Early loss

[Slj307]

Just looking for some advice, not sure if anyone is in uk. Wednesday last week I had bad stomach and back pains and on Thursday I started bleeding and passing clots (period not due) I spoke to the doctor who suggested that I was pregnant and having a blighted ovum and as I was so early on there wasn’t much I could do about it so only offered a follow up call today. A week on from when it started, I had the call today and the doctor I spoke to was different to the previous doctor and said that it was more than likely a chemical pregnancy. I had definitely lost a baby and my new step would be to do a pregnancy test. Just wondering if anyone else has any experiences with this? Thanks

Hi OP, sorry for what you are experiencing.

I'm not a medical professional but I do think the first doctor was wrong to suggest a blighted ovum, a blighted ovum is where the gestational sac and placenta grows but with no fetus inside. I'm not sure how a doctor would be able to diagnose that over the phone without a scan?!

Have you done a pregnancy test and has anyone checked your HCG levels?

Sending you lots of love

Hi, so I haven’t done a pregnancy test as it wasn’t really on my mind last week but the doctor today suggested that I take one but I don’t really know what that would achieve. The doctor I spoke to today sounded a lot more understanding but said that as I’m a week on from things happening there’s not really much point in scans etc as it wouldn’t show anything at this point. They also seem reluctant due to covid.

I guess the benefit of doing a test would be to know whether you were pregnant and if it is definitely a miscarriage (if this bleeding was before your period was due that would be very early in a pregnancy - around 4 weeks - and I'd maybe want to check it wasn't anything else) but I understand not everyone would want to know

Are you still bleeding now or has it stopped? x

I’ve had no more bleeding just sometimes feels a little uncomfortable like someone is pulling on my insides. Like it feels heavy if that makes sense? But the doctor said today that it’s fairly normal to feel like that

As PP said. The benefit of taking a test 1. Confirms you were pregnant in the first place and 2. To make sure if you have passed it, that everything has passed

It will usually still be positive after a week, usually quite faint if you weren't far along.

If so, you should then wait a week and do another test and test weekly until it goes negative. As if it doesn't, it can mean there is stuff left over and can cause an infection

Are your cycles regular? Any other gynae issues or changes in contraception? Fibroids, peri-menopausal, new medications, covid recently?

If your period wasn't even due, and assuming you have regular periods, a chemical pregnancy is normally no heavier than a regular period. There isn't the time to build up the lining to a level where its noticably different.

I agree that a pregnancy test 'might' still be postive if that was the cause. IF its positive, and you have further issues, they 'might' scan you. I'd keep a record of it though- dates, how heavy etc so if it re-occurs of you get further problems, you have more of a case to have investigations and/or scans later on. best of luck and keep us updated.