Miscarriage/chemical pregnancy - is this normal?

[Overthinker1988]

Hi ladies, I've read conflicting info about whether you need to go to a doctor during/after a miscarriage so I'm not sure what to do.
Basically I miscarried at 5 weeks, AF was only a week late and then it came. I'm still bleeding 20 days later (it's no longer heavy but it just won't stop). I thought at this early stage it would be only slightly longer than a normal period. Normally mine is only 4 days.
Has anyone else had this and did you go to your GP? I don't want to waste their time as I feel otherwise fine-ish (just a bit weak and dizzy at times).

I'd go to the doctor. After my 5 week miscarriages I also just had a slightly heavier normal period.

I agree with the pp. That sounds like a long time. It might be within the realms of normal, but my early miscarriages were much shorter. Worth checking out, but try not to worry too much. Sorry for your loss.

Ordinarily id say no, but 20 days of bleeding is quite a lot.

I agree with PP I wouldn't go in normally as there is usually very little they can do but since you've been bleeding for so long i would make an appointment with your GP as the referral to an EPU/Gynae is likely to take a while

@Overthinker1988 I'm really sorry for your loss.

I had a miscarriage in August (5+6) I bled heavily for a week. I then continued spotting for another 2 weeks. In the end I rung the GP to ask how long you would normally bleed for. He suggested I do a pregnancy test. That came back as positive (taken in the evening), I then rung back the following morning and got referred to the EPU. I had an appointment there the following day. They did a blood test and my hormone level was still 125 (I don't know what units they measure in), I had an internal scan and they said there was a small sak. I had to then go back two days later for another blood test, hormones were down to 100 - they say they should decrease 50% in two days. I then had to go back again, hormones were down to 75 (still not 50% decrease), so I had to go back in another week and have another scan.

They were worried about an eptopic. Everything was fine, by body just hadn't fully passed the miscarriage.

If you're in doubt ring your GP/Midwife.

Thank you for all the replies. I will ring the GP tomorrow. I'm not sure how to go about asking them for advice though...would I have to tell the receptionist (who has no medical training) all the details or can I expect to be put through to a GP/nurse? I just can make an appointment I guess but I don't want to waste their time...not sure what they can actually do for me as I'm not in any pain or anything. Bleeding has just got heavier but it's all brown so that's old blood right? (Sorry if TMI)

@Overthinker1988 I explained to the receptionist that I'd had a miscarriage 3/4weeks prior and that I was still bleeding. I didn't want to take an appointment as it wasn't an emergency but could she get the on call dr to ring me to advise what I should do.

Alternatively ring your local midwife department. They'll be able to help

Sorry for your loss

Tell her it's private and upsetting you would like someone to call you back

Have you tested recently to make sure you HCG has dropped? They may ask that

Both times for me it was longer and heavier with clots but nearly 3 weeks does seem excessive and definitely needs investigations

Thank you to everyone who replied. There has been quite a turnaround.

I went to the GP and he sent me for a scan to see what was going on, as I was still getting a strong positive.

The scan showed a strong heart beat and a foetus with measurements consistent with being in the 8th week.

To say it was a shock is an understatement - all my symptoms were pointing to miscarriage and it didn't even cross my mind it could be anything else...there was just so much blood. I'd just started to get over the "miscarriage" and to accept it/move on.

The scan showed an area of bleeding beside where the sac is. They don't know why it's happening but said so far it hasn't affected anything. I'll have to go for weekly check-ups.
I'm scared but tentatively happy/excited.

@Overthinker1988 CONGRATULATIONS! That's amazing news!!

Oh wow, what a little fighting miracle ❤️ i wish you a bubba a healthy happy 9 months!

Thats amazing! Congrats

Thank you
I feel so guilty about all the things I did during those 3 weeks when I thought I was no longer pregnant...drinking alcohol (a glass of wine/beer/gin and coke a night for quite a few nights...boiling hot baths (which I love in winter but have heard you're not supposed to when pg)...lifting heavy things...tons of Neurofen when I strained my back....visit to the osteopath who did all sorts of jolting and pressing down movements on my pelvis and lower back. Argh.

That’s amazing news! Something very similar happened to me and I now have dd sleeping on my lap 😊

Oh and I was drinking and taking brufen too during the few weeks when thought I wasn’t pregnant. Don’t worry!

@Swimmingsnowman That's amazing, that it all turned out fine for you
I hope I get the same outcome, although I still can't quite picture the little peanut on the scan actually turning into a baby...if that makes sense

It was such a shock. It was such a huge bleed but I hadn’t the heart to go to the hospital as I’d had so many mc previously (this was a lot worse). Eventually when the bleeding didn’t stop I got scanned. I fully expected for them to say I needed a D&C but instead I saw a heartbeat and arms and legs! The bleeding stopped around 12 weeks but I was so anxious I hid the pregnancy until nearly 30 weeks (winter so big coats and jumpers!). Good luck! I really hope it works out as well for you
Btw the miscarriage association have some figures on their website about chances of pregnancy continuing once you have seen a heartbeat which helped to reassure me a bit

Aw that's such a happy ending, sorry to hear about multiple miscarriages though. This is my first ever pregnancy so it seems too good to be true that it will last to full term especially with this complication, but you never know.

Wow what a sticky little bean you have there, congratulations xx

What an amazing outcome @Overthinker1988! I have had three faint positive tests in the past week but also been bleeding, heavy but not my usual AF. Due to take another test tomorrow morning, your story gives me some hope of a good outcome! Good luck x

@ohreally2019 Keeping my fingers crossed for you! It's horrible when you don't know what's going on and you're forced to wait...a day can seem like a year. Did the bleeding start when AF was due or earlier/later?

Thank you @Overthinker1988
Faint positive last Sat, due AF on Tue but started on Sunday. When it was much lighter than usual I took another test on Tue and got the same faint positive. Another test Fri morning with faint positive. Have continued bleeding all week, seems slighter heavier yesterday and today so I expect a BFN tomorrow morning. But I suppose there is a slim chance it could be something like your situation 🤞🏻

@ohreally2019 I hope you get a happy outcome...apparently lots of women bleed in first trimester so time will tell what's going on. Hang in there!

@thirteen92 this is the thread I mentioned in my other comment x