Bleeding after bfp. Possible ectopic?

[XenaTheWarriorPrincess]

Has anyone who has had an ectopic experienced ovary/one sided pain very early? Like at 4 weeks.

I had a v v faint positive then moderate cramps (exact same as my previous pregnancy) and heavy period-like bleed. Cramps died down after day 1 with some niggles here and there. Bled red for 3 days, now red/peachy/brown on wiping for 2 days.

I've been having pain on my right side that feels like ov pain. There's a part of me that recognises it as the corpus luteum pain like I had in my last pregnany, but because of the bleeding I've made myself super para about an ectopic and there's absolutely no way to know for over a week, which is torture! It's not constant and is worse when I'm gassy, it's an ache.

Only 4+4 today so can't see anything on a scan for at least a week and bloods don't actually tell us anything. Even if they're doubling perfectly it could still be ectopic.

Tests have gotten darker so hcg is rising, i haven't miscarried (yet, at least).

Obviously I know it could be a miscarriage but the sac hasn't been lost yet and is still growing, could be an ectopic as I suspect, or could be perfectly fine as i know some women do just bleed.

My last pregnancy was a stillbirth at 39 weeks in April and I had a chemical in July, and a 12 week miscarriage 15 years ago, no living children. So it's been a nightmare 6 months.

So anyone get symptoms of an ectopic this early? And what was the earliest it was ruled in or out/a sac was seen?

I'm about ready to lose my mind just waiting and not knowing so would love to get some personal experiences.

I’m so sorry to read what you’ve been through. I don’t have experience of an ectopic, but I did bleed the first few weeks of my first pregnancy. I was horrible because I was so scared to go to the bathroom for fear of what to find. Kept getting fobbed off by my doctor that spotting is “normal”.

i eventually went to A&E one morning as it got heavier and I was sick of my docs, they did a swab of my cervix and found I had a small infection - cleared right up after some vaginal antibiotics.

all this to say, there’s loads of reasons to bleed in the first trimester. And most are normal, but I can empathise with how terrifying and stressful it is. I can’t even imagine given what you’ve been through.

I had an ectopic a number of years ago now. Started bleeding at 4+ something
So went to my EPU and they were able to do an internal scan and see that there was no sac in the uterus.

They then took bloods that day and again 2 days later to check hcg levels to double check for ectopic and that showed that although hcg levels were rising, they weren't rising at normal rates and that pointed to an ectopic. Another internal scan and they found a sac in my fallopian tube.

Long story short, I'd get yourself off to an EPU to get checked

I had the same experience.

Go and get checked out.

I'm so sorry for your losses OP. I had a similar experience to the ladies above and agree to get in contact with the EPU to be checked. My internal scan at 5wks showed nothing, they monitored my bloods and it was at 7wks they saw pregnancy in my right tube x

It's too early for a scan, as I said in my post.

Have the EPU said they can do nothing for you?
They should at least take bloods.
An ectopic can be serious to your health not just the embryo.

Cramps, one sided pains and brown almost gritty spotting started really early at 4 weeks something. EPU did bloods immediately and weren’t too worried as HCG levels were fairly normal but a follow up internal scan found the ectopic in the fallopian tube at 5 weeks 3 days. The tube was removed that day before it could rupture.

All subsequent pregnancies, ectopic has been ruled out by internal scans at the EPU at 5 weeks something.

I actually had very similar pains and some sort of spotting during an ectopic, a chemical and a healthy pregnancy so it’s no guarantee something is wrong. But if something is wrong the EPU should be able to find out between 5 and 6 weeks.

Wishing you all the best OP!

I didn't want bloods as it doesn't actually tell us anything and would just stress me out more and yes they can't scan until I'm 5.5 weeks, so another week (unless severe pain.

All irrelevant now as I've just had a negative test, so whatever was happening has resolved itself. Very sad but at least I'm no longer in limbo.

So sorry for what you've going through

Unfortunately at 4 weeks you won't see anything like a sac, the bleeding will just be like a normal period pretty much.

Also it takes a while for HCG levels to drop - I was still testing positive when I was miscarrying at 9 weeks , even after 2 weeks of spotting then heavy bleeding

Hi OP, I'm so sorry for your previous losses.
Could this have been a chemical pregnancy? The bleed would have just seemed like a normal (but slightly late) period at this stage

The tests are negative now so yes technically as im under 5 weeks, but hcg rose while I was bleeding and after heavy bleed rather than dropping then a bleed, hence the question and concern.

I am no longer pregnant now though so it's all irrelevant.

I had the same experience as you before my last pregnancy and it was a chemical. Im sorry for the loss of your baby. I lost twins at birth last year. One stillborn and 1 at 4 days old so I feel your pain. Thinking of you 🥰

The term chemical just refers to when the loss happens, as the only evidence of it is chemical (hcg) because its too early to see on a scan, so as it was before 5 weeks it was technically a chemical but it didn't present as they typically do hence the question and concern.

Sorry for your losses too @Ella31 it's really hard but I'm determined to keep trying.

Oh absolutely, sorry I hope you didn't think I was questioning your loss type. I was only saying my symptoms sadly were similar. I'm so sorry it's happened to you and can relate. Wishing you the best. Feel free to pm, I've lost 4 babies in 2 years, 2 obviously at birth and 4 days after. I'm 9 weeks now with hopefully my rainbow. If there's any way I can reasure you it gets better, I will.