Brown spotting and mild cramps at 15 weeks

[takethatlady]

Hi there,

I'm just looking for some information/reassurance. I am 15 weeks today and since New Year's Eve I've had brown spotting. I first noticed there were dark brown blood stains in my knickers (sorry tmi) before I went to bed on New Year's Eve. It was clear when I wiped.

Then yesterday it was clear for most of the day but by the evening there were streaks of pink and old brown bits when I wiped, though mostly clear. Today when I wipe the whole lot is very pale, watery brown.

I rang the assessment unit at the hospital this morning, who were totally unsympathetic and said there's nothing they can do even if I am going to miscarry, and to watch and wait and see if the blood turns red/clotty. The woman seemed quite annoyed with me for even bothering to call - not because she thought this was common in pregnancy, but because she said that at 15 weeks there was nothing anyone could do anyway.

Please tell me this is normal. Am trying very hard not to freak out. Google is yielding the usual mishmash of results and I can't find anything official. I realise that brown spotting probably means old blood and is probably fine but how long is too long for this to go on? Should I try to see a doctor or just 'watch and wait' like the hospital told me?

I have mild stretchy cramps, too, but they aren't particularly painful.

Thanks.

PS - on my scan report (from 12+4) it says the placenta is anterior low. I'm wondering if that could be causing it.

How are you? These things always happen at weekends and bankhols I find. I have an 18month old. A couple of christmases ago I was experiencing similar bleeding. My placenta was also low though my bleeding apparently not caused by that. I went to EPU 3 times. On the third time I had a high vaginal swab done. Before they stuck the swab up they could see my cervix sensitive and raw looking. I think they said ectropia of cervix. Another name is erosion of cervix which sounds much more worrying than it is. Basically only involves surface of cervix. I even got bright red blood as well as old. I hope your spotting has stopped and the cramping is hopefully just normal twinges. Remember cervix can produce mucous which might account for watery stuff. However, if you are like me you will want it checking or it will be constant knicker checking... Hopefully the stroppy cow at EPU has gone off duty. If you are still worried ring again and insist on being checked out. Have you got your midwife's number too? Maybe she could back you up re being checked out. Hope all ok now though. Take care.

Thanks cluttermountain :) Really glad you got a positive outcome and it was nothing to worry about.

Still spotting - it's only when I wipe and the odd stain in my knickers. The clear stuff is just usual for me, and I think the cramps are too - they're not at all painful and they feel like they have on and off all along. At the moment I don't have any at all.

I think I'm going to wait another day and see if it continues, and if it does demand to be seen. My midwife is basically uncontactable at all times - she works part-time irregular hours, was not working at all for the first 8 weeks of my pregnancy (with no replacement) and when you can't get through (which is always) you have to ring a pager number which is, by her own admission, totally ineffectual - the messages are never passed on to the stand-in midwives. It's not my midwife's fault, but the system that is in place for when she is not available is crap.

But I will just hang tight. Feeling okay - went out to the shops with DH and had a bite to eat to take my mind off it. I'm sure like you say it might be cervical erosion or something else harmless - my tummy has popped over the last week and perhaps it's just all the stretching and growing. Just really really hope it ends soon.

It's bright pink when I wipe now, so I'm going to A&E. I wish the maternity ward would see me but as they won't, and as the midwife and GP are obviously closed, I'm just going to A&E.

There are lots of positive stories of women that have had good explanations for their bleeding at this stage, some of them required treatment or bed rest, and every medical website I can find says that while it's not uncommon it's not 'normal' to have bleeding at this stage either, and always to get it checked out straight away. So I'm off to do that (well, DH is taking me after we've had some dinner).

Thanks for your reply cluttermountain, I'll update once I'm home.

Hoping all goes well for you.

I really hope it goes well. I think you are right to get it checked out. Keeping everything crossed for you. I will check on you later. Good luck and very best wishes.

Hi takethatlady,

I bled every day from 12-16 weeks and was told it was a sub-chorionic hematoma - basically a blood clot in the womb. This is fairly normal apparently and they didn't seem worried at all as it was quite small. All bleeding stopped now and baby currently healthy (at 24 weeks pregnant). Most bleeding during pregnancy ends with a healthy baby so I'm sure it's most probably fine but definitely get it checked out anyway.

Good luck!

Thank you ladies. Just back from the A&E - they were really nice, did bloods and a urine test and my blood pressure, and then a pelvic exam and a scan. All was great, baby wriggling about, no cysts or clots, nothing unusual about the placenta or its position, so they said it's probably just one of those things and not to worry unless it gets heavy.

When I did the urine test there was still spotting, but I've been to the loo twice since then and nothing ... so fingers crossed and crossed again that it's settling down.

Thank you so much for replying, and so glad you both have healthy babies (born and unborn :))

Great news. Hopefully it won't happen again. If it does maybe get cervix checked for sensitivity for your peace of mind. Glad baby wriggly and happy. Hope you have a nice relaxing day.