Still bleeding after 4 weeks - is this normal?

[LynRob]

I miscarried at 6 weeks & am still bleeding almost 4 weeks on. Even though they said at the hospital it would be 2-4 weeks it's bothering me that it hasn't stopped yet. I guess I just want it all to go away so I can move on, but don't know if i should be worried?

hi lynrob

Sorry for your loss - I bleed for 4wks after my m/c. Went for my 12wk scan and they said the baby had stoped growing at 6wks. I decided to let nature takes it course but after 4wks of bleeding I was scanned again and the sac was still growing, the hospital advise me to have an erpc which I did. Have you been scanned again since you was told of your M/C? If not get in contact with your epu and ask for a scan. I do know some ladies can go on to bleed for sometimes up to 12wks after a m/c if they decide to do it naturally. Have you thought about an erpc.

No, but I'm starting to now. I hate the thought of intervention and wanted to do it naturally, but if its going to drag on I will rethink.

Is this your 1st m/c. I felt the same about erpc's after my 1st m/c but for some reason my body just holds onto the pregnancy and it doesn't come away naturally, instead it likes to grow. Life can be so cruel sometimes. Sadly I have had 3 m/c's now and on all 3 wanted to let nature takes it course but it just didn't happen.

At least you have tried to do it naturally, I would recomend you go for another scan to see if anything has changed. If it is still the same size or has got bigger you might want to think about an erpc, you could be going on for weeks otherwise.

Im sure you will make the right decision for you. My thoughts are with you at this horrible time.

Hiya, yes, it's my first. I'm so sorry to hear about your own experience - I hope things work out for youy. Thanks for your help.

LynRob,
Very sorry you are going through this.
I just wanted to say that I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks and was bleeding for over four weeks, it may have been five. The 2-4 weeks is probably average but not absolute maximum. I also decided to let nature take its course and the hospital agreed but made me come for a scan about ten days after the mc started, to make sure I am fine (if you get what I mean). Then again the scan showed the sac was stll there but moving downwards and they were happy to let me wait for it to come out on its own accord as long as my blood test was fine (the heamoglobin must not be too low I believe) but had to go for another scan a week later when it was confirmed that the sac had gone. Just make sure they keep an eye on it, like lulu78 says. My hospital also asked me to come and get another scan after my first period after the mc has finished, to make sure all is sorted out and look fine. Ask if yours would do that.
Sorry for long post, I hope it helps.

Great, thank you so much for that, it's really reassuring. It will be 4 weeks on Weds, so I'll give them a call then & ask to get checked out. Looks like I'll have to be a bit more proactive than you guys in getting these scans though - I wasn't offered one - they just said to give them a call if I thought it wasn't happening as it should.

Not sure if this helps or hinders, but I bled for 9 weeks after a natural miscarriage before going back to my GP. Natural miscarriages do tend to go on longer, but I really felt something needed to be done at that point! I was pretty sure that I had had a complete miscarriage because of the pain I endured and the fact that I passed what I assumed was the sac before it all calmed down and the bleeding became like a period. I had already taken a pregnancy test, which came back negative and the doctor repeated this test which confirmed my body no longer thought I was pregnant. I was sent for a scan which was perfectly normal and showed no retained products, but I kept on bleeding. Some weeks I'd have a break for a couple of days and think it was all over before it started again. No one could advise me as there didn't seem to be anything physically wrong and my body couldn't possibly have thought it was still pregnant. Eventually, for peace of mind and because I just couldn't bear the thought of every toilet trip being a reminder, I decided to put myself back on the pill to try and straighten out my hormones. I finished the pack and had a normal (well, normal ish) period and now I'm okay except for the fact that I don't seem to be ovulating. I'm told this takes a while to get back on track in some cases. I had the miscarriage at the beginning of Oct and we're now in January, so I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone. I hope you get to the bottom of this sooner than I did. Don't wait to see your GP, as I wasn't offered a scan after my miscarriage either. Seems that they lose a bit of interest in you when the pregnancy isn't successful, which is a real shame when you need answers and support.

Thanks so much for this - I called the hospital today and they said to come in for a scan, but that it would be quicker to come through A&E than get an appointment through my GP - so am calling them tomorrow to get private appointment under my work insurance. It does really help to hear other stories - I feel just like you in that I'm so sick of seeing bright red water every time I go to the loo. I just want to feel normal again.

Hi LynRob, I'm sorry for your loss.

I had my 2nd m/c and first ERPC back in september and bled for over 6 weeks. After being told 'it is probably ok, etc. etc.' the counsellor that I was seeing suggested I needed to be more forceful and insist on being checked out. After lots of tests I had developed an infection, needed antibiotics and in internal scan.

Fortunately everything was fine at the scan, but I guess what I am saying in a rather rambly way is please don't let anyone take advantage of the vulnerable position you are in right, and fob you off. now and please do insist on as many checks and tests that you feel are needed. I know the NHS is overstretched, but they should always take bleeding seriously. And for me, all the time I was still bleeding I couldn't move on - emotionally, but also I wasn't able to TTC even if I wanted to, which frustrated me.

Wishing you all the best with the appt and scan.

Thank you all - I realised I had forgotten to update the thread. I went for a scan on Thursday last week, and they couldn't see anything, but said that the thickness of the endometrium suggested that I was back in my normal cycle and having a period - hence the increase in bleeding over those couple of days. She said it can take some women several weeks, and that if it hadn't cleared up in a further couple of weeks to come back again. It has died right down, but still going a bit - feels like it's on it's way out finally, but I'm heartily sick of it now, and just want to get back on with trying!

Hi thanks for posting I'm going through same phase its been 4weeks sinse I'm bleeding 3 days ago it stopped and I had discharge but today I started bleeding I'm so worries is this normal?

i’m in the same position, been bleeding for over 4 weeks and kew getting told that it could just be a slow burner, but i have had enough of bleeding i just want to be able to start trying again but i feel like it stops for a few days then starts up again