Think I am miscarrying - can anyone tell me what to expect over the weekend please?

[Thingiebob]

Hello
7 weeks pregnant. Everything seemed fine then yesterday I had some pink watery blood. I went to see a doctor who booked me for a scan next Tuesday and tried to reassure me. I went away reassured...

Today I started bleeding at about midday. Not a huge amount but enough to shock me when I wiped. It's a mixture of bright red and brown and a bit clotty. I feel like I am about to have a heavy period.

Can anyone tell me what to expect? Bit frightened. Should I go and see a doctor again? I am assuming they won't do anything unless I am passing out. It's the weekend. Should I be lying down?

Not sure what I should be doing.

Hi Thingiebob. Sorry you are going through this. I'll write more in a sec, but firstly ring your GP or EPU and get some advice while they're still open. Bleeding in early pg is very common and often amounts to nothing.

I have seen a doctor who basically said there is little they can do at this stage but I can go into EPU Monday onwards.

Thanks for responding.

Ok. Doctors are so shit. Have you had a scan yet?

Ah you poor thing - I hope for you that the bleeding stops or stays very slight and that you get your reassurance next week

However, I had one at exactly this stage and in case you are worrying I'll write what it was like for me. I know experiences vary but mine was very much like a period - not much more painful. There was some clotty stuff, but it wasn't as distressing as the idea (iyswim) and the emotional side of things.

I think the advice is to use sanitary towels, not tampons. Take paracetamol if painful - avoid other painkillers as it may not be a mc at all. Absolutely rest up if you want/need to and get your nearest and dearest to run around looking after you (again, if you want to).

If you are feeling it's probably turning into a mc, do take things slowly, cancel things you don't feel up to and give yourself treats if you can.

Fingers crossed for you that you won't need any of that advice.

Sorry Thingie, just sometimes seems we get the brush off. I don't mean to be dramatic but if you haven't had a scan yet, you will not know whether your pregnancy is uterine or ectopic. If ectopic, you will need to go to A&E. I thought someone might mention this to you. Somebody else will hopefully be along in a minute to give you more advice but if you get shoulder pain, alongside bleeding and cramping then go to hospital.

Hopefully, your bleeding will subside and all will be well with your pregnancy. I have two friends who had bleeding in early pg, and both have healthy babies now.

If you are miscarrying, your bleeding will get heavier and you will feel strong cramping pains, like contractions (so I hear). You will need strong painkillers and maxi pads. If you soak through more than one pad an hour, go to A&E. Drink lots of fluids and rest. IME the worst of the pain and bleeding is over within 24 hours. Be prepared to pass large clots.

There's a good thread on here somewhere about coping with the practicalities of miscarriage, lots of good tips there.

Hopefully you have someone with you to make you tea and look after you? x

Ok thank you for taking the time out to respond.

You both have been very helpful.

Hi Thingiebob sorry you are having all this worry and the doctors not being very helpful. I have had 4 pregnancies and have had bleeding in first trimester in all of them. 2 I've miscarried and 2 were successful, so all hope is not lost.
I don't think whether you rest in bed or not will make any difference - a healthy pregnancy will stick despite your normal activities, and one that is not viable will miscarry despite you resting, so do whatever feels right to you.
Try to get hold of the telephone number of the gynae ward at your local hospital to have it handy if things get worse and you need advice. Both times I have miscarried it has been over a weekend and by speaking to the ward directly I've been able to be seen by the gynae department quickly (have had quite frightening bleeding both times, but I am a bleeder) rather than have to go via A+E. There will be someone there 24/7 who can address your fears anyway. If you do unfortunately miscarry then they will probably want to see you anyway to ensure that your uterus is completely emptied.
I hope that your bleeding settles and that a scan on Monday is reassuring. It isn't always bad news. Jen xx

You might be over the worst by now as I found the worst bleeding and cramping was the first 24 hours or so but in case you are still in the middle of it, or waiting to see what happens, a hot water bottle is very comforting both for the cramps and psychologically. Don't stint on the painkillers, especially if you aren't used to painful periods. Cocodamol is good and isn't ruled right out in pregnancy so not a disaster if you take it and the pregnancy hangs on. You don't need to go to the doctor/hospital unless you are bleeding very heavily, feel faint or can't cope with the pain. Personally both times it happened to me (at about 5 weeks, so a bit earlier on) I preferred to be at home on the sofa.

Thank you everyone, and thank you for asking how I am cwm.

Feel a bit flat, not sure what is happening. This morning when I woke up there was quite a bit of brown blood, and some spotting here and there through the day. Getting period like back pains and cramps but in general I am ok.

Still keeping everything crossed for you. Jen x

Fingers crossed for you.

Thinking of you thingie. For what it is worth, I had a MC last week, and it was tough but doable physcially.

Although the spotting, a fair bit of bleeding and pains started last weekend, I only had the actual miscarriage on last Thursday. I had a scan that showed a non-viable pregnancy at 6+4, probably stopped growing at 6weeks. I had my first serious blood at 7+1. I had another scan at 7.4 which showed the pregnancy still in place (I got scans easily because this was an ART pregnancy). That evening I cramped like I've never cramped before and passed what most like was the yolk sac as well as several large clots. I could not leave the house that evening nor the next day, due to misery, pains and quite heavy bleeding. We were instructed to go to (the clinic or if closed to) A&E if I started to feel faint or of the blood was running out fast. But in your case, you'd really want to exclude the possiblity of an ectopic.

I think what I am trying to say is, that if the bleeding is as your describe it may be nothing, or it may be the start of MC. As people have written before, there is nothing you can do, except be nice to yourself (and keep your partner close, I could not bear to be far away from DH).

Good luck!

Are you going to EPU tomorrow? Just wanted to wish you luck and suggest if it's a walk in clinic that you get there early as waiting in a queue in a corridor full of anxiety is horrible. Sadly a lot of women have worrying signs in early pregnancy (though not all of them miscarry - remember that bit) so in my experience it is always rammed. Take a good book and your other half. Will keep everything crossed it is good news for you. Jen x

Hi

Thank you for all your continued advice and support. I can't get to the EPU until Tuesday. My DH has managed to get a day off work so we can go together and we have organised childcare on that day.

One more day with FX, although I have had more light bleeding coupled with a lot of mucus, on and off for the last two days particularly after I have walked around.

Hi Thingey, just take it easy on yourself and there is still hope.

Hope it's good news tomorrow. I mc'd recently at 9 weeks and there was very little pain but a lot more bleeding than you seem to be having.

Thinking of you. x

Hi Thingie. The bleeding will appear more obvious when/after you're walking around as gravity will be helping the blood come out. It's not the walking around that's causing the bleeding. It's still a very good excuse to take it as easy as possible!

I've got everything crossed for you for tomorrow x

Thinking of you this morning.

How did it go today Thingie ?
The waiting for the scan is horrible isn't it?
I have one sucessful pregnancy where I bleeded and one where I unfortuntatly misscarried. I hope that your scan has a postive result.