Seven weeks pregnant + brown discharge :(

[elderberryspokes]

Apologies if this is TMI. I'm not sure where else to turn.

On Sunday morning I went for an (non-strenuous) walk with DP and felt a little discharge come out into my knickers. Assumed it was the usual white stuff and didn't think anything of it. Then a couple of hours later, on the way to do the weekly shop, I felt an ache around my left ovary and in my lower-middle abdomen. It was uncomfortable but not horribly painful and went away within a few minutes. This pain isn't unusual as I had open surgery to remove a cyst on my left ovary a couple of years ago and often get pains around the scar tissue.

I got home, went to the toilet, and saw that the discharge in my knickers was pinkish-brown. Quite a bit of mucassy stuff - not as heavy as a period but enough to freak me out - came off in the tissue. Went upstairs, laid on bed, and burst into tears while DP called midwife.

She was really nice and told me it was not unusual, to take things easy and to go to the hospital if the cramps became very painful and prolonged and the blood became fresh, heavy and started clotting. She also said that, if I was still worried, I could call up and arrange an early scan to put my mind at rest.

That was two days ago. I haven't been at work as I can't concentrate on anything and am tired and nauseous (which is crap, but gives me hope as I still have morning sickness). Intermittent period-like cramps. They are not here all the time and are never very bad - I've been having them a couple of times a day since before I found out I was pregnant and have been told I just have a sensitive pelvic area and this again is perfectly normal as long as I'm not in real pain, which I'm not.

The discharge hasn't stopped and is really freaking me out now. It doesn't come out into my knickers, but tissues come away brown and, when I've rolled up a tissue and pushed it slightly inside like a tampon (sorry for that mental image!) it has come away with stringy brown stuff on it. There has been a little bit of pinkish mucas mixed in with the brown on Sunday and this morning but no fresh blood.

I'm booked in for an early scan tomorrow morning and am not sure how I am going to wait that long -- I feel horribly depressed and unable to function properly, convinced that I am losing the baby :(

Has anyone else had these symptoms and gone on to have a healthy pregnancy? I know I am clinging to a desperate hope yet, but I don't know what I should be feeling -- grief or hope. Last night I even decided to pretend I knew the sex, so that I could picture the baby and send it encouraging thoughts, which sounds absolutely nuts now I write it down. Just don't know what to do until then.

[kerala]

I had these symptoms. Taking DD (now strapping 5 year old) to the zoo today. It may well be fine.

[zippy539]

Yes - had this with DS who is now 10. As I remember the fact that it is brown blood (ie old) is good. My bleeding was explained as an implantation bleed at happened at exactly 7 weeks. Really hope that everything is okay for you - I know how terrifying this is.

[elderberryspokes]

Thanks for your replies :) This is my first pregnancy so hearing that you've had similar experiences is really encouraging. Thunderboltkid -- I know what you mean about going to work, and I did seriously consider going in today (I love my job and my boss is fantastic) but I work as a legal secretary and can't afford to have my mind elsewhere when dealing with paperwork.

I've been writing a silly story for my younger sister's birthday, so am going to try and lose myself in that. Have a a stack of books next to the bed, a pile of laundry and will make a lazy Valentine's lasagne later.

[diggingforvictory]

Fingers crossed for you elderberry. I had these symptoms plus quite a lot of bright red bleeding in all 4 of my pregnancies. I lost 2, but the other 2 are now healthy children.

All you can do is try to take you mind off it. The scan won't change the outcome, but hopefully everything will be fine.

[GoingToBedfordshire]

I had the same experience in 2 of my pregnancies and both times everything was fine.

I do hope the scan puts your mind at rest, take care.

[Cruelladevil77]

Hi, such a frightening thing to happen. i had a similar thing at 8 weeks with dc3. Totally freaked out but all was well on scan and he is now 15 months. No real explanation for it except that could have been that my period wasn't completely suppressed.

[seaweedhead]

I had this with my 1st pregnancy at around 7 weeks too. I was told it was probably an implantation bleed. Went for a scan and all was well, I went on to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Hopefully you'll have a happy outcome.

[VeronicaSpeedwell]

I feel for you, exactly the same thing happened to me (and I had also previously had surgery to remove an ovary). My scan at about 7+4 showed everything as it should be, and thus far it still is (25 weeks now). Obviously nobody can promise you a happy ending, but I'm sendiing you lots of good wishes. The waiting is hard.

[puddingnazi]

I had weird bloody discharge for ages during first couple of months of my pregnancy... i still bleed now... but have found out its happens when i have sex, :) could this be the case for you??
my MW said its nothing to worry about .. hahah had a very embarrassing convo about penetrative sex and the length of my DH manhood. HILARIOUS
sure its nothing to worry about if the bleeding hasnt got worse and you are not losing clots
good luck
XX

[Yorkstar]

I had this at 7+5 with dd. Went for early scan but had completely prepared myself for a mmc. All was well, I was so surprised but dd's little heart was beating away. She is 9 months now. It's so easy to freak out over everything, but many people had brown discharge or even bleed heavily and all is well. There's still plenty of hope. Good luck for tomorrow.

[elderberryspokes]

Thanks. I'm trying very hard to stay positive but in the last couple of hours I've got very depressed and weepy again. Thankfully I'm still nauseous on and off so was able to sleep for a good chunk of the day, which passes the time if nothing else.

DP finding it hard and is obviously unsure how to react, although he's very sweet and supportive in person (not very good over the phone so have been trying not to call him at work. He's got the day off to go to the scan with me tomorrow and has booked a table at the local Indian tonight if I feel like going out for a change of scenery.)

Passed a clot a few hours ago and there is some red blood but nothing coming out into my knickers. Haven't needed to put a sanitary towel on or anything. Just preparing myself for the worst. I'd rather have a nice shock than go in with false hope.

Looking back over the last month, this pregnancy has been so strange. Me and DP were over the moon and shell-shocked as it was our first month of trying. I've wanted to have a baby for much longer than that :)

On the day we found out, DP and I went to his works do, and he suggested I talk to his colleague who had just had a baby. Conversation turned out to be quite negative as she (unknown to DP) had three previous miscarriages. DP was very troubled by this and found it hard to get excited about the baby as he thought there was a massive likelihood of it going wrong after what he heard from his colleague.

Then a couple of days later I spoke to an old friend who is doing some work with pregnant women, specifically their experiences of birth, hoping for support but instead getting told quite bluntly not to get attached because most pregnancies ended in miscarriage.

Strangely, or not so strangely, the most supportive and excited reaction has been from a friend who had a miscarriage before she conceived her daughter, who was born just before Christmas.

But I rant. Sorry. Just out of sorts. Being stuck in the house alone is probably not very good for me :/

[monkeybananas]

Hi elderberryspokes,
I didn't want to read and run. I just wanted to say that a positive frame of mind can work wonders. I'm in early pregnancy with no2 and have had red bleeding since last Thursday (already had one scan because if brown discharge) I'm going for another scan tomorrow because last time (2 weeks ago) was too early to tell anything (apart from a healthy sack and egg) so, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and hope that your mind is put at rest and that everything is ok.
hug

[puzzletree]

Yes I had this with my current pregnancy. I'm now 19 weeks. I had a miscarriage a few months previously and had never bled in pregnancies prior to that so like you I was pretty panicked that it was all over when I got the bleeding and cramps at 6 weeks. However at the scan there was a nice clear heartbeat and everything has been ok since then. No idea where the bleeding was from. Fingers crossed it'll be the same for you, but I understand how worrying and all-consuming it is waiting in limbo. Hopefully everything will settle, you will get good news at the scan and it'll just be one of those weird pregnancy things, but if not, I recommend the miscarriage board as a great support. Take care of yourself and good luck x

[puddingnazi]

Good luck for your scan and big hugs XXX

[elderberryspokes]

Thank you all for your lovely messages - we've just got back from the scan and, thank goodness, baby is still there. Amazing feeling, seeing its little heart going ten to the dozen :)

Sonographer couldn't see any reason for the bleed but the baby is younger than we thought, only six weeks, so she thinks maybe implantation along with some old blood coming away - which would explain the brown and pink blood. Still a bit shaken but should be fine to go to work tomorrow which is great as I suspect cabin fever has begun to set in ;) Alas, I had to go with a full bladder and am nearly incontinent at the best of times, so wet myself a bit in the waiting room, the shame Good job it wasn't an internal ultrasound or I would have peed on her!!

Thanks again for all your replies xxx

[VeronicaSpeedwell]

Lovely news.

[monkeybananas]

great news. congratulations.
(filling me with hope for this afternoon.)

[marshmallowpies]

Very good news.

There's nothing quite like seeing a little person all snug & safe in there to lift your spirits...I went into my first scan with no visible symptoms of pregnancy - no morning sickness or signs of a bump - so was convinced the baby had stopped developing. Just seeing she was there and all OK was the happiest moment ever. Congratulations!

[Yummymummyyobe1]

elderberryspokes I am really happy for you. We went through the same thing at 6 1/2 weeks and now we have 10wks and 3 days until the due date. Relax and enjoy your pregnancy as much a possible.

Remember anything that seems unsual speak to your MW and get it checked out. The very wise MNR'S have taught me this.

xx

[puzzletree]

Yay, brilliant news!!!! Hope the rest of the pregnancy is plain sailing, enjoy... x

[daisyrach]

Hi everyone I am 6 weeks pregnent had a really bad eptopic 2 months ago and found I am pregnant now I have been having cramping all the way through sence my period was due 2 and half weeks ago about ten mins ogo I went toliet and wipped and on the tusue wasa brown stringy discharge I am so worried dose any know what this could be please xj

[Shan28]

Hi guys this is my first pregnancy, I just wanted a bit of advice before I ring EPU! I am 7 weeks pregnant tomorrow and experiencing brown discharge (only when I wipe) I'm really worried at my mum , grandma and sister in law had miscarriages with there first pregnancy!
Thanks ????

[merlehaggard]

Personally, I'd ring early pregnancy unit. This doesn't mean that bleeding always indicate a problem, because I've had a little bleeding at this stage with all 3 of my successful pregnancy. However, bleeding isn't the norm and it will do no harm to phone them. I've got PCOS and had never had periods and one of my first indications of being pregnant, was this bleeding/brown discharge. I have also miscarried twice, and whilst the blood may have started brown and light, this fairly quickly changed to bright red. The chances are, you are fine - not everyone miscarries their first pregancy - but the EPU will give you some advice.

[Shan28]

Thank you I had a little red blood mixed in with my discharge the other day but that very quickly changed to brown discharge it started Saturday night but it stopped so I just left it but this morning it had started again, however I hardly get any cramps but I am just getting over a UTI aswell thanks for you advice x