Late period or mc - how do you know?

[MotherOfMadHouse]

Hello, I've just joined and this is my first post. You all seem so knowledgable and supportive of each other I'm hoping someone will be able to answer my questions and not think I am too silly!

My last period was 12/1 so I expected this one last weekend (I'm always 30 days) - I had all the normal pms symptoms leading up to last weekend including much more tender than normal breasts. As the week has gone on I've started to think I could be pg but decided with dh to wait until tomorrow morn to do a test. However today I have had some light, red bleeding so think that I'm not pg and this is my period starting.

I have read on this section of mn about going to the drs if you have a mc but how do I know if it is a mc or a late period, and if it is a mc, do you 'have' to go the drs?

Also, should I still do a test tomorrow as I also know lots of people do still have some bleeding in pg?

(I already have 2 children but had no bleeding with either preg)

Thank you in advance.

Are you normally light at the beginning? Some people do have light periods when pg so if you think you may be pg do a test.

The bleeding could be an implantation bleed. I had two days of that when pg with ds and was sure it was my period starting.

You don't have to go to the doctors at all if it's a miscarriage as early as this may be. I mced at 8 weeks and even then didn't go to the doctor after.

Wow! What quick reponses! Thanks Normally I have a couple of days of just spots and then full on. I would do a test now but wasn't sure if it would be so accurate being in the evening - what do you think?

I would wait a day or two and see what happens.

With regards to trying to figure out whether bleeding is a late period or early miscarriage I'm not convinced you ever really know (perhaps someone more knowledgable than me might come along though). I did a positive pregnancy test last year, then over a week later had quite heavy bleeding (like a really heavy period). Went to hospital as it was the weekend; they did some blood tests and they said I wasn't pregnant and sent me home. However, GP says that I was pregnant and has miscarriage recorded in my medical notes. I didn't have any kind of procedure though. It was a completely different experience from a mmc earlier in the year, which had been a thoroughly painful, unpleasant and drawn out experience.

I would wait till morning if you are going to do a test.

If it's neg but you don't have a period as heavy as normal then maybe test again in a few days.

Thank you for your answers and support. I will test inthe morning and report back.

I've not had a mc but from the experiences of others I would suspect a mc if the bleeding was later than when AF was due, was heavy with more obvious clots, had more severe cramping and more marked hormonal differences.

If bleed had no other 'symptoms' I might be more inclined to suspect a tardy AF. This happens, sometimes the cycle seems to get knocked on it's head for no obvious reasons.

Either way it's very hard to know. And, either way, it's a great excuse and a good reminder to look after yourself, to get pampered and spoiled a bit!

Hello, well I did do a test this morning and it was neg and since then I have been bleeding really quite heavily for me. So, I guess I will never know one way or the other but it has certainly given me and dh some things to talk about.

I really appreciate the time you all took to reply - it was very helpful.

Thank you.

Sorry it didn't turn out as you hoped. Good luck for next time .

Best of luck for next time, enjoy ttc