AIBU to ask if it is actually possible to have a period/s but still be pregnant?

[mabinog]

Just that really! I’ve seen all kinds of stories in the press where a woman has had periods but turned out to be pregnant, but does it actually happen? I want internet anecdata

Yes. My friend had a "period" all the way through her first pregnancy. It was weird but the baby was fine.

Yes it’s possible. I had regular periods up until 4 months pregnant. Whether they’re actually periods or not though, I don’t know.

No it's not possible. You can have vaginal bleeds but not a menstrual period where an egg is released and the womb lining sheds. A pregnancy would not survive that.

Yes, my first pregnancy. I was menstruating for 4 months and thought the sickness was a vomiting bug (I was in India at the time though).

I had what I thought were periods for the first trimester so it was a surprise when I was regularly being sick. The morning sickness was the only reason I realised I was pregnant. I found out at 10 weeks

@MrsGHarrison87

No it's not possible. You can have vaginal bleeds but not a menstrual period where an egg is released and the womb lining sheds. A pregnancy would not survive that.

This! Of course you can’t have an actual period.

Yes me for 3 months apparently it's relatively common (according to my mw) whatever that means 🤷‍♀️

You can have a monthly bleed. A good friend had ivf and got her period so assumed the cycle had failed. A while later went to the dr to start the next round of ivf and was pregnant. She had monthly bleeds for the next few months of her pregnancy too.

@MrsGHarrison87

No it's not possible. You can have vaginal bleeds but not a menstrual period where an egg is released and the womb lining sheds. A pregnancy would not survive that.

See that's the thing! Period = uterus lining shedding = no pregnancy, surely? So what on earth causes monthly bleeding in the first trimester/later ones too?? I am baffled (and probably ignorant of the complexities of biology!)

It cant be period as such but i think ypu can have bleeding, usually early on. Are you just interested or ttc? Because i used to read reviews of how inaccurate negative pregnancy tests are and i dont recommend it!

I'm due soon and I didn't find out until 9 weeks as I had two periods. Quite the shock.

I'm intrigued to know the biological explanation for monthly bleeds where no egg is being released/ womb lining is presumably not being shed. Does anyone know? I'd always assumed they were random small bleeds, but that seems rather a coincidence if the bleeds are spot on usual dates for those with a regular cycle?

PS mine came bang on time for those first two months. I had some slight suspicions before the second period came as I had heavy boobs and did wonder then when my "period" came bang on the day it was due I actually even said to myself well definitely not pregnant, but here I am. They weren't as heavy and didn't last quite as long so they weren't exactly the same. Was weird though. I haven't had any after I found out so I do wonder if my brain needed to catch up with my body 🤦🏻‍♀️

To a PP, no not ttc, I have a tiny one at the moment so been there done that! I’m just intrigued. I had not a drop of blood during my pregnancy so I’m fascinated at how weird the body is that people experience this!

Should add I 100% believe everyone who has had bleeding during pregnancy. Can I ask, was it regular monthly as per usual, was it lighter than normal or much the same? #nosy

@mabinog mine was lighter but bang on time.
Mine usually started lighter with a heavier day day 2 so that heavier day didn't come. That did make me nervous but I'd started weight lifting and read that could make periods lighter...

When month 2 came it was a heavier day 1 a lot of blood and I thought well there's my answer definitely not pregnant! I was 🤦🏻‍♀️ when I did find out I went for a private scan straight away as that blood then terrified me. All was fine. I didn't bleed again, so strange!

@sociallydistained That is fascinating, thank you for sharing! I still want to know what causes it. Google is not helping!

@mabinog It all still feels so surreal to me but I'll never forget my journey to here was not straightforward! I mentioned it at my scans and midwife appointment and nobody batted an eyelid about it! I didn't see a midwife until I was 10 weeks and only just found out myself and they said oh you were late booking in did you only find out and I explained and they didn't seem surprised, but all my friends have been so I'm guessing it's not normal lol.

Had what I thought were periods. Didn't suspect at all. Was 20 weeks pregnant when I finally found out.1986 - so no fancy tests. Flat stomach, size 10 at most. No symptoms whatsoever.
On the plus side my pregnancy didn't drag on and on. She was born healthy weight.

Yup. Had two. One very light, one the heaviest I have ever had snd actually I still think that I miscarried a twin. Never had anything like it. I was (unknowingly) about five weeks pregnant at the time. Didn't find out I was pregwith DS2 until 20 weeks.

Yes, was being seen by the gp for heavy periods that they couldn't work out what had happened. Eventually wondered myself if I was pregnant and did a test which was positive. Gp said with such heavy bleeding it was likely I was miscarrying and to book in with early pregnancy unit for a scan. Expected scan to show miscarriage. Instead a very surprised midwife showed me a very strong heart beat and 12 week little bean. It settled down about 4 months but I had 2 further bleeds at 26 and 32 weeks both treated seriously as possible placental abruption. Perfectly chubby healthy baby followed at term!

I had what I assumed to be periods for the first 4mths of pregnancy, and so had no idea I was pregnant. I had the contraceptive injection regularly too, so it really was a shock to find out! Baby was 8lb and perfectly healthy though!

Some women have two wombs, so yes this is possible.

So bleeding in pregnancy can be normal and common.

It can be down to; ectropion cervix, haemorrhage, placental issues, pregnancy loss (multiple pregnancies), trauma to the site (if involved in an accident or incident of violence etc) or something like excessive exercise. Also more common in multiple pregnancies.

Im sure there are more reasons too. Perhaps hormonal in some cases (threatened miscarriage due to progesterone dip for example).

It isn't a period as the body stops ovulating when pregnant.

I've bled in every pregnancy I've had (4), 2 were miscarriages, 2 were successful.

Yes I did for 5 months like clockwork. Initially dismissed pregnancy until I started getting weird twinges.

I had monthly ‘periods’ for the first 5 months, they got lighter each month