Pregnancy Info HOME

I complained to my doctor about concerns that i was having (mostly my instinct about 11 weeks)They did an ultrasound and the baby looked fine but they found the hematoma. After restricting my execise since then and some bleeding i am at 16 weeks and the clot has gotten larger, my doc is more concerned and i am more nervous. I have 3 others at home so i can't bed rest. i thought that i was better, so that ultrasound was depressing. we found out that we are having a girl, which i was hoping for, but i am scared about making it to term

Kathryn, thanks for answering me! Just wanted to know if it was a similar pattern to me, but it's not, I have ongoing intermittent spotting every day, yet some days I will have almost none and then it will come back in the evening - weird. Can't wait to see if all if ok tomorrow, will check in and let you know.

Shaz - yes do let me know. I know from reading other posts that these things do not follow a set pattern at all. It is a case of hanging in there but it is so hard I know. I have to wait til week 20 for another scan (I am in week 17) and I can't bear the wait but then I got nervous at what they might find. Please do let us know how you get on. Thinking of you. Kathryn x

Yes, I have at 5 1/2 weeks along. This is my second pregnancy as the first ended in a miscarriage. I too range from brown to red in color and have been "spotting" for about a week and a half now. The doctor has had me on Prometrium since we found out we were pregnant (due to my previous history). I had my second ultrasound yesterday at 6 1/2 weeks along; the baby is growing & has a hearbeat so we are optimistic. Ironically, my sonongram nurse spotted/bled through out her first trimester during all three of her preganancies. Though bleeding at any point of the pregancy is terrifying, knowing there can be sucess gives me hope. Please keep posting your progress as stories have kept me grounded during this tense time.

Hi ladies, A feel like the weight of the world was just lifted off me when I found this site. I am currently 9.1 weeks and continue to spot brown daily. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in February who was still born due to a cord accident. My pregnancy with my daughter was perfect. No spotting, no morning sickness - just perfect! This pregnancy is entirely different. Pink spotting started at 6 weeks - I ran to the doctor who sent me for an ultrasound - everything looked ok - probably implantation bleed (whatever!). Then at 8 weeks 4 am blood came pooring. My husband and I cryed - we were convinced we lost this baby too. In for the ultra-sound - baby is alive and well but I have a sch. That afternoon (after I felt much better having the ultrasound) it started to bleed again. Since then it has slowed down. Doctor called with the results, explained the sch to me (my first OB/perinatologist app is Aug 4) and told me just to hang in there! I couldn't believe it! I am losing my mind! I just lost a child in February and now the threat of losing this one is killing me. I just thank God you girls are here. Reading your stories and seeing your progression has helped me deal. I hope we are all ok. Quick question - did anyone else have a high white blood cell count? Mine was showing at 15 ths. Wondering if it has anything to do with the sch? Thanks and take care everyone.

Donna C - yes my white blood count was high indication an infection and it turned out after a v____al swab that I had something called bacterial vaginosis. This is normally harmless and does not cause symptoms a lot but I must admit although pregnancy increases our discharge anyway, mine was a bit heavy and off colour and slightly smelly. They gave me antibiotics for this and it all cleared up now I have the normal creamy (occasionally a bit yellowy) discharge with no smell at all. Now the significance with this and a SCH is as my consultant said bacterial vaginosis can cause the uterus to be irritated and sometimes bleed. It's a long shot and could be a coincidence but I have not bled since the BV was cleared up with antibiotics in week 14. May be worth getting them to do a little swab down below to check there's no infection present. I am not saying that is what caused my bleeds or SCH but my consultant said there could be a link. Kathryn x 17+2

Kathryn - thank you so much for you quick response. I am just spotting brown right now when I wipe after going to the bathroom but I have a feeling that you might be on to something with your BV theory. Hey, it's worth a try to get it checked and corrected. Do you think I can wait until August 4th and deal directly with the perinatologist? I have only been dealing with my family doctor and she is no a specialist by any means. If I do have BV, it won't harm the baby if I wait will it? Thanks again and take care of that little one ok?

Kathryn, thanks for your response and kind words. I had my scan today, I am 11 weeks 1 day and my baby looks great, the radiologist also said that the hematoma has reabsorbed (but I suspect not totally) and I continue to have some intermittent spotting but it has definately eased off a bit. Just wanted to let others know that I read on the net that vitamin E can help and I have been taking this for the last week - maybe this is what has helped? Anyway, ask your Dr I just went ahead and took it as I read it couldn't do any harm but you girls check first ok? My spotting is now very watery pink and not much so I think everything is going to be ok. My baby measured 11 weeks 3 days so I am very happy and am going to relax and enjoy this pregnancy but I will be here to compare notes with everyone!! Shaz

Donna C - BV is really common and as does not present symptoms a lot but shows up in routine smears, family doctors are well used to seeing it and treating it. A swab is really low down and will have no affect on your cervix or baby so I would trust my family doctor to do a swab and get it sent away. Mention the BV thing, say you are a bit worried because you have discharge. They do not need to be an expert to do this - even a nurse at the practice could do it. A high white cpount can indicate an infection so always worth exploring every avenue. No it won't do any harm to baby if you do have BV and you wait to get it treated. they reckon loads and loads of pregnant women have BV and happily carry their babies with no treatment. Just that as we have been bleeding it would need to be treated as it CAN irritate the uterus although not always. Kathryn x

Donna C - I also had a high white blood cell count at week 8 and it turned out I had a urine infection (sometimes you can have no symtoms with this). I think a high white blood cell count always indicates an infection and needs to be treated, normally with antibiotics though I maybe wrong. You should get your doctor to test for urine and v____al infections asap. I was put on antibiotics for a urine infection - its very important to get a urine infection treated quickly. A untreated urine infection can lead to a kidney infection and can become very serious. I'm surprised your doctor didn't do these test before.

Shaz & Kathryn- Thank god for your postings!! I am at 7 weeks this Thurday; I started spotting about 2 weeks ago (brown to a Merlot color) post intercourse with my husband (we are now on "pelvic rest). I have had 2 ultrasounds; the first showing a slight SCH & baby, the second showing a baby with a heartbeat of 124 bpm (6.4 wks) no sign of the SCH. Here are my questions: -Post my second ultrasound by bleeding changed color to bright red/burgundy & is a little heavier, it has been that way for 2 days. I don't want to be the crazy preganant lady, but should I push my OG/GYM to check me again? I have another ultrasound scheduled for next tuesday so part of me feels like I should tough it out. Then again, we miscarried the first pregancy so I am sensitive as all "the books" say bleeding is BAD. -Has your spotting/bleeding been consisten through out (color & amount)? -Have you found any instances that aggrivate the bleeding? Thank you both for taking the time out to share, as many women have noted it is comforting to know that you are not the only one experiencing this. Thank you again- DGM

I was referred this site by a friend. I am only 6 wks pregnant and last week I began bleeding bright red. I feared the worst and had prepared myself the best I could. It was as someone else described terrifying. When I went to the doctor the next morning, my blood work showed my hormones were increasing and an ultrasound showed a subchorionic hematoma. The midwife explained this as a "blood blister" and said it was not a big concern. My bleeding continued to get worse after the docs discovered my problem. I called the doctors office several times because I was so scared something was wrong. My bleeding has been subsiding and I am sched for another ultra sound next week. I'm nervous about the f/up visit. I'm not on progesterone or bed rest. The midwife told me it was okay to go to work (I have a desk job) but just take it easy. This is a little difficult because I have a 2 year old. During my first pregnancy I experienced spotting in a cycle every week. I kept going to the drs and midwives and telling them I thought something was wrong. The ultra sounds came back normal each time. However, one doctor who had never seen me before, noticed that my neck looked enlarged. After some test he found I had thyroid disease. After I was put on the right medication, my pregnancy went fine and I delivered a healthy baby girl. I was hoping that this pregnancy would be better since my thyroid condition is under control, but then I started bleeding. Does anyone have advice for questions I should ask my dr about next week? Should I talk to them about progesterone? I am so grateful for all the people who have written into this topic. I am a Christian and I am trying to put all of this in God's hand, but I guess human nature is still to worry. I'll keep you all in my prayers and please do the same for myself and my family. Thanks Sue

Donna - In answer to your questions, no my bleeding hasn't ever been consistent. It ranges from bright red, deep red to occasionally brown. Brown is the best colour as that indicated old blood. The flow of the blood also varies from spotting to real heavy gushing resulting in me being hospitalised. I do not find anything increases or decreases it. When i was on bed rest in hospital that was the heaviest my bleeding has ever been ironically! Kathryn x

Sue - sorry to hear you are going through this as well. It is a worry isn't it. Please do not worry about not being on bed rest, I have been a__sured by my hospital consultant that it doesn't do any good and as I said in my post addressed to Donna above, when I was kept in hospital for 4 days on bed rest that was the heaviest my bleeding had ever been. I also have a 7 mth old daughter and am with you when it comes to not being able to rest. don't beat yourself up over it but I think there's a lot to be said for carrying on 'business as usual'. When i was really trying to rest as like you I was paranoid that me getting on with my life was doing harm, it made my state of mind so wobbly and I found I was more stressed. Instead, I had a long talk with the hospital consultant and was happy that activity levels did not affect SCH's. I know a lot of women have put themselves on bed rest and that's great if they feel that it helps, personally I don't and that's easier for me anyway as I have a baby to look after as well as the baby in my tummy. With regards to working, I agree with your midwife, work will take your mind off of it and you are sitting down all day. When you have your app next week, I would ask if they can tell how large the SCH is and where it is. Ask them to do a swab to rule out any infection like bacterial vaginosis that can irritate the uterus and cause bleeding. Can't think of much else. i would ask about your level of care and what you are to expect knowing you are high risk. As I am 17 weeks with a SCH, my line of care is as follows. Consultant as opposed to midwife care for the rest of me pregnancy, scans every 4 weeks from 20 weeks to check size of SCH and more importantly growth of baby as apparently at my stage of pregnancy SCH's can hinder growth. I must warn you though, this all came very late. when I was early and went to hospital (a&e) complaining of bleeding they just told me it was a 'threatened miscarriage' and to go home. Rest if I want etc. It wasn't til I got to about 14 wks that they took it all more seriously and the above was given to me as a care plan. It is a horrible case of hanging in there. I have to say though that from what I know through research, these things do tend to be reabsorbed by 2nd trimester or before and I am just one of the unlucky few so you may not even need all the stuff I am having. Take care and keep us posted please. Kathryn x 17+3

Kathryn- Thank you for your response! Though this is still a crazy roller coaster rider, knowing that we are not alone helps immensely! Thank you again!

Donna & Sue, just wanted to let you know that my bleeding has not followed a set pattern either - it started off as brown, got heavier and then turned a v dark red colour. Then I woke one night with bright red. I went to the hospital and they told me I had a lot of blood in my v____a and it was possible I could be miscarrying. We were devastated. But, I had a scan the next day and there he/she was. They also told I would just have to wait and see and that there is no proof lying around all day would make any difference. I did rest a lot more and restricted the amount of house work I did but I have been increasing this over the past 4-5 days and it hasn't seemed to make any difference, however my bleeding is a lot lighter and infrequent now. I know this sounds idiotic but try not to stress, and I also did positive affirmations every day and night telling myself that the hematoma is shrinking and the bleeding is stopping - something worked!! Shaz