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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

18+5 and bleeding

19 replies

anne74 · 02/09/2010 20:05

Am 18+5 today and am experiencing brown bleeding. Have had no bleeding at all until now but at my 12 week scan the sonographer did ask if I'd had any bleeding as she said my placenta was a bit low. It's more than just a bit of spotting. On each wipe there's more blood. I don't have pain but it feels quite tight down on the left side.

Should I be worried?

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PinkyBurgerhead · 02/09/2010 20:08

Well, you should definitely report to your midwife who will probably send you for another scan pronto.

I had a few bleeds during my pregnancies, both times brown blood and it was nothing to worry about but did have extra scans each time to be on the safe side.

Give them a call and hope everything's fine :)

PinkyBurgerhead · 02/09/2010 20:22

Forgot to add that if you can't get hold of your midwife, you can call the early pregnancy unit at the hospital you're under. The number should be in your notes.

xxx

Original poster

anne74 · 02/09/2010 20:32

Who would I phone at this time of night? Also I'm heading up to see my parents this weekend in York. Would they scan me at the hospital there?

The bleed definitely isn't stopping and it's just a bit scary given that I haven't bled before. I've been very stressed for the last couple of weeks so I'm a bit worried this might have had an impact. I can feel kicks though which is reassuring.

Thanks for advice x

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SirBoobAlot · 02/09/2010 20:42

Call your hospital - antenatal will be closed so call labour ward.

Brown blood is "old blood" and if you're still feeling kicks thats good :) But call them to be sure.

Personally I would put the trip on hold until I had everything checked over, but thats just me.

LunaticFringe · 02/09/2010 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lulumaam · 02/09/2010 20:49

you must be checked out tonight

brown blood is old, but you need to be reassured

i notice you say you have a low lying placenta.. that can cause some bleeding on and off in pregnancy, and can be heavy depending on how low it is

i would call labour ward for reassurance and for advice

kitstwins · 02/09/2010 21:32

I had this at 23 weeks with my twin pregancy and called the labour ward (it was around 11pm) and was told to come in. It turned out I had placenta praevia (partially covering the cervix) which was causing the bleed. When I got to the hospital and apologised ("sorry, sure it's nothing, wasting everyone's time, etc. etc...") the midwife said they always wanted to check bleeding.

I had several episodes of bleeding during my pregnancy and always went to hospital. On a few occasions I'm glad I did as at 25 weeks, 28 weeks and 30 weeks the bleed irritated my uterus and caused contractions and early labour. Being in hospital they were able to pump me full of the relevant labour-blocking drugs that worked. One occasion was pretty touch and go (the medicine took a long time to kick in and the contractions a long time to tail off) and had I not gone to hospital so promptly it could have been a nightmare.

I'm not trying to frighten you as brown blood is old blood and surprisingly common in pregnancy but I think for your peace of mind alone you should ring the labour ward. At the very least it's a two minute conversation for them and they'd much rather you did it than not.

HOpe the bleeding tails off.

Owlingate · 02/09/2010 21:37

After 18 weeks in most hospitals you can go straight into labour ward as an emergency admission. EPU tends to have a 16 or 18 week cut-off. Bleeding in the second trimester counts as an emergency. Please go in and ask them to examine you with a view to an emergency scan tomorrow. Make sure you mention the low lying placenta and take your notes with you.

How worrying for you but hopefully (and most likely) it will be your low lying placenta. For anyone else reading this any type of bleeding in the second trimester is not normal or common and should be checked out as a matter of urgency.

Original poster

anne74 · 02/09/2010 22:10

Thanks for all your advice. I rang labour ward and because I'm not yet 20 weeks they said I had to go to A&E. They said I definitely had to get checked out. So I'm here in A&E waiting to be seen. The receptionist seemed surprised that labour ward wouldn't see me and was almost apologetic that it might be a while before I get seen.

Will keep you posted...

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Original poster

anne74 · 03/09/2010 06:55

So I got home from A&E at 1am. Am totally exhausted. Was seen by a junior doctor who didn't really know what he was doing and he did an internal exam and said he couldn't see anything. He recommended I go for a scan this morning so am just getting up to go to the EPU. I was thinking about still getting my train to York which was supposed to be at 8.30am and trying to get scanned there but I rang the labour ward there and they explained that the unit there isn't walk in. It means I'll have to get a new train ticket but hey. I do feel as if I might be making a big deal out of nothing but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Thanks for all your advice.

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Owlingate · 03/09/2010 13:22

Thanks for updating - what a rough night for you. So if he did an internal he could check your cervix wasn't dilating so that's good news at least. V surprised you have to go to EPU tbh. Please do make sure they scan you, not just listen for a heartbeat.

You are definitely not making a big deal out of nothing it is very important to check this bleeding out.

Hope things go okay.

Original poster

anne74 · 03/09/2010 18:31

I had a scan this morning at the EPU. They nearly didn't as I've got my 20 wk scan in 2 wks but I think they felt sorry for me after the night I'd had! Everything was fine but they did see that the placenta is still slightly low and they thought that might account for the bleeding.

I'm still bleeding a bit but there were no problems with baby on the scan so I know not to worry too much.

Roll on the next scan so I can get a good look at everything!

Thanks for all your support x

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lucybrad · 03/09/2010 19:50

thank goodness for that!

Owlingate · 03/09/2010 20:11

Oh good I'm so pleased for you. Please take this as your excuse sign to take things nice and easy at least until the next scan! Hope you can relax a bit now.

SirBoobAlot · 03/09/2010 23:26

Glad you got the all clear :) Take it easy for the next few months weeks!

Original poster

anne74 · 05/09/2010 08:00

Would love to be able to take it easy however we moved my dad into a nursing home a couple of weeks ago so am trying to support him through that and my husband doesn't think he is in love with me any more and thinks he may have married me because I had a recent diagnosis of cancer (not life threatening). He wants to wait until the baby's born before making a final decision about what he wants to do but I don't think I can wait in limbo until then. Am in pieces most of the time at the moment as I feel so devastated.

Taking it easy isn't really on the menu at the moment :-( Will try though

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BabyValentine · 05/09/2010 09:15

Oh, Anne, you pour soul. That all sounds so tough. Please take care of yourself. And remember there is lots of support here if you need it

chipmonkey · 05/09/2010 10:02

Oh, Anne, you poor love! Your husband is being a total knob, isn't he!

But you do need to rest up and take care of yourself! Is your Mum in good health? Do you have siblings?

Honeybee79 · 05/09/2010 11:18

Good to hear that all is OK with baby

You poor thing - your husband sounds like he's behaving like a right tool. Try to put yourself first and take care of yourself.

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