is this as normal as can be?

[EllaJ99]

first of all hello everyone, I'm new to these boards.

this might be TMI!!

I discovered I was pregnant last Friday (8th) and only about 4 or 5 weeks pregnant. yesterday (12th) I started cramping and then lightly bleeding, pink then brown-red mucousy blood with tiny clots (no bigger than normal period clotting). today I have had no cramps but the bleeding has gotten slightly heavier and more mucousy, but totally manageable. I've been feeling a tiny bit nauseous, tired and headachey today, but nothing extreme. all in all, it feels like a period, the whole pattern, I usually only cramp for one day and i usually get a little nauseous and tired. the only difference is the blood is mucousy.

if I hadn't taken a test I would assume I was just having a late period.

this is my first pregnancy that I know of and my first miscarriage, so I would really like some advice and if this sounds normal. everything I have read says i would be having heavy cramping and heavy clotting but I am only 5 weeks gone so is that why it's only as heavy as a period?

I can't get to a doctor until Friday - also is it best to go to my gp or best to go straight to a hospital? can my gp check me over or will I need specialist scans etc? the nearest hospital is actually too far, it's awful.

thank you for reading all of this! x

Hi Ella, so sorry your going through this, not sure what the best advice is re hospital/ doctor, think I'd ask to speak to a doctor on the phone, explain and ask their advice, I was told to go to a&e by doctor if bleeding got worse but doctor first. As for cramps, I was around 7 wks and didn't really have cramps at all, v mild but I don't get them at af either so I think it is individual to us all.

Oh and in regards to the bleeding, mine was a tiny amount for 3 days but v mucasey then a big wosh so there was alot but it took me a few days to get there, that's just me though and some women do bleed all through pg and still progress with healthy babies!

So sorry you're going through this Ella, I had a miscarriage 8 weeks ago and am walking the fine line of bleeding/possible miscarriage at the moment. Your experience sounds like my miscarriage, which wasn't that heavy, but given the issues I am experiencing now, I wonder whether I got rid of all the matter.

You really need to get a scan at an early pregnancy assessment unit to be sure that everything is gone and they will advise you on when to take a pregnancy test to ensure that your hormones are back to normal. Some units accept self referrals and some require a GP referral, can you call your GP surgery for advice on what to do? My GP will refer to the EPAU based on a telephone consultation.

I hope things work out for you Ella.x

Hi Ella, sorry you're on these boards. I miscarried at 4/5 weeks and had no bad cramping and no bleeding that didn't seem like a normal period, so what you're describing sounds very familiar. I did go to hospital for a scan, mainly because the GP I saw said that they needed to rule out ectopic pregnancy. I suspect they will tell you the same, but not sure if they do this in all cases. Best of luck with whatever comes tomorrow.

thankyou all for your replies... and so sorry that you've all been through the same :(

the bleeding has almost completely stopped today and pregnancy tests are coming out positive (albeit very faint) so a part of me is holding out hope even though it seems pretty clear that I have miscarried. Im going to phone the doctor today and see what he suggests.

thankyou again x

Oh Ella, how awful for you. As the wise browneyes said on my thread 'hope for the best but prepare for the worst'. Be kind to yourself and go with the wave of emotions that you may feel, don't bottle it up. x

thankyou... luckily I'm off work all week so I can focus on myself.

My bleeding is coming back heavier but i took a clearblue test just now which put me at 4-5 weeks, which I may well be because I'm not sure of my dates. so this has totally thrown me. would my hormone still be this high 3 days into a miscarriage? I was expecting it to say 1-2 or nothing.

i called my gp surgery just now and was told they have a system where I have to call in the am and doctor will call back when he's ready to see me. no appointment booking, so god knows if i will get seen or not. I've been looking for hospitals near to me with an early pregnancy unit and the one I found says no self referrals, so I guess I can't just turn up ?

I didnt think it would be such a fuss to see a doctor! I just want to know what's going on.

Your hormone level will not drop for some time after you've finished bleeding. The EPU had me test 10 days after they scanned me and mine was negative then but it can take longer from what I understand. If you can, don't do any more tests as they'll give you misleading information and be a waste of money. You need a scan to confirm what's going on.

So sorry your surgery can't be more helpful. My local EPU won't accept self referrals and I'm not sure what they'd do if you just showed up. As I think you said it was some way from you, you might be best to try your GP again. Did you tell the receptionist that you didn't necessarily need to see a GP but needed an EPU referral?

The lack of knowing is so hard and I hope you get some help soon.