I think I’m having early miscarriage - advice please!

[Dazedandconfusedma]

I only found out on Thursday that I was pregnant with a much wanted second baby - conception day would be around 16/17 July. Yesterday I had a little bit of spotting. Today there was quite a bit more blood with more texture… I feel certain it’s a miscarriage. I feel really down about it. But I’m also not sure what I’m meant to do - should I still book to see the GP? If I do, will they actually be able to tell me anything - I’ve read that pregnancy tests can still show you as pregnant for a few weeks? When will I know for sure if it is a miscarriage or not? Does this count as a period (for the purposes of trying to figure out when I might ovulate again?) Can we go straight to trying again? Please share any advice of knowledge you have that might help me. Thank you

Sorry you’re going through this. It’s really rubbish.
Do you have an early pregnancy unit you can contact? If not, just monitor the blood loss.
When I went through this earlier this year I was shocked at how much blood there was and ended up going to A&E as I felt very weak. So just make sure you’re aware of the blood, and clots etc. And if you’re not feeling well then go to A&E.
Once everything had passed for me (took about 5 days), then I was asked to come back for a scan to confirm everything was gone. They said to do a pregnancy test in 3 weeks, by which point it should be negative. If it’s positive then need to go back as there could be something retained etc.
Not to scare you, just to make you aware of this cos I had absolutely no idea despite having multiple friends go through the same thing. It’s different when it’s happening to you.
I’m sorry you’re going through this - do try to rest if you can as it’s a really tiring experience.

3 early mcs here, although the third was dealt with by the miscarriage clinic - booked ERPC so I didnt get to the bleeding stage, it was removed before then.
The first two started with light bleeding but the crucial thing that usually distinguishes a mc from harmless early bleeding is period- style cramps. If you have those, I think it’s pretty certain it’s a mc. If so, I’m very sorry. Mine were a much wanted second child as well, after years of infertility.

However, mcs are very common. I was able to more or less accept that fact, and keep trying. DS2 was my fifth pregnancy.

If you do a test it will almost certainly show a positive result. Tests done at the hospital certainly showed that each time. I think yoghurt still show a positive result for a while after the loss, until your hormones have gone back to normal.

In my cases, the first two anyway, I went straight to the emergency room at Liverpool Womens and did a pregnancy test there and they checked temperature etc. I was then scanned and told that they could see the sac but the dates and lack of heartbeat suggested a mc. I went home and passed the rest over the next few days. Both of mine were like heavy periods, unlike my DM who lost it in one go, bleeding heavily and being rushed to hospital.

Drs often prefer you to wait until after your first normal period after a mc, but as far as I’m aware this is just for ease of dating conception. There is no medical reason why you need to wait after a normal mc.

And yes, I had to go back a while later for a scan to check everything had passed. But - this was in 2005-6 so things might well have changed.

Some people feel very tired. I didn’t feel that so much, especially with the second. I worked part time and didn’t actually take a day off. I also went to a friend’s 40th on about day 6 when the bleeding had slowed down. Sounds mad - but I enjoyed it, and really needed it for my mental health. I’m the type to move on and try again so I just put them behind me.

I tried not dwell on the due dates- in my case it was weird because I faced a due date when I’d already got pregnant and had another mc, and I was pregnant with DS2 when I passed the due date for what was my third loss. I decided to try to forget all about them.

Do what you need to do. If you need to avoid people, then do that. I ignored phone calls etc during my first as I didn’t want to talk. DH had to deal with PIL’s calls, and he kept them brief.

@Dazedandconfusedma
Sorry you are so worried..,.. could you get a scan? I was at work when I felt blood running down my leg about a month after conception..... Doctor sent me for a scan then I went home to bed while an army of friends looked after our toddler (DH away on business) : the baby held on and turned 20 this year!

Thank you guys so so much. Now I’m feeling less sure that it’s definitely a miscarriage - there was more blood than yesterday but still not loads. I can’t see an early pregnancy unit anywhere near me. I guess I’ll wait and see and hope, and book a GP appointment in the meantime. Xx

I've been luck enough to have never had a miscarriage, and I really feel for you.

I have had bleeding in both pregnancies though, so I do understand your worry and anxiety.

Try not to panic, it may turn out to be 'normal' bleeding (and I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that's all it is).

Other posters will be of more help than myself, I just wanted to tell you that it's not always the case that it's a miscarriage, so there is hope that all will be ok. 💐

Sorry op 😓.

How many weeks are you? Unless you live very rural I’d be very, very surprised if you don’t have a hospital with an EPAU unit nearby.

EPAU won’t see you until 6 weeks sadly, your GP won’t be able to do anything or tell you very much at all, but they will be able to refer you on. Does your GP have an emergency/same day app line - to speed things up you can ask them what miscarriage services are available they will either refer you in or give you the details to book yourself.

Bleeding is so common in very early pregnancy tho.

I thought I was having a miscarriage (bled on and off sometimes heavily all through first trimester) and called 111, they said to monitor bleeding, told me what to look out for and said if it continued they could arrange an early scan, but if it was too early nothing would be visible and it might not be local. So if you're wanting a bit of reassurance or advice I'd definitely give 111 a call.

As someone who has had 2 MMCs then I very much went with the attitude of what is meant to be will be.

You are very early on so just make yourself comfortable and wait to see how it pans out.

Nothing you do or don't do will make any difference to the outcome so try not to stress.

I had no bleeding and found out twice at the 12 week scan that it had ended. 🙁

Thanks all - I’m booked in for a scan tomorrow so will hopefully find out more then. I do really appreciate your words of wisdom, and for sharing your experiences, it’s reassuring not to feel alone (although sad that so many people have been through it!). Trying not to worry too much, what will be will be xx

Keeping everything crossed op, it really is so common, I’ve had five miscarriages I only bled with one or two….I also had quite a bit pf bleeding at around 8wks with the pregnancy asleep upstairs whose just turned 7.

If you call 101 they will be able to tell you what the appropriate place to go is.

I'm sorry, it's not nice. The EPU probably won't be listed on google etc, it's normally part of A&E or maternity, and you'd only have the contact details for them if you've been there before.

I think they do actually prefer you to go in and get scanned in case of ectopic pregnancy. But I am no longer in the UK so unsure what the process is there as others have said 6 weeks minimum.

Really sorry to hear this. It is common, more so than you realise until you go through it (and you never think it’ll be you). I had one at a similar stage to you and it doesn’t feel any easier just because it was early. Sending you lots of love and be gentle to yourself. Most likely a random genetic blip so early.

I was rudely told by the EPU to wait to try again otherwise it would be hard for them to date the next pregnancy… turned to here (and Tommys, who are great) for advice and there is no medical need to wait at all if you feel ready. I ovulated 20 days after the loss and conceived on that cycle, pregnant with our rainbow baby now and I’m 26+2. I went down a rabbit hole of research and you’re actually more fertile for the first 3 months after. The fact you’ve had a child before as well means the odds are well in your favour for next one being plain sailing. Xxxx

Sorry that you've had a hard time, it's truly scary and am holding your hand virtually. With my losses the blood loss increased and I had period like cramps. The second loss was a missed miscarriage but still went the same way with increased bleeding once my body realised.

In regards to trying, it's when you are ready. I'd imagine it's once you've had a negative test and you aren't bleeding any more. The EPAU will be able to advise you on the latest advice.

My kids were my 3rd and 4th pregnancies. My losses were my 1st and 2nd pregnancies. DD came 2 years after my last loss.

I passed a few 1cm clots at 7 weeks, and bled on and off for four days (red then increasingly orangey-brown). Had a scan at the EPAU at about 8 weeks and he was happy enough in there.

Do you have any cramps? I had stretching crampy pains at 6 weeks and later, but the blood came by itself.

I had bleeding around 6 weeks I think. GP went through ectopic pregnancy symptoms (which I didn't have) and referred me for an early scan, they couldn't see much and I had to go back 2 weeks later for a repeat. All very stressful but everything was fine for us, they're 5 now. Fingers crossed for you x

I’ve had two early MCs at about the 6 week mark. In both of those pregnancies my tests just didn’t get darker quickly like they did in my viable pregnancies. I sort of knew the writing was on the wall from that but I didn’t want to believe it of course.

Could you take another test and compare how dark it is to the original test? Not an exact science but for me was an indication of how things were going to go.

Hope it all is ok for you. I spotted in all three viable pregnancies so not necessarily bad news. If it is a miscarriage I fell pregnant again the month after both mcs (no period in between, ovulated about 2 weeks after pregnancy tests were negative). I’d been trying over a year before one of those mcs so wasn’t exactly fertile. It is said you are more fertile after a mc.