Brown bleeding 4.5 weeks pregnant

[ForestWren]

Wondering if anyone has been through the same. Four week 5 days (about 19dpo), had dark brown blood in my underwear yesterday afternoon out of the blue. Enough to stain the size of 20p piece. Since then I’ve had a little bit of diluted brown colour when wiping, and a few dark brown stringy bits. No cramping or red blood.

Talked to doctor and he is not hopeful so I’m assuming this is the start of a mc. Tests still strong pos this morning and bbt has stayed high and stable but I’m aware this doesn’t mean much.

I’m expecting to bleed properly over next couple of days but wondered if anyone else had experience of this?

You could asked to be referred to EPU to ease your mind. Sometimes spotting is normal and implantation.

I had several large bleeds during both my pregnancies, but both produced healthy boys at full term, so don't necessarily assume the worst. I know it's stressful. As they say, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

With both of mine the bleeds went on for several days, lots of blood including clots (sorry, tmi), but it turned out to be ectropian cervix (not sure if I've spelt that correctly). However, I also used to have bleeds between periods before I was pregnant too.

Fingers crossed for you! The stress of waiting is just awful. Ime though do let close friends and family know though, so they can support you. Nothing worse than having to carry on like everything is just rosy when you're going through something like this.

I had this at 4 weeks with my DD. They gave me a blood test to check HCG was rising (2 blood tests 48 hours apart).

Id had a faint test, then started bleeding, assumed was period but then got positive on a digital. Bleeding carried on for 4-5 days, mostly brown like the very end of a period. After this had no more bleeding until a heavy bleed at 20 weeks but all was fine with baby.

Could be implantation bleeding, cervical ectopy etc. Doctor sounds very dismissive. As others have suggested maybe try early pregnancy unit x

I had brown spotting about 5ish weeks. Got a healthy toddler now. It could just be implantation bleeding. I had the same thing again around 9ish weeks. Unless you bleed fresh blood I'd remain hopeful until proven otherwise x

This happened to me from 6 weeks onwards but with red blood, it was a haematoma and baby was fine!
I freaked out though and was given an appointment straight away at EPU where they reassured me. Could you ask to be seen at EPU tomorrow? My midwife called them and booked me in. Good luck.

Thanks @Mushroom2023@Rachaelrachael@RedVanMan@SunshineIndoors123 - so appreciate hearing your stories and advice. Glad to hear so many of you have positive endings!

@SunshineIndoors123 i wasn’t sure if implantation bleeding could happen so late - I think I was around 18dpo yesterday which feels late for that but maybe not?

I found it so difficult to even get in touch with a doctor today. Felt like I was fobbed off at every turn. The midwife said she couldn’t offer any support this early and that I should call doc, doctors said I should just ring 111, 111 made me an appt with a pharmacist who was very sorry but said I shouldn’t have been told to see him. He was v sympathetic and told me to put my foot down with the doctors, which finally, after begging, led to the phone call. Doc admitted he was being pessimistic but I sort of appreciate his honesty.

All this to say I don’t think I’ll be given any more support until I’m further along unfortunately. He said to just see if I’m still testing positive in 1-2 weeks. Didn’t offer me any tests.

Ive told a couple of friends and my mum today which has helped me feel a lot better. Also seems a good idea to tell people so more people know this can happen. And that MCs happen commonly too.

I had brown spotting up until about 6 weeks on and off, I was told it was implantation. EPU wouldn’t do much before 6 weeks pregnant unfortunately but they didn’t think it was unusual to still be implantation. It stopped after about 6 weeks and I’m 22 weeks now.

@ForestWren That's so frustrating. Could you maybe call your midwife again and ask her at what point she can refer you to EPU? So that you have a date to work towards and you're not in limbo for the next few weeks? By 6 weeks they will be able to see a heartbeat if all is well

Thanks @Sodapop1 this is good to know - so pleased your pregnancy is going well! Personal Q but I find it hard to know what constitutes ‘spotting’! I wondered if because I had enough in one go to stain underwear a bit it might be more of a ‘bleed’? 🤷‍♀️

This was exactly my experience too - currently 34 weeks pregnant. Push for an appointment at the EPU if you can. Best of luck.

Oh and mine wasn't really spotting - it was quite a significant bleed, not dissimilar to a mid-flow period. Happened twice and for a couple of days at a time - very scary.

@Rachaelrachael I had the impression she was totally overworked and didn’t want to be bothered by someone so early in their pregnancy tbh! I don’t really blame any of these people as I know things are tough in the NHS.

I do actually have an appointment with her on the 29th which I booked earlier this week when all was fine, so at the very least I should be able to ask some questions then if I’m still pregnant or I’m not sure.

That is so scary @DiscoStusMoonboots - you must have been sure that was it. Very pleased for you that things resolved!

I wonder if there’s less risk when you bleed at six weeks vs four and a half - the doctor seemed pretty confident it was a MC. I wonder if it’s too early for a haematoma and too late for implantation…

@ForestWren I thought the same, that it would have been too late for implantation bleeding but I mentioned it when I had a scan at 10 weeks and the sonographer said it was probably implantation bleeding x

@ForestWren I would say by 6 weeks mine was on and off every few days, when I wiped and a small amount in underwear, mostly mixed with discharge (sorry if tmi)! But at 4 weeks it was heavier, almost like the start of a period and I had to use a liner. I would have thought the fact it seems to be tapering off is a good sign? Normally I would be against obsessive testing but around 6 weeks I did do a clearblue digital to reassure myself all was going ok.

Also are you having sex as that can also cause bleeding, it’s one of the first things EPU asked me.

Thanks @Sodapop1 that is really useful intel - it’s tapered off even more so far today so I’m crossing fingers. No cramps or bleeding. Felt a bit sick but that could be anything I guess.

We had sex about a week ago but I guess that’s too long ago to be responsible, unless I bled then and it only presented itself a few days later?

Just posting an update in case useful for someone. (Prepare for TMI if there is such a thing on here).

Currently five weeks one day - three days since bleed. Discharge is now negligible - very faintly tan coloured once or twice a day with the odd dark string. Haven’t had any cramps at all and feel very well. Felt a bit queasy yesterday and at points today (MS?) and have slightly sore nipples today.

HPTs are still showing darker lines every day - nearly had a dye stealer today. And BBT has been very slightly elevated for the last couple of days (continuing fairly smooth upward curve since ovulation).

The wait continues!

Wanted to post another update in case useful.

6w2d now and has been no further bleeding or any cramps or anything. Saw the midwife a couple of days ago and she laughed when she heard the doctor thought it was an MC, which was validating. Have had the Clearblue ‘3+ weeks’ since, although I know those can’t be taken too literally!

I think we’ll have a scan at 7 or 8 weeks to see if things are ok so far. Haven’t had many symptoms, the odd moment of nausea and some soreness but that’s all.

So pleased it’s going well for you!

Glad all ok. I had spotting every time my period was due with dd1. With dd2 I had proper bleeding around 5 weeks but then it stopped. With hindsight this must be why some women don’t realise they’re pregnant.

Definitely @toomanyleggings ! Especially if they don’t have many symptoms. In my case the Midwife said it was likely to be some kind of implantation at that time.