14 weeks, period pains and just noticed a bit of blood - should I be worried?

[looneytune]

Have had period type cramps (not major but feels like a period) most of the evening but have had odd feelings like this on and off which I presume is stretching etc. Well I've just been to the toilet and (sorry TMI) noticed a little bit of blood staining on my knickers, not a lot but it's there. There was nothing when I wiped so it really is only a little but due to this period type feeling, I'm a little paranoid now. Obviously if I notice more then I'll call my midwife or hospital in the morning for advice but if I don't get any more blood, do you think I should give them a call anyway or leave it as it's only a little? I was thinking the pains could have been a sign of a water infection (although not how I get them most of the time) but after seeing the blood, I'm obviously concerned about baby. I did have a particularly stressful afternoon, not sure if that would make any difference.

I'm 14 weeks today, any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks x

[looneytune]

No more bleeding so would you say just keep an eye on it and no need to call?

[Mulledandmerry]

Hello...its a bit of a tricky one. Its really good that you have no more bleeding. Have the cramps settled down? There isnt an awful lot hosp/midwife can do at the moment. Obviously if bleeding returns they could do a scan, but my advice at the moment would be to take it easy today and see what happens. If you have any urinary symptons such as frequency, stinging, aching around your back then phone gp. Hope its all ok for you..keep us posted xx

[Bicnod]

I'd phone your midwife and ask for advice. Otherwise you'll just be worrying. They won't mind you calling them at all.

Hope all is ok, I had bleeds with both pregnancies (one quite dramatic one) and all was well in the end. Scary though. Sending unMNlike hugs.

[looneytune]

Thanks, that's what I thought. I never had any kind of bleeding with my boys but when I mc before them, it started off a tiny bit, spotting for a week then a big bleed at the end, but this was at only 5-8 weeks (not 100% sure) and certainly not after a scan showing a very active baby with a heartbeat! I do tend to get urine infections but they usually give me niggles in my back but on the odd occasion I have had slight period cramps so that could be a sign. I might pop a sample into them later just to check and of course call the midwife or anti natal ward if I get more bleeding.

I'm a childminder so having complete rest is out of the question but I have managed to get dh to take my boys into school today so I didn't have to rush on the school run and I'll take it as easy as possible. At least I've only got a 1 and 2 year old until after school (when I have 6) and I'll just give all the children an easy to make dinner (and if my boys mis behave then daddy is around to take them away from me! ).

Fingers crossed it's nothing to worry about. I just get so paranoid!! This being an unplanned 3rd baby which I was so upset about and now very much wanted (we'll manage somehow!). I can't bear the thought of anything happening.

[looneytune]

One other total unrelated question.........I've got swollen ankles, not massive like at the end of pregnancy but if you press in then it leaves a mark for a short time. I'm pretty sure a little is expected but just don't remember getting it this early (it's been a while - my boys are 4 and 9). IF I end up calling the midwife, I just wondered if worth mentioning this at all? I've no headaches or vision problems (thinking PE) so pretty sure nothing to worry about.

Thanks both for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it :) xx

[Midgetm]

I would call Midwife or GP and get them to test your urine and a quick Doppler if they will. Better to be safe than sorry. Too early for PE so swelling Not likely to be that. Probably nothing but if urine Infection better to get treated quickly before it gets worse.

[looneytune]

Hi again. I called and left a message for the MW a couple of hours ago but I know she's busy. I decided to call GP just now and they've had a cancellation at 2.30pm and suggested I come down. The more I think about it, the more I feel it's a possible urine infection so fingers crossed.

[SledsImOn]

Oh I hope you and baby are Ok. I've no experience of bleeding in pg, so I'm not sure what to suggest apart from there is a lot going on down there and it could well be cervical erosion or some other sort of irritation in that area, that doesn't affect the baby - with any luck though the GP will send you for another scan to be sure the baby is OK.

Regarding the ankles - well, I'm 37 weeks with my third (also have boys of 5 and 9!) and this time my legs are very swollen - water retention, since a few weeks ago, and I get a huge indentation in my legs when I take off my socks. But the MW isn't worried about it as my blood pressure is fine, and urine is fine (no protein) so I'd guess that it's just one of those unfortunate things.

But do mention it to the MW next time you see her.

Good luck this afternoon and I hope all is well xx

[looneytune]

Thanks, I'll just casually mention to the MW when I see her in Jan.

Well I went to the GP and he tested my urine and said 'well I'd like to say there is something coming up.....but' and then went on to talk about it bein a threatened mc. I told him in the past I'd had infections that didn't show up on the test there but grew to show something so asked him to send it on to the lab. To make me feel better he's given ABs just in case and then said 'well it's either a very strange urine infection or a threatened mc and there's nothing we can do'. I'm to go back if I get any more bleeding or the cramps get worse.

[looneytune]

Typical, just starting to wonder if I imagined the whole blood thing and been waiting to hear back from urine tests at lab, convinced it is a urine infection but just been to the toilet and had some blood when I wiped. At first just dark tinged bits when I wiped and next time was red blood in mucusy stuff. Not sure if makes any difference but knickers were pretty damp which I thought odd then wondered if due to thrush (normally get as another sort of discharge but did once have that reaction to thrush when was pg with ds2 (further gone though). I presume it's too early for things like slow leaking of waters etc.

I'm trying not to panic but the only time I ever had blood when pregnant was when I went on to miscarry before my boys were born. I keep telling myself it's not a lot so not to panic but it's hard not to worry!

Oh and had run a bath and was about to go in it but not sure I should now.

[Mulledandmerry]

How are you doing? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. If bleeding carries on give Gp a ring in the morning..or has your hospital got an early pregnancy assessment unit that may be able to sort out a scan? Obviously if bleeding is heavy call out of hours service. Thinking of you.

[looneytune]

Thanks, I'm ok thanks and had no more bleeding since last night. I've made an appointment with the GP for 4pm this afternoon due to the thrush as I'm sure I've got that (TMI but very itchy inside 'there') but I'll need to find out if I can actually use a treatment if had bleeding but not sure if he'll be able to confirm that was what caused it. But at least it's not a lot, just hope there's not a proper bleed to follow as would be even worse being so close to Christmas now. Oh and I phoned my midwife and she said if I can see the GP they should be able to detect a heartbeat so can check for me (she offered for me to see her if I couldn't get an appointment but she sounded very busy and of course wouldn't be able to help me with the thrush anyway. I'm hoping that when I'm at the Drs I can find out if the urine test results have come back too so fingers crossed.

[Mulledandmerry]

That sounds good. Hope you get on well at doctors. Sometimes it can be hard to detect a heart beat abdominally at 14 weeks..in fact some can't be found before 16-18 weeks so please don't panic if they have a few problems. I will remain keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[looneytune]

Thanks and don't worry, I won't. I was surprised the MW said that actually as I'd thought the same but she said as will be 15 weeks on Monday, she'd have thought it should be heard so at least worth asking. But if they don't find it I won't take that as a bad thing, just if they DO find it then it will be nice :)

[looneytune]

Heard baby's heartbeat :)

Dr given a prescription for thrush as I'm sure I have that. Urine results still not back so I need to call on Monday for those. As for the bleeding, he didn't seem to concerned and said it was possible that if I've got thrush then that was the cause, maybe irratated further inside and I just didn't know. Never had this before (and I used to get thrush every month when on the pill), however, things are different down there when you're pregnant so I'm going with that being the cause!

As for the pains, they aren't really bad now and tend to be there when I've overdone things so just going to make sure I take it a bit easier than I have done and fingers crossed all will be fine.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm now looking forward to hearing the heartbear again on 8th Jan then my 20 week scan on 25th Jan :)

[Mulledandmerry]

Have a lovely Christmas looneytune. Our warmest wishes will be with you x

[looneytune]

Awww thanks, you have a lovely Christmas too :) x