quiet time to rest using the subtle healing power of plants. Adding dried calendula, lavender, chamomile and rose to an Epsom salt bath is a beautiful way to nurture yourself in the weeks that follow. Working with a Naturopath or Herbalist will allow you to build a tincture tailored to your individual needs.
Foods to avoid while your body is in pain and recovery: refined sugar, processed carbohydrates and alcohol, all of which increase inflammation and discomfort.
Emotional support after miscarriage
Share beyond your four walls with someone you trust. Seek support from family, friends or health professionals who offer sound, safe and informed advice. This may include your midwife, doula, doctor, counsellor or psychologist. The following organisations offer specialised support for miscarriage and pregnancy loss in Australia:
How to honour your pregnancy after loss
Most importantly, you deserve to honour your pregnancy, your baby, your body and your birth.
A beautiful way to do this is through a Closing of the Bones Ceremony, facilitated by an experienced practitioner. Hold a loving ceremony to say goodbye to your baby. You may light candles, build a fire, read or burn a letter you have written, plant seeds or a tree in their honour, or release flowers into the ocean.
Connecting with nature and allowing yourself to feel and release emotions can be deeply healing, and allows you to connect with the cyclical nature of birth, death and Mother Earth.
Recovering from a miscarriage is a deeply personal and complex process that requires time, patience and support. There is no timeline. There is only your journey.
Stories from the moode community
moode answers your questions about miscarriage recovery
How long does physical recovery from miscarriage take?
Physical recovery varies depending on how far along the pregnancy was and how the miscarriage occurred. Most women find bleeding settles within one to two weeks, though hormones and cycle regularity can take four to six weeks to stabilise. Be guided by your body and your healthcare provider, not by a timeline you have found online.
When can I start trying to conceive again after miscarriage?
Most doctors advise waiting until after your first period following a miscarriage before trying again, both to allow the uterine lining to fully recover and to make dating a future pregnancy easier. Emotionally, there is no single right answer. Some women feel ready quickly; others need much more time. Both are completely valid.
What nutrients does my body most need after a miscarriage?
Folate in its active form, iron or iron-supporting nutrients depending on blood loss, zinc, magnesium and choline are the most commonly depleted. A whole-food diet rich in protein, healthy fats and deeply coloured vegetables covers most of these. A quality prenatal supplement can fill the gaps, particularly if you are planning to try again.
Are herbal teas safe after miscarriage?
Many herbs are deeply supportive during recovery. Raspberry leaf, nettle, lemon balm and chamomile are gentle and well-tolerated. However, some herbs are contraindicated in early pregnancy or can affect hormone levels, so it is worth working with a Naturopath or Herbalist before adding tinctures or concentrated herbal formulas.
How do I know if I need professional support for grief after miscarriage?
If you are finding it difficult to function day to day, experiencing prolonged numbness or disconnection, or feeling unable to process your loss after several weeks, please reach out to a counsellor, psychologist or your GP. Grief after miscarriage is real and valid, and professional support can make a significant difference.
About Vaughne Geary
Vaughne Geary is an Australian Naturopath and Doula with a specialisation in fertility, pregnancy and postpartum care. She brings a holistic, whole-body approach to women's health, drawing on both clinical nutrition and the wisdom of birth support work.
A note from moode
Miscarriage depletes key nutrients that are often overlooked in standard recovery advice. If you are planning to try again, it is worth reviewing your supplementation. Methylated forms of folate like calcium folinate supports cell repair and is more bioavailable than synthetic folic acid - important for the up to 40% of women who carry an MTHFR gene variant that affects conversion. Choline supports nervous system recovery and is one of the most under-supplemented nutrients in prenatal care.
After significant blood loss, iron levels should be checked via a full blood panel and replenished through food and under medical guidance. High-dose supplemental iron can contribute to nausea and digestive discomfort during recovery - particularly when the gut is already sensitised. The Prenatal by moode is iron-free, which means it supports recovery without adding to that burden. Always read the label and follow directions for use.
