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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Help - BFP but I had my period?!

37 replies

PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 09:05

Last month, I ovulated on day 18 and had my period on day 27. It was as heavy as usual but did feel a bit different because I had some brown bleeding on day 8 after I thought everything had finished. And I have had a lot of light cramping the last three days.

Today is day 11 of my new cycle and what would be day 37 of my old cycle. This morning I did an ovulation test and it had a fairly strong line (I wouldn’t be expecting to ovulate for another week) and so I tried a pregnancy test and got a very faint positive.

With my daughter I didn’t test positive until day 34 of my cycle, so I know things usually happen late for me, but I also didn’t have a period! So now I am confused/worried - how can there be anything in there if I had my period? And how is there any lining in the womb for the egg to bury in?!

Thanks all for your help.

OP posts:
Mo81 · 25/05/2020 12:14

Its not impossible hun i had what i thought was a period and then found out i was pregnant i had been pregnant when bleeding. You could ask your gp to do blood test or wait a couple of days and see if the line gets darker.

AnxiousAnnie86 · 25/05/2020 12:15

My sister had a period as normal as did my sister In law, just the one as normal in first month, but I have two very healthy nieces :) x

peperethecat · 25/05/2020 12:24

How sure are you about your ovulation date?

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 12:29

Thanks everyone. I am pretty sure about my ovulation date - same as previous months and I track with the sticks and CM. I just don’t get how it’s possible with no womb lining!!!

OP posts:
peperethecat · 25/05/2020 12:34

Can you get a blood test to check your HCG level? Or if not, a Clearblue Digital with the weeks indicator? (They're not very accurate but better than nothing.)

I had this last cycle. Tested positive in what I thought was the middle of my cycle when I tried to do an ovulation test. I got some blood tests done and my HCG rose to about 600 and then started to fall again and then I got my period around the time it hit zero.

If you've got a positive pregnancy test and you've had bleeding, you should try and track your HCG if possible because slow rising HCG together with bleeding could indicate an ectopic. I don't think mine was ectopic but I definitely would have got an early scan if my HCG hadn't started to go down on its own.

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 12:41

Thank you for that. Very helpful to know.

I think first step is to wait and see if line gets darker over next couple of days. And then go from there. How did you track your HCG levels, were you going in every few days for bloods?

OP posts:
Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 12:55

It sounds like I would need to keep testing every day/couple of days? I need to google what to look out for with an ectopic, I’m quite worried about that now Shock

OP posts:
peperethecat · 25/05/2020 13:14

Yes, I did blood draws every 48 hours for about a week.

Generally speaking they can't see anything on an ultrasound until your HCG hits 1500 or so. In my experience I get 2-3 weeks on a Clearblue Digital when my HCG gets above about 400, so if you get a 3+ I would try to get seen.

Hopefully everything will be fine and you don't need to worry, but I didn't want to not say it, just in case.

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 13:23

Thank you - I’m glad you’ve said something - it’s important not to get my hopes up.

OP posts:
peperethecat · 25/05/2020 13:25

Sometimes our bodies just do weird things. Fingers crossed everything goes OK for you, but I would try and monitor what's going on here.

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 13:25

Maybe I should call 111 for advice if I am in a position where I get a strong line in the next few days.

OP posts:
peperethecat · 25/05/2020 13:32

OK so I don't live in the UK and I don't know how it works, or how easy it would be to get a blood test.

If your HCG is doubling every 48 hours or so in the first couple of weeks of pregnancy it indicates that the pregnancy is progressing. If it is falling, it indicates a miscarriage. If it is rising very slowly that could be a sign of an ectopic. The problem is that this information isn't useful to you if you can't get a blood test, and I get the impression that in the UK it can be quite difficult to get any medical attention during early pregnancy if you're worried about something.

I'd say keep doing tests over the next few days, including a couple of the ones which are supposed to tell you how many weeks you are, and then if you get a 3+ on a Clearblue or you have more bleeding then go to your EPU and say you're pregnant and have been bleeding and ask them to scan you. They might take you more seriously if you say you've had abdominal pain as well.

If you're only getting 1-2 weeks on a digital then there's not much point getting seen at this point because it'll be too early to see anything on an ultrasound anyway.

kirinm · 25/05/2020 14:29

I had an ectopic. I had a period and then started getting positives afterwards. I would recommend you contact your local EPU and explain the situation to them. It is much better that they pick up an ectopic early. My experience was that the EPU took your bloods and then you are asked to go back in two days later. They look to see what the increase is. With mine, my HCG levels didn't get much above 300 but they also didn't decrease. And eventually I needed intervention.

Did the bleed seem normal? Usual colour? It could be all totally normal and you've just bled during pregnancy but it would be a good idea to get it checked out - don't leave it until tests start getting darker.

kirinm · 25/05/2020 14:31

I don't agree about not getting tested. It doesn't matter if they can't see anything on a scan because with an ectopic they can get an understanding of what is going on by reading HCG levels initially at least.

peperethecat · 25/05/2020 14:39

If you think they will take her seriously @kirinm then yes I would agree to go to EPU.

kirinm · 25/05/2020 14:43

I would hope they would. They did when I had mine but that was a long time ago now. I find EPUs a bit hit and miss as to how helpful they are.

I would push for blood tests. It isn't normal to have a period and then positive tests. However when I had my DD I had regular bleeding starting at 5 weeks until 18w so also possible it's something like that.

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 14:45

Thank you for the advice. I will call tomorrow. At least then I’ll have one more test from the morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 15:08

I feel sick now as I have seen lightheadedness is one of the symptoms of ectopic and I have felt lightheaded for about a week now.

Just have to try not to think about it until I can get some medical advice tomorrow.

Thanks all for your advice and sharing your own experiences.

OP posts:
peperethecat · 25/05/2020 15:14

Please try not to worry at this point, but do get yourself checked out tomorrow.

kirinm · 25/05/2020 15:16

@PeterPipersPepper I didn't intend to scare you, more encourage you not to leave it too long to get things checked out.

You can be light headed with a normal pregnancy too so don't panic.

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 25/05/2020 15:23

Thank you both I know you are not trying to scare me but I am grateful for the information and to know I need to do get checked ASAP.

I was very lightheaded for three days with my daughters pregnancy but that was a week before I had a positive test.

OP posts:
kirinm · 26/05/2020 10:12

How are you today @PeterPipersPepper

RottieLover95 · 26/05/2020 10:17

Hope you are OK 💐

Original poster
PeterPipersPepper · 26/05/2020 10:18

Hello @kirinm nice of you to message.

On the test this morning I can’t see a line - or maybe the faintest faintest ghost of a line - my husband says he can’t see anything and he could on the one yesterday. I went to the loo in the night without thinking so I don’t know if that could affect things.

I’m going to do another one tomorrow morning.

OP posts:
okiedokieme · 26/05/2020 10:22

I had "periods" for 2 cycles with my first pregnancy. There are women who reportedly had them throughout and didn't realise they were pregnant! Try not to worry, it's a case of wait and see though if you develop pain etc seek advice immediately of course. Because pregnancy tests people just waited, I do wonder if these early tests cause more worry. Take care and let us know (I for one sit here wondering about people, especially now with so much time to ponder!)