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Pregnancy

What is a big bleed? (PP)

13 replies

tory79 · 18/08/2011 19:45

Hi all

Just looking for a bit of advice really.

I am 31 weeks. I have pp - completely covering (have follow up scan next week to see if there has been any movement, but kind of resigned to a cs) So far I have been lucky and have had no bleeding whatsoever, but today I went to the loo and there was a bit of blood in my knickers. There was a very small amount of red blood, when I wiped it was just brown, and a teeny bit more brown later. As it was the first time I had bled I did call the drs, they made me go in just so they could check his hb etc which was all fine, and said it was probably nothing to worry about.

So really my question is how much blood is actually worth worrying about? This was really nothing - kind of like the tail end of a period or something, but you read little bleed, big bleed etc and I don't actually know how much blood people see as a big/medium/little bleed etc?!

Thanks xx

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tory79 · 18/08/2011 22:16

Bit more bleeding now, still mainly brown/little tinge of red and still not really much at all....

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Fresh01 · 18/08/2011 23:08

As you are probably worried and no-one with more knowledge has posted yet, I will give you the benchmark I was given when I had bleeding in first 12 weeks in 2 pregnancies, both resulted in normal healthy babies, was if it soaks a pad in an hour get to A&E.

Hope it settles down again for you.

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VivaLeBeaver · 18/08/2011 23:18

The problem is is that you can have a concealed bleed, so only a small amount in your knickers but a lot that stays up trapped behind your placenta, clots and doesn't come out.

Plus with placenta pre via a small bleed can sometimes come before a very big bleed.

You should really get checked out.

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VivaLeBeaver · 18/08/2011 23:19

And by checked out I mean hospital not the gp. Can you ring the labour ward and ask them?

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OrangeGloss · 19/08/2011 06:43

I had a similar bleed earlier on in my pg to what VivaLeBeaver describes, I was bleeding but would then pass a large clot every so often which had collected internally. I don't mean to scare you by writing this, the bleeding stopped weeks ago and has been ok.

But if I were you, I wouldn't hesitate in ringing and getting checked, if only for peace of mind, don't worry about bothering them they are there for times like these

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conkerchops · 19/08/2011 19:11

from what i understand from having been through a pregnancy with a v good friend who had 4th degree pp any bleeding no matter how small needs to be checked our straight away and they will probably then keep you in to monitor you to make sure it calms down. I would do as Viva says and call the labour ward asap and get their advice.

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tory79 · 19/08/2011 21:15

Thanks everyone, I am still spotting a bit of brown, no more red though. So (and sorry for sounding like a dumbass) is seeing the GP not really sufficient then? He seemed to think I didn't need to worry at all!

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VivaLeBeaver · 19/08/2011 21:16

No, sorry - I don't think seeing a gp is sufficient. I'm sure everything will be fine but you really ought to have a proper ctg monitoring.

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deo357 · 19/08/2011 21:33

Hi I have pp & have been bleeding since 26 weeks on & off now 31. I have been admitted 5 times due to period size bleeding. Now just brown. Anything fresh red I have to go in. Hope that helps x

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tory79 · 19/08/2011 21:54

Thanks again everyone, I called the labour ward and they basically told me to wear a pad for the next hour or so and call them back to let them know how much blood was on it (which is going to be nothing as now there is only brown if I wipe - I hope that is not famous last words!!!)

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tory79 · 19/08/2011 23:33

SO I called them back to say there was just a teeny amount of brown on the pad and when I wiped, and they said that was fine, no need to worry, really they were only concerned about red blood.

I just find the whole thing so annoying. At my 20 week scan the sonographer said the placenta was low lying and I'd have to have a follow up scan at 32 weeks. It was only when the midwife looked at my notes at my 25 week appt (during which time I spent 2 weeks in Florida) that I found out it was completely covering, and pretty much all she said was that if I had heavy bleeding to call an ambulance, and make sure they don't do an internal....and its only been through google that I have found out for myself it can be a really serious condition! No one has told me not to do anything, or given any idea of the potential risks etc other than saying I would probably have to have a c-section! Grr!

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southeastastra · 19/08/2011 23:41

i wasn't told much either, i wonder why they do that!

i had a few big bleeds, there is literally alot of blood and it would panic you enough to get straight to the hospital

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OrangeGloss · 20/08/2011 04:55

I'm sorry to hear they haven't kept you better informed, has that settled your mind a bit? If not, could you ring back and request a scan or a trace for peace of mind?

I hope things settle down for you and the last few weeks are uneventful

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