Pale brown spotting at 6 weeks - could it be implantation?

[misty0]

As i said i'm 6 weeks, and so far fine except alot of very mild tummy ache.

Earlier today i noticed a tiny pale brown smear in undies, and then a TINY bit when i wiped. THEN (hope you're enjoying this !?) a mucusy bit of pale brown at lunch timeish.

Having hunted on the net i'm not panicing anymore (shed tears earlier!) cos it seems very common - but - does anyone know for sure if implanting can still be occuring this late? Or what? .... any thoughts?

I don't think it could be implantation, the doc reckoned I had implantation bleeding and it was at about 4 weeks and it was redish/pinkish. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your little bean, don't stress yourself out about it, just keep an eye on it and if your worried call you mw or doc!

I'v always been lead to believe that brown blood is old and probably nothing to worry about. I distinctly remember having this at about 6 wks with my last pg - I assumed it was my period starting until the terrible truth dawned . I also had lots of mild crampy pains with it. I assumed afterwards that it was implantation.

Congratulations btw

Have you had a fierce bowel movement recently, or had sex in the last few days? As those are quite common culprits.

I bled anyway around six weeks for no reason they ever ascertained with all three of my successful pregnancies, but then I also bled at other times with them too so I was quite used to it! It's generally hormonal if there's no explanation.

Congratulations and I hope all is well! You could probably get a scan at an Early Pregnancy Unit if you wanted to (you'll almost certainly need a referral by your GP) or a private scan if you needed your mind put at rest.

Hi Misty

Nothing new to add but I'm another who had brown then pink bleeding around this time in pregnancy and went on to have a very healthy baby.

I know when you're worried every good story helps so just wanted to put my two cents in.

Hi

I had a brown discharge for 2 whole weeks from weeks 5-7. I had previously had a MC so was very worried, but held onto the thought that as long as i had other symptoms, like the painful boobs and nausea everything was still going ok. It eventually stopped and i'm now at 19wks.

Thank you so much everyone :). i havnt had any more of it so far! I went out yesterday and bought white loo paper instead of the usual peach so i could hsve a realy good old obsses about this, Lol. Very easy to have sense of humour when you're less worried ay? I was in bits this time yesterday...thank goodness for forums like this, and some time honoured female wisdom for all of us. :)

Ooh, and p.s: I DID have sex the night b4 ... so you could be right there Sparklies.

I had spotting as you describe at 6 weeks with DS. Obviously it turned out fine but worried me at the time. I ws scanned at the EPU and they said it was implantation bleeding. You would be entitled to a scan at the Early Pregnancy Unit to check for a heartbeat to reassure you - ask to speak to the midwife and they can refer you.

Could i? I dont have a midwife yet as doc told me to wait till 10 weeks and then make an apointment. Is that usual? Should i have seen a MW by now do you think? (havn't done this for 12 years! Forgotten everything ).

I'm sorry you're going through this stress - however I'd think very hard before asking for a scan at the EPU at 6 weeks.

If it were me, then in the absence of further bleeding and/or pain (and particularly shoulder tip pain) I'd sit tight and see what happens. With the best will in the world, there's a strong possibility that the heart hasn't started beating yet (just because its very early) and so a scan at this stage would be inconclusive - and then you'd have a wait of a week or two for a 2nd scan to confirm whether the heart has started beating or not. Our EPU try not to scan until 8 weeks for exactly this reason, as very early scans can often cause more stress than they aleviate.

I do empathise - I've had 3 early miscariages. Two of them just went straight in for lots of blood, but the 3rd kicked off with a couple of weeks of spotting in varying colours and quantities. It was incredibly stressful getting through it - and almost a relief when the bleeding started properly as at least then I felt I knew where I stood.

To me, it does sound as though the sex triggered off a little bit of spotting - in which case it will all ease off. However, if you're worried then its always worth getting advice. You could contact your EPU direct - some operate drop in clinics and the 2 I've contacted have been very happy to talk over the phone. If they think you should be seen they'll also advise the way to accomplish that in your area (I needed to get a GP referal, although I'd already chatted for about 20 minutes or so). If you do decide to call it might be worth expecting to call a couple - my closest one has the policy of not having an answer phone as they can't always return messages promptly. But that does mean if they can't get to the phone you feel very cut off. After not getting through for a while, having tied myself in knots, I decided to keep ringing numbers until I got a voice on the end of the line - and they were completely unphased by the fact I wasn't entierly local :)

Re. MW's, I think they try not to book in too early as within the 1st trimester there is very little for a MW to do and they're very overworked. I wouldn't expect to have an NHS MW appointment until about 10 weeks, to give time to book the 12 week scan, so I don't think you're being neglected in that respect. Most antenatal MWs aren't specialists in early pregnancy, so talking to the EPU is a better bet at this stage.

Sorry - that's got very wafly . Hope the spotting stops and you go on to have a worry free pregnancy :)

Bless you for taking the time to share all that info. with me Tangle, that was a great help. And i'm so sorry to hear about your earlier mc's.

I think you're right about sitting tight as nothing else has happened - THANK GOODNESS! Everything you said makes perfect sense. I think it will be more stressy to go rushing around looking for profesional opinions at this time than just hanging in there!

Just thinking, it's so deflating isn't it after all the excitement of the positive test and making the doctors apointment, to be told - "you're fine, congrats, now off you go and gestate for 6 weeks before contacting us again"! Lol. I remember that feeling from my first pregnancy. My new man - for whom this is a first - was horrified, love him.

Shoulder tip pain - ?? Do you, or anyone know why this would accompany mc symptoms?

Hi Misty, glad to hear nothing else has happened for you - I had another tiny tiny bit this morning but nothing else. Will give the EPU a call if it happens again tomorrow.

Re: shoulder pain - this can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy (I think it's caused by the bleeding causing pressure elsewhere internally). If you have any shoulder pain in early PG I know it's definitely a sign to contact Dr or EPU immediately.

In terms of your MW appointment, I guess it varies from place to place but with my first I had the booking in appt at 7w and same again with this one. I have also been able to book my scan already whereas with DD I had to wait until the MW appt.

If you are planning to get have the nuchal fold scan/testing then it's really important that you have that scan at 11-13 weeks so they can get the right measurements. If you're sure about your dates then that should be fine and MW will just sort it at booking in but if you're at all unsure it might be worth a call now to see if you can get the scan booked in advance?

Hi again! thanks for that advice tiokiko, i'm pretty sure of my dates - and want all the tests i can get, so maybe i'll ring for my first apt. at 9 weeks. My fingers are crossed for you - it sounds like it's the same as me - just old blood or that implantation! Have you tried simply thouroughly resting for a day? We know about being able to contact the EPU now so that in itself is a comfort i feel.

No worries - I found it incredibly reasurring being able to read the stories of other women. Its one of the things the internet in general and MN in particular is good for. Fingers crossed its still all quiet :)

tiokiko is right (hope you're OK too) - shoulder tip pain is referred from fluid in the abdomen. If you experience it when in the early stages of pregnancy it can be a sign of internal bleeding due to an ectopic pregnancy and so you should get thee to a Dr forthwith. Similarly, if ever things just feel wrong you should get checked out - even if you can't work out what, specifically, isn't right

Early pregnancy can be soo stressful. After the 1st MC I got pregnant again straight away - but wouldn't let myself believe in it till after the 1st scan. I remember driving all the way home in shock saying "there's a baby!" lots of times .

Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that I'm also about 6 wks (I think!) and had exactly the same thing on Sunday. After a total panic, ringing NHS Direct who arranged an emergency doctor to call me back, I was reassured it was nothing to worry about. I feel quite embarrassed about panicking now

I read a very looooong thread on here afterwards where the concensus seemed to be that it was more common than not, and that it's just 'old blood' and nothing to worry about.

HTH

Hi Misty,
I am 5 weeks and 6 days and booked into the EPU tomorrow for a scan due to spotting of brown stained discharge every 3-4 days and a bleed very early (maybe implantation?) So I know how you feel, I have read so much on here and scared myself silly over something I have no control over! If you are worried see you GP again, who should take HCG levels to check they are increasing.
Fingers crossed for you and your little bean :O

Hey misty when you get to about 8 weeks ring your local midwives department and they should send you a time and date for a booking appointment which is done about 8-10 weeks, if you're not sure how to get in touch with them, ring your GPs and ask them for a number to ring the midwives. Hope this helps :)