Brown spotting after D&C, how long for?

[KnitKitty]

I had a D&C for MMC last week on Tuesday. Bled for 3 or 4 days and then have had brown spotting since then.

Every time I think it's stopping, it starts again. I didn't have any on Sunday (or hardly any), didn't put a pad in the next day and then made a mess of my underwear. I'll go for almost a whole day with nothing and then a bit more will appear.

How long did yours last for?

I was told not to have sex until bleeding has stopped as there is a risk of infection - I'm assuming that includes this brown spotting, even though it's intermittent?

I found out I was pregnant on February 18th, and was roughly 4-5 weeks along. Started bleeding on and off a few days later, but that stopped after about 2 weeks and then I found out about the MMC on the 7th March and it's been a long, drawn out journey which I am just sick to the back teeth of now. I want my body and life back to normal.

Hi all.

How is everyone doing?

The warm weather has helped me get in a more positive state of mind.

Jessabean is it nice having your partner back?

Well I took another test today like they told me to and it's still positive. I think it looks slightly fainter than Tuesday's was, but only slightly. It's still very much a positive, not a squinter.
I rang the hospital who have booked me in for a scan on Tuesday; so that will be 4 weeks post surgery. The nurse on the phone said they will do another test for me on Tuesday and if it's still positive they'll do the scan just to double check everything.

Hi everyone.

The weather is gorgeous here too, which has cheered me up!

As far as my symptoms go, I haven't bled at all since Wednedsay evening. I'm hoping this is the end now! A week seems very quick for bleeding to stop though, especially since the nurse at the hospital said I'd likely bleed for at least two weeks, possibly three. Going to take a test today to see if it's still positive. I haven't had any pregnancy symptoms since two days after my operation. Nausea has gone, breasts are no longer tender and have gone back to their pre-pregnancy size, and my acne has cleared up. I don't feel pregnant at all. Maybe because I had a missed miscarriage my HCG levels were already dropping before my miscarriage was diagnosed? I don't know,

I hope I get a negative test! I had a friend who miscarried on a Monday and had a negative test by Friday, but it seems like that's not very common, and most women continue to get negative tests weeks after their miscarriage.

Oh, also... TMI, but I seem to be getting a LOT of white cervical mucus/discharge today? Very similar to when I'm ovulating, but I surely cannot be ovulating yet?? According to my period tracking app I should be ovulating in the next couple of days, but surely my pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage has thrown my cycle seriously out of whack? If I am ovulating I better get busy

So, still getting a positive test, but it's only saying 1-2 weeks, so hopefully it won't be long before it's negative.

Hey everyone

Sorry @KnitKitty that your test was still positive. At least they are being thorough & you'll get some answers about what's happening Tuesday either way. Fingers crossed for you the scans all clear.

Felling much better with my OH back thank you! 😊 Have been feeling much better this week generally. Not sure if it was getting away to see my parents last weekend, OH being back or nice weather but am beginning to be able to look forward without feeling just angry upset or bitter so I'm taking this as a positive! Still do have some little upset moments but sure I will do for a while & they're fairly short lived now. Glad that you are also feeling more positive now.
@CobaltRose It sounds as though things are moving along fairly quickly for you physically which is good. I think a lot of it depends on how far along the pregnancy was and go high therefore your hormones were before the miscarriage/surgery. My last Mc at 8 weeks things moved pretty quickly cycle wise & ovulated just over 2 weeks later so is possible things could be moving on cycle wise for you. 🤞they are for you.
XxX

Well... woke up this morning to red spotting! sigh It does seem to have slowed down quite a bit though, and I'm only getting it when I wipe now. Not surprised really, as even my regular periods often stop and start. Still seem to be getting clear discharge too. Weird.

My mum surprised me with a gift today. It's lovely and I must admit I cried for the first time since my ERPC when I opened the box. Guess I'm not quite as emotionally healed as I thought.

CobaltRose That gift is lovely, what a lovely thing to give you. I would have cried a lot too if I'd received it.

I'm just giving an update on where I'm at:
I had my appointment at the hospital today. I had to go and pee in a cup when I arrived and then went back to the waiting area. Was called through for temperature and blood pressure check by an HCA not long after that but she didn't discuss any results with me, and since she wasn't a nurse or doctor I didn't ask her as I thought she might not be able to give me any information. I was told I'd be seen by a doctor shortly and sent back to the waiting area again so I was fully expecting them to say I'd got a mild temperature or that the test was still positive or something, but actually the doctor called me through and told me the test is finally negative.

She was lovely, and asked me how I was physically and then how I was emotionally and told me in the 20 years she's been working in gynae she's only come across 4 or 5 cases of what I've been through (two failed medical managements and need for surgery).

What I thought some of you may be interested to know regarding starting TTC again:
She didn't ask if we were planning to TTC again or when and said she wasn't assuming we would be, but for my information today would class as the first day of my cycle as I've got my first negative test. She said I may not ovulate for another week or two and it could be up to 4 more weeks until I get a period. I then told her that we wouldn't be trying this month, but also not preventing and she nodded and smiled at that and said that if I get another positive I can be sure it's a new pregnancy, but not to test too early on... leave it about 4 weeks.

I thought this was interesting as you read such conflicting advice online about TTC again after miscarriage. I have had it straight from the doctor: it's fine to TTC again before my first period after miscarriage, but the dating could be all out of wack.

I'm feeling relieved at getting an official "all-clear", but also feeling a bit weird turning over a new page with getting over the miscarriage and looking forward again to a possible new one.

Thanks for the update @KnitKitty, that's certainly very unusual (two failed medical managements and surgery).

I haven't bled since Saturday, so looks like it's finally over in that respect. I'm still getting positive tests but I took a strip one today instead of a digital and the line was very faint, so hopefully it won't be long before I get a negative.

My fiancé and I are also not-trying-but-not-preventing. If I got pregnant again before my first period I'd be delighted but also terrified of another loss.

@KnitKitty Glad you've finally got a negative test. It's a relief once you get there. Also I'm pleased you've stopped bleeding @CobaltRose

I think my period is on its way. I had a little bit of brown blood when I first woke up and even more after going to the gym. It was 4 weeks yesterday since my surgery so even though I had lots of bleeding and clots it probably means my body still reset itself after the surgery.

How are you all feeling? I'm doing much better and started my counselling yesterday x

CobaltRose I'm glad the bleeding looks like it's stopped. It's exhausting, isn't it? I'm very apprehensive about getting pregnant again, even though I really, really want to. I guess when you've gone through miscarriage you're just acutely aware of what can go wrong.

Thanks RedRobin7, I do feel relieved.

I'm sort of weirdly pleased for you that your period has turned up... I guess it means your body is getting back to normal. I hope it's not too painful or drawn out though. They originally told me it would be 4-6 weeks until my first period arrived. (Looks like it'll take a bit longer than that now.) So you seem within the norm.

I'm glad you've started your counselling. Does it look like it's going to be helpful?

I had a massive cry yesterday, missing being pregnant and really feeling the loss of the baby. But I'm feeling ok again today. It really comes out of nowhere when it hits me!

It's really weird, I feel like I want to tell everyone about the miscarriage recently. I guess I'm conscious that I never got to announce the pregnancy and I feel like I want people to know I had a baby, even though it died. I just feel like talking about it all the time. Considering most people keep quiet about their loss I feel like I'm a bit of a weirdo in this respect (and many others, let's face it).

P.S. @RedRobin7 well done with the gym btw. I've been exercising at home and I'm really finding it helpful. I really want to get in to good shape for TTC again but it's also helping with the emotions I think.

@KnitKitty The exercise is definitely helping and I wasn't one for exercising much before. Until last week I'd never run on a treadmill before but today I did 5 mins of walking and then 5 mins of running and repeated it for an hour. Normally I'd give up so easily but I just keep thinking that I'm doing this to give baby number 2 every chance! Must be healthy in every way possible... currently drinking lots and eating crap but will get back on that once my period has been and gone!

I feel like my period is teasing me though. It's been 12 hours since the first brown spotting but not much more since the gym. If I'd seen brown blood at this point my period would have normally come by now so I think it's already different to a normal one. Really hoping it's not going to be too heavy as we have a weekend away planned with a male friend and it could be really awkward!

My counselling yesterday felt weird but I think once I've had a few more sessions it'll be better. I'm surprised how well I can talk about it without crying now. Apparently there are several stages of grief and I'm now at the acceptance stage. I am worried that will change once I have proper bleeding and my hormones make me want to scream! The counsellor said I'm giving her mixed messages - one minute I'm saying I'm doing okay and feel stronger and haven't cried for a while and then the next thing I say makes her think I'm not doing okay. To be honest, I think I'm just trying hard to keep going and convincing myself I've got this but deep down I'm still really sad and lost. This whole experience is a rollercoaster of emotions.

You shouldn't feel bad about wanting to tell people about your baby. Everyone is different but I totally feel the same about wanting to tell people. I told a colleague today about it as she hasn't been around since it happened. She thanked me for being brave enough to tell her and for trying to break the taboo. I don't want my baby to be a secret so I will tell people and if they feel uncomfortable then that's their problem!

False alarm with the period! I've been cramping on and off since Tuesday but still hasn't arrived. Had to leave the gym after half hour yesterday because the cramping was so painful but even the exercise didn't bring it on. Never had this before so don't know what to expect!

Hi Everyone

@KnitKitty glad everything went ok on Tuesday - is good that you've had the official all clear. I did another FRER on Monday and it was so barely there positive that I'm taking that as a negative now. Not completely sure where I am in my cycle - could have sworn I ovulated yesterday though as got the usual little pains I get & hormonal feels like I have but equally prepping myself that it could be another 4 weeks before period arrives. I hope not though as that would mean my OH is away again for 2 months before I ovulate so would mean we're waiting 4 months rather than 1!
You're definitely not a weirdo. I'm guessing this must be quite a natural part of the process as I've also been feeling exactly the same way about want to tell people. Find myself thinking about someone asking what's wrong or why something's happened so I can tell them. I think it's partly that I want recognition that I am a mother & had a baby it just didn't exist for very long. Also that I want people to know why I've not been myself rather than just thinking I'm being a moody bitch for no reason! It's just so hard to bring it up with anyone though unless people really ask how things are which everyone's too busy to do.

@RedRobin7 sorry you're periods not quite here yet sounds like it's prepping for it though hopefully. Hope the pains and spotting lay off until it does though as must not be pleasant. Glad also that the counseling is going well.
Your so good with the gym. I still haven't really managed to go much yet as work has just been so busy am having to use my evenings to catch up. Doesn't help with how I'm feeling as have put on 4kg over the last couple of pregnancies & feeling the biggest I've ever been. Have a family wedding this weekend & felt so huge getting into my outfit - is so depressing on top of everything else!

@CobaltRose that gift is lovely. Is so thoughtful & a lovely memento. Glad you're cycles moving on - hopefully it won't be too long a wait for your cycle to normalise then.

Jessabean, isn't it amazing how obvious it becomes that people don't often ask how you are? I've been a bit stunned by this myself because I always ask people how they're doing.

FRER are so sensitive, probably any other test would have come back as negative, so I'd treat it as such if I were you too.

I have heard of women on here ovulating a day or two after a negative test, so I'm sure it's one of those "anything is possible" situations. I thought I had ovulated a couple of days ago too; having had slight pains and an emotional outburst. But I also get ovaryish pains the day or two after my period stops usually, so I don't know if it's just that my ovary hurts a bit when it's moving in to a new phase and getting ready to ovulate? Time will tell I suppose.
If you have to wait the 4 months, try not to feel frustrated and see it as extra healing time and letting your body get some normality back for a while; you've been through so much already this year.

Aww, sorry RedRobin7. Probably your body is still trying to figure out what it's supposed to be doing. Hopefully it'll sort itself out soon and AF will get going so you can get it over with. If you're still getting the really bad cramping and nothing else to show for it, it might be worth nipping to the doctor for peace of mind.

Hi everyone. It's weird, for the past day or so I've been getting serious PMS symptoms. I'm nauseous, super grumpy, had a headache for two days, and woke up this morning to find my face has erupted in spots! All of these symptoms usually happen if AF is on her way OR I'm pregnant. I very much doubt I'm pregnant again already (only DTD for the first time since my ERPC just under a week ago, so even if I was I wouldn't be getting symptoms just yet), so I'm hoping AF is on her way and my cycles are getting back to normal.

Or maybe my body is just playing tricks on me

Oh, and I'm STILL getting positive tests. Took this one today, still very much positive. So frustrating

Nice to hear from you all! Well it's not nice under these circumstances but you know what I mean 😊

So my period showed up just as I went out for dinner with a friend. She knows all about it and it's the first time I've seen her since the miscarriage so she understood I didn't want to stay out too late. So weirdly I had my last scan to check everything had been removed on a Monday and they said my ovary was preparing for ovulation. I had pains on the Wednesday night and also the Saturday night. Usually my period is exactly two weeks after I feel the pain but today's Thursday so I guess it was probably the Wednesday pain that was the ovulation but who knows! I'm very crampy right now and expecting bad cramps to come during the night as that's usually the case and I have no idea where the hot water bottle is since I haven't had a period since last year! My husband is asleep already so I can't go hunting for it!

@Jessabean That's exactly how it is for me. I even find myself wanting my neighbour (who I'm not that keen on) to ask if I'm okay or why I look so sad or why I haven't been to work much (or even if I'm still working lol!) just so I can tell her. It seems weird writing it down but now I know it's not just me I don't feel so strange.

I realised when I got pregnant that I'm due a smear this month. I guess I should arrange it for May before we start trying again in June. I guess there's no reason why I can't have a smear straight after a miscarriage?

@CobaltRose So sorry you're still testing positive. I know how frustrating it is. Hopefully soon you will get that negative and your period will arrive. It's so hard but I hope once the first period is over and done with it will make moving forward a little easier. Thinking of you x

Morning guys,

Sorry you're still getting positives CobaltRose. I can't remember; when was your ERPC?
Sounds like the symptoms might just be your hormones trying to normalise, which is a good sign. I got a spot on my face just before my BFN.

RedRobin, hope Af is ok and not too painful. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to have a smear after miscarriage. If you're concerned, mention it to the nurse before she does it.

I've been getting weird abdominal pains the last couple of days. I'm not sure it's related to what I've been through or just my strange body doing weird things like it has a habit of doing. At first it was a pain in my abdomen as I sit down, and fine the rest of the time, but this morning it was really painful before going to the toilet for number 2 and lasted a while afterwards too before calming down; now hurts if I shift position while sitting as well. I often do get a pain in my bowel before number 2 anyway as I have suspected diverticular disease following having had endometriosis in the large intestine and scarring, and it felt like similar pain, but it's never hurt as I've sat down before and yesterday I was worried it was ovary pain as it was off to the right and hurt a little bit during sex. Worrying now in case it's endometriosis growing back, but I suppose it could be a strained muscle from working out on Monday. Not sure why it would be feeling worse than better today though. Will have to keep an eye on it and go back to the doctor if it continues. Sigh.

@KnitKitty, my ERPC was on the 11th. I just took another test today and it was still positive, but the line was VERY faint. I've attached a picture. An ovulation test also showed quite a dark line, although it wasn't quite positive. I've also been getting sharp pain in my right hip/groin which is similar to ovulation pain, but again I don't know if it's my body playing tricks on me.

So, I just went to the loo and was greeted by very stretchy egg-white cervical mucus! It had a tiny little bit of blood in it too, though. Ovulation? We DTD five days ago and again last night, so we timed it well if it is

@CobaltRose Sounds like it could well be ovulation!

@KnitKitty That pain doesn't sound good but like you say it could be for several reasons and may be nothing to worry about. When I ovulate it does hurt when I go to the loo and several times before even walking up the stairs has been painful! Fingers crossed it goes away on its own.

Period pain hasn't been any worse than normal.. so far.. so hopefully what I've been scared of won't happen!

I just had to book a dentist appointment and she told me my usual dentist is on mat leave. I thought I better ask for her to add a note to the system that I have a maternity exemption certificate and not to ask questions as I lost the baby. I can just imagine being in the reception and getting asked when I'm due or if I've just had a baby 🙄 She said she'd add the note to my file but knowing my luck whoever is on reception that day won't see it! Do any of you have this card too? I submitted the form as soon as I got it from the midwife and it came through in the post on the day we found out we'd lost the baby. It's good we can still get free prescriptions and dental care but at the same time it's just sad and awkward 😔

Morning everyone. Took this test today. Could just be my eyes but I can still see a line, albeit very very very faint. So close! Never have I wanted a BFN so much... Still getting lots of cm.

That looks negative to me CobaltRose :) I think some women ovulate really soon after their first negative pregnancy test, so you might be on your way to it. It's quite unlikely (although I don't think impossible) for you to have ovulated when still showing as positive for HCG.

My abdominal pains have gone again which is a relief. Wondering if it was ovulation... but then it seemed to go on for a while. Possibly I had a little cyst that burst or something. Will never know. Just relieved, and managed to do some exercises again today.

RedRobin7 I never got round to getting my maternity exemption certificate. Things started to go wrong too early on for that. I was just starting to look in to getting one when they confirmed the baby had stopped growing. I imagine that is awkward. I hope the dentist you see reads the note.