I am bleeding, and don't know what to do!

[IrishMaa]

Hi there, it's my first post here. This is 7 weeks after my last period, but I think I am 3-4 weeks pregnant. I started bleeding a little bit yesterday with little clots (wore a pad at 4 pm last evening, and at 9am this morning, there is only spots on it). My GP seems to think I am miscarrying, and that it was chemical pregnancy. It is/was our first, and it breaks my heart in a million pieces. I never knew it was possible to feel so much pain for something that was this new in your life! I have been crying since yesterday. My GP wants me to wait to week and then see. I don't think I can wait that long! What are my options? What should I do? Is there a chance I still have it? Please please help.

I'm sorry you are experiencing this

At this point - at 3-4 weeks pregnancy unfortunately it's very much a waiting game - there is literally nothing you or anyone else can do at this point - I know that's heartbreaking and tough to hear (I've had 5 miscarriages myself).

If you haven't progressed to a full period like bleed then you still have a very good chance that everything is fine - lots of women have bleeding in early pregnancy

The earliest anything might be seen on a scan is at around 6 weeks so I'd wait until then if you are planning a reassurance scan x

Hi IrishMaa,
I've been in your situation three times; the first and third times, I had small bleeds throughout both pregnancies and - although super stressful at the time - both were completely fine. Sometimes around the 3 - 5 week mark there a hormonal "breakthrough" bleed which can be quite light as is caused by normal monthly hormones and the pregnancy is fine. However, at the time I was distraught and just wanted some reassurance so I totally get what you are going through. I went to an early pregnancy unit (epu) and they can do an internal scan to check whether the sac is there (it may be too early to see a heartbeat yet) and they can take blood tests to see of your HCG is rising (a good sign). So try not to completely panic. Also, please do push to get this if your mental health is struggling like mine was.

At the same time, sadly - sometimes things do go wrong early and no one knows why - and that happened to me early on during my second pregnancy. It was really really sad but I do know that a very many early pregnancies do end because they just weren't viable (and wouldn't have continued full term in many cases) and that the downside of sensitive pregnancy tests are that we find out really upsetting news that we might never have known in the past. In time, I did get over that grief and was able to come to terms with you.

Sending you all my love and thoughts because I've been there too. Don't give up hope. Be kind to yourself. Crossing my fingers for you xxx

Pregnancy is dated from your last period in which case you are 7weeks pregnant. Get a scan at the epu. Have you had a midwife appointment yet? You could contact them.

Bleeding in early pregnancy is very common. It doesn't necessarily mean you will miscarry.

At 7 weeks something should be visible on a scan. Do you have an early pregnancy unit nearby? You could try to get a scan. Unfortunately if things are going wrong there is nothing that can be done to stop it.

Thank you for the support! I took a shower and then started bleeding how I would in a normal period. No cramps though (I usually have bad cramps during my periods), but a slight lower back pain. To be fair, my period was only two weeks late. Called the EPU unit, they feel that it's early miscarriage too. They have advised me to wait two weeks and do another pregnancy test. If the bleeding gets heavy with severe cramps, I should go to the emergency. I am 31 and I knew nothing about pregnancies till about two weeks ago. I hope it's nothing I did that caused this.

@IrishMaa nothing you did caused this. It's just one of those things. 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Don't be hard on yourself it's not your fault.