Losing a pregnancy at any point can be upsetting and disappointing. Between 10 to 20 percent of recognized pregnancies are lost due to miscarriage before the 20th week. About 80 percent of pregnancy losses occur before the 12th week, according to Baby Center. If you have unwanted weight after a pregnancy loss, it may serve as a painful reminder of your loss. As you emotionally recover, use simple strategies that will help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight. Consider the nutritional value of the foods you eat when you are seeking to lose weight after a pregnancy loss, not only in order to lose extra pounds, but also to adequately prepare your body for a future pregnancy, if that is your desire. If you are eating 1,600 calories a day to lose the pregnancy weight, eat a full 2 cups of vegetables, about 1 1/2 cups of fruit, 5 oz. of whole-grain foods and lean proteins, 3 cups of milk and a maximum of 22 g of healthy oils. Consume at least 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 micrograms of folic acid, take a multi-vitamin and limit your caffeine intake if you want to conceive again, or as recommended by your doctor.

In order to lose a reasonable 1 to 2 lbs. per week, eat fewer calories than you were eating during your pregnancy. Either ask your doctor for an appropriate caloric intake, reduce your calories by at least 500 per day or use a reputable calorie calculator. Unless medically recommended otherwise, eat a nutritionally balanced diet of at least 1,200 calories each day in order to stay healthy. If you reduce your calories drastically and lose weight too quickly, you may find it difficult to maintain your weight loss or to meet your nutritional pre-conception needs for a future pregnancy. Regular exercise will burn additional calories. Focus on eating a similar amount of food throughout the day as you lose weight. If you are following a diet of 1,600 calories, keep your morning calories in the 300 range, your afternoon calories at about 500 and your evening calories to 600. Add in one or two 100-calorie snacks throughout the day. Eat a protein and a carbohydrate for breakfast for energy.

Oatmeal, Greek yogurt, fat-free cottage cheese and fruit are healthy choices. In addition to low-calorie salads, make whole-wheat turkey or chicken sandwiches or spread 2 tbsp. fat-free hummus inside of a pita wrap. Combine sliced celery, carrots and cucumbers with a low-calorie sandwich for lunch. Ellis Wedding Dress CollectionBeans and rice, roasted turkey, low-calorie vegetarian lasagna or soups are filling dinner choices. Install A Toilet In GarageLow-calorie snacks include low-fat cheese wedges, whole fruit, raw vegetables, whole-wheat crackers and rice cakes.Red Lips Shower Curtain Hooks Consider meeting with a counselor if you are having trouble reaching your weight-loss goals after losing your pregnancy. The emotional trauma of pregnancy loss may make it difficult for you to focus on your health.

Be mindful of emotional eating episodes, and share your concerns with your physician or counselor. After Miscarriage: How Long Should You Wait? Doctors say you can try to get pregnant again as soon as you're ready. The first time Stephanie Himel-Nelson got pregnant, in October 2000, it was by accident. She was in law school, and her delivery date was scheduled to fall during her bar exam. "I was really torn and conflicted about it," she recalls. It was only when she miscarried that Himel-Nelson and her husband, a Navy reservist, felt the loss. "When I had that miscarriage, we realized we really did want to be parents and we wanted it to happen sooner rather than later," she says. Within a couple years, she and her husband started trying to conceive -- this time, intentionally. Early in her second pregnancy, Himel-Nelson had another miscarriage. After her third pregnancy loss, "we were really in a low place," she says. "We talked about our options. We talked about adopting."

An estimated 8% to 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. In the past, women who miscarried were told to wait 2 to 3 months. Today the thinking has changed, since several studies show no increased risk with shorter intervals between pregnancies. "There is no medical benefit to waiting," says John R. Sussman, MD, an OB/GYN practicing in New Milford, CT.Emotionally, though, you may need time to regroup. Some couples join a support group or undergo grief counseling to help them cope with their loss. After losing one baby, women often worry about miscarrying their next child. When you do start trying to conceive -- especially after a second or third miscarriage -- your doctor will probably recommend tests to make sure there aren't any issues with your chromosomes, immune system, or uterus. Right in the middle of tests to find the reason for her miscarriages, Himel-Nelson became pregnant. In September 2004, her son Hollis was born. "It was the most amazing feeling in the world," she says.

"I sort of forgot about everything that happened before." Six months later, she got pregnant again, eventually giving birth to younger son Holden. "Give yourself permission to be upset," she says. "You'll have your happy ending one way or another -- whether it's the family you expected or something different." Toward a Healthy Pregnancy You can't control many causes of miscarriage, Sussman says. Yet there are a few things you can do to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.If you still smoke, quit while you're ahead. This bad habit might double your risk of miscarriage. Drinking more than a couple cups of caffeinated coffee (or soda) daily has also been linked to pregnancy loss. To be on the safe side, switch to decaf.Running a fever of more than 100º F might increase your odds of miscarrying. You can't avoid getting sick, but if you do have a fever, take Tylenol to bring it down. Sussman also advises his pregnant patients to stay out of hot tubs.The trauma of an accident can end even the healthiest pregnancy.