Am I miscarrying? What do I actually do?

[Helisloth]

Hello, hoping for some advice. I'm eight weeks pregnant and just started bleeding. Its more than spotting. Its less than my usual period, but of course its only just started.

Am I miscarrying? What do I actually do? Its clearly not an emergency and if its happening its happening, so there's no point rushing off to hospital.

If I went in tomorrow would they scan me? Who would I call?

Any advice appreciated

It could be that you are miscarrying but it's difficult to say without a scan to be honest.
Do you have a pregnancy support unit at your local hospital? if you do have then I would call them tomorrow morning and see if they will see you. If not call your doctor first thing Monday morning and they can refer you to the hospital.

Hope it turns out ok.

Feel for you. :(

You wait basically and see what happens - that's all the hosp will tell you IME.

So sorry this is happeneing. x

So sorry this is happening to you - alas, you pretty much have to wait till Monday when you call your local early pregnancy unit to see whether you can self refer, or whether your gp had to refer you. Unfortunatly, you may have to wait for a scan.

In the meantime, if you ever bleed more than a sanitary towel can cope with in a hour, or the pain is really, really bad or you feel unwell generally (or pain is in your shoulder tip), then go to a&e, or your out of hours centre if you have one

I'm sorry this is happening to you, although it's not at all certain it is a definite m/c.

You need to keep an eye on it, note down how many pads you're using and what it's like, and be ready to perhaps go for a scan on Monday at your early pregnancy assessment unit, to find out what's going on.

It's best to make sure you're not going to be on your own in case it gets quite heavy. I have had one very early m/c and one at close to 12 weeks and the first one was really just a period, the second was very heavy and a bit scary. I don't know what 8 weeks would be like but it's best to make sure you're not on your own anyway.

I do hope it ends up OK for you.

Hi, sorry this is happening. You can present yourself at A&E - but they may tell you to wait to see GP/EPU on monday. Always the out of hours doctors.

The same happened to me at the weekend, of course no where is open. Antenatal/midwives werent much help, DH wanted to go to A&E (and i refused) but we rang the EPu/midwife first thing on the monday morning and they got me in for a scan the next day.

If you are worried, and it gets worse, take yourself to A&E - i certainly would next time. I did miscarry, i wasnt bleeding, just started with a show, but that is not to say that you are!!

Hope you are ok

Thanks everyone. Guess we'll make some calls tomorrow and try to sort out a scan asap.

Hi Helisloth,
I hope everything's ok for you - let us know how you get on with the scan. As others have said, it's best to go to the early pregnancy unit rather than your doctor or general hospital department if possible - they will be much betted equipped to advise (from my experience, normal GPs can be a bit dismissive).

It's all so scary isn't it?
Am in a similar situation (just found out today that I'm approx 5 weeks, but have had period like bleeding for past two weeks, which I thought was my proper period but has been erratic). Looks like we'll both be at the EPU first thing on Monday morning :(

Helisloth do you still have symptoms? I started bleeding last Tues and had mc confirmed yesterday but I had lost my symptoms week or so beforehand (stopped feeling sick, boobs not as sore etc). I miscarried at 7 weeks in spite of the baby still being alive (heartbeat) at scan on the Weds.

Having said that, when I had DS I also bled, for 5 days at 6 weeks but more lightly and he is now 2! The key difference for me between these two episodes was that I still had my symptoms with DS and bleeding was lighter.

I hope this ends well for you.

Hi, rang the hospital and they said to spk to my midwife tomorrow about arranging a scan, which is pretty much what I expected. I'll ring first thing and hopefully find out either way quite soon.

Have been virtually clear all day and still feel sick and tired so still allowing myself to hope. I'll let you know either way.

FX for you :)

Yep, fingers crossed, best of luck.

Totally unresolved! The midwife said I had to see the GP as only he could refer me to the hospital. He asked a few questions and did a pregnancy test on the basis that if it was positive its "probably still a viable pregnancy".

It was, so no scan. Not totally convinced by this argument, I have to say.

But this is OK, I suppose. Its not as if they can do anything about it if it has gone wrong, so (assuming no pain or more bleeding) its just a question of waiting until the dating scan in a fortnight. I still feel sick and the bleeding has stopped so I'm going to let myself hope until then.

I've read some of the other threads on this topic over the last 24 hours or so and to see what other people have gone through really puts things into perspective - if its bad news we will cope.

Thanks for your help everyone

FX for you. Am a bit at your GP; pregnancy hormone would still be in your pee even if you had MC?

BUT definitely think positively; no more bleeding, and no cramps is good news. I had a really big bleed at 14 weeks with DS and all turned out fine.

You're absolutely right - only the scan will tell you. But I know how hard the waiting is. Good luck.

It's odd that you weren't referred for a scan as even at 8 weeks it's possible to detect a heartbeat to make sure everything is OK and put your mind at rest. Is there anywhere near you that does private early pregnancy scans? It's quite cruel to just leave you waiting for 2 weeks.

I was 11 weeks, with 5 days to go until my dating scan, when I had a smear of blood and some brown mucus and when I called the Early Pregnancy Unit at my local hospital (GP had given me phone number along with pregnancy pack when I had the pg confirmed) they got me in for a scan the next day. Maybe this was just because I was a classic MMC case (brown mucus, no symptoms prior to that, 11/12 weeks in) but either way it really helped to know straight away and not have to wait for the dating scan. In my case, it was bad news, but you are earlier on and light bleeding at that stage is not necessarily a sign of a MC, especially if it has stopped now.

Good luck for the scan when you get it

I agree with Prime it is a bit archaic to not send you for a scan... as MW always say "happy mummy, happy baby" so to leave you waiting and wondering is quite frankly cruel! I for one would have to know, having said that everyone is different!

Heres hoping you get your answer soon, and of course that everything is fine :)

Good news, a heartbeat! Actually all been a bit of a saga as I had a scan on wednesday after making a fuss which confirmed viability, but then had extremely heavy fresh bleeding for several hours immediately afterwards.

Had to go through the gp again (who again wanted me to come in for a pregnancy test before referring - I told on him to one of the other Drs !) so only just been seen.

I'm very lucky.

Just wanted to say thanks again & to wish tiger & tunnock good luck.

Awesome news! Gives everyone hope :)

Oh tunnock, so sorry to hear that. Thank you, i hope that your time comes soon.