If you’re going through a pregnancy loss or miscarriage, we first want to share our deepest sympathy, and we hope that you’re finding ways to be gentle with yourself in this challenging time.
In this article, you’ll find information about how to use the app moving forward.
How to log a pregnancy loss
To log the end of the pregnancy, select No longer pregnant or log a negative pregnancy test on the Add Data page (by scrolling down to Pregnancy Options).
Once you have logged the pregnancy loss, you’ll be prompted to answer a few questions (for instance, to confirm the date the pregnancy ended). This will help the algorithm understand your current situation better and adjust accordingly.
It can sometimes be hard to know exactly when a pregnancy ends, but you can follow the guidelines below to help you decide which date you should log in the app:
- If you have a medical procedure (like a D&C), you can log the pregnancy loss on the day of the procedure
- If you take medication to complete the pregnancy loss, you can log the pregnancy loss on the day you take the medication
- If you haven’t had any procedure or taken medication, you can log the pregnancy loss on the day you confirmed that the pregnancy wasn't viable
Which app mode should I choose?
If you didn’t select a mode yet, you will be asked about how you want to use the app moving forward:
- NC° Recovery (part of NC° Plan Pregnancy without fertility status)
- NC° Plan Pregnancy (to find fertile days)
- NC° Birth Control (to prevent pregnancy)
If you need a mental break from the app and want to have a more personalized experience, we would recommend NC° Recovery. We write about NC° Recovery in greater detail here.
How to measure after a pregnancy loss
Moving forward, we encourage you to continue logging your temperature as usual to stay in the routine, if you feel comfortable with this. The algorithm will take into account that your temperatures and cycle may be affected for some time due to the changing hormone levels.
At this stage, you may experience some cycle irregularities, temperature fluctuations, and/or anovulatory cycles, but this will even out in time – remember to be patient with your body. While your cycle is recovering, you may get more Red Days (for NC° Birth Control) or Brown Days (for NC° Plan Pregnancy).
Why am I not seeing any predictions?
When you log a pregnancy loss in the app, the predictions will be adjusted to give your body time to recover. During this time, your predictions will only show one cycle in the future in your Calendar view. However, if you have already passed your average cycle length in your current cycle, you will only be shown predictions for the next seven days.
Once your body has recovered and you start a new cycle, your predictions will return to normal, meaning that your app will show predictions for the next six months again.
Because the algorithm takes into account that your cycle may be affected for some time due to the hormones, it won’t predict your ovulation or next period at first.
Once the algorithm is able to determine that your cycle is returning to normal based on the data you log, you’ll see the ovulation and period prediction again.
How to log pregnancy loss bleeding
When you log the pregnancy loss in the app, the Period option will be replaced Bleeding in the Add Data page. If you bleed from the pregnancy loss, we recommend that you log Bleeding in the app for as long as you bleed.
The Bleeding option will be available for three weeks after the pregnancy ends, and you won’t be able to log a period at this time. You will get the Period tracker back three days after you’ve last logged Bleeding, or once your ovulation is detected. The Bleeding option will then be removed.
The end of the pregnancy will mark the start of a new cycle (Cycle Day 1), and the algorithm won’t start a new cycle if you log Bleeding. It will only start a new cycle once you log your next period; Period is not the same as Bleeding for the algorithm.
You can learn more about periods here.
The most common questions
We understand that you may have a lot of questions at this time. To help answer some of them, we have compiled answers to a few common questions related to pregnancy loss, such as “When will my cycle go back to normal?”. You’ll find the Pregnancy Loss cards in the Learn section of the app, under Guides. These cards will be available if you’ve logged a pregnancy loss, whether or not you’re using NC° Recovery.
This Cycle Matters article on miscarriages may also answer some of your questions — it covers the causes, frequency, types, symptoms, etc.
Emotional recovery
In addition to the physical symptoms, you may also experience emotional symptoms and may need extra moral support at this time.
Please don’t hesitate to seek professional help or contact a local pregnancy loss support group if you feel that you need it.
The Natural Cycles Support Team is also always available as a listening ear, so should you wish to share your experience with us, feel free to contact us anytime.
You may also wish to track your emotions and symptoms to follow your emotional recovery. The Natural Cycles app has many trackers available – you can adjust these via:
- The Add Data page > Manage tracker settings
- By clicking the top menu > Settings > Trackers
If you would like to track additional symptoms, feel free to use the Notes section of the Add Data page.
Additional support
If you're in need of more support, here is an overview of who to contact depending on your needs.
For any app-related questions (for example about how to use the app going forward, how to measure, how to log or adjust data, questions about predictions, and fertility status), please reach out to the Natural Cycles support team here.
If you have a medical-related questions (for example, questions about bleeding, pains, and symptoms, what is normal, etc.), please reach out to a healthcare professional.