Anyone else having/had unexplained bleeds

[Ginga66]

I am having a very distressing time with this my fourth pregnancy. I had a termination years ago, then my son who is nearly three, the a miscarriage at seven weeks in July. I am eighteen weeks now and at ten, seventeen and last night had three bleeds. The first they said was late implantation bleeding. The one last week was very scary and until the scan showed the placenta in right position and no source the midwife was not very hopeful. I was in hospital for two nights as they said best to wait twenty four hours. Last week bleed happened after massage. Lastnight after I had orgasm but not any penetrative sex. Saw dr who said cervix shut and bleed abated so go home no scan. Midwife thinks uterus contracted during orgasm and set it off so no more! Theory now is that it is a bleed at the edge of the placenta. I am terrified to do anything now. I also can't get any explanation for the pain I have had for weeks now, both around ovary and low down I expect womb , this is dull ache, and more sharp ones when I move sometimes. Doctors not concerned say could be bowel or ligaments or area that bled. I just want some guidance on what I should be avoiding. I am having palpitations i suppose from stress and breathlessness but gp again not worried. And can i dare to be hopeful in the face of these late night emergency visits to delivery suite? Any feedback so appreciated.

Didn't want to leave this unposted. I have also has history of mc plus having dd but with no bleeding. This pregnancy had bleeding between 7-16 weeks on and off. Admittedly it was not heavy but it was on/off and some new blood.

I was told not to over do it, no lifting, no hoovering and also steered clear of sex (or sexual activity) as not just penetration but orgasm could stimulate things.

They could also find no explanation - the only thing being offered was a low lieing placenta (which has now moved).

I have another friend who was diagnosed with a haemotoma and has had majorly bad bleeding on and off . However baby still seems to be hanging in.

Can you ask for another scan to confirm no blood sacs (they can see them) or other known issues?

I know it's scary but it's not uncommon and although not good news may not always mean the worst.

I had about 5 spotting/bleeding episodes starting from week 10. Sometime red blood, sometime brown. I also have abdominal pain time to time but it is difficult to say if it is digestive system and round to say I am 15 weeks now and not sure when it may happened next. I ceased to cycle, do Kegel or actually any exercise and have sex:(. I hate it and as you I am worried every time it happens again. I want to relax and enjoy my pregnancy and get along with my normal life but so far it was very difficult. I never had anything like this in my first pregnancy. Starting from the first episode of bleeding doctors never found anything that could cause the bleed. As a consolation they said that up to 25% pregnant women experience bleeds with normal pregnancies. Just take it easy, you are almost halve way there.

I also had some episodes of bleeding during my pregnancy. In my case they managed to find an explanation - it was likely to be subchorionic hematome, which probably developed as a result of implantation. They could see it on early pregnancy scan but couldn't see the SH at 12 weeks scan already, though the bleeding still occured sometimes. But after reading on SH topic, I actually welcomed it - if it bleeds out, means it doesn't grow! And I noticed that bleeding always occured after having orgasm ( no penetrative sex, jsut orgasm) So it's a clue - pelvic rest is what you possibly need (at least for the peace of mind for couple of weeks)

Thanks everyone. If the did not see anything on the scan last week does that mean there is no blood clot or haematoma! I am, like suggested, avoiding any exercise or orgasm. I had dark blood this am but a midwife appointment and heartbeat. She said avoid constant pelvic exams as may introduce infection. Let me know how you all get on as means so much not feeling alone now x

I'm nearly 31 weeks and have bled pretty much every few weeks from day dot. They've said that bleeding is usually 1 of 2 things, post sex or from placenta breaking off. It's not after sex so is definitely baby's placenta in my case. It's not low lying and all in right place. Just been for latest check up at hospital and because I'm much further along now I have to have regular growth scans to check placenta is doing what it should and that babe is growing as she should. Used to be sometimes an internal exam and listen into heartbeat and sent home... Midwife friend said people who bleed are likely to continue to do so right through. When u get further along, if the episodes continue you'll be asked to contact the delivery suite each time who will ask you to go in to be checked out every time.

All very worrying but hang in there! I've never ever been advised not to do anything at all!! Asked if I was likely to be early because of bleeding and they've said yes, but not high risk. As I'm 31 weeks i'll be packing my hospital bag this weekend.

Good luck, hope it all goes well, try not to worry xx

I had bleeding with both my two (now 7 & 5 ) With Ds, the first bleed was (I think) about 8 weeks, & from then I had a bleed a week minimum except for a three week gap. I had a few early scans, but after that just more frequent monitoring by my GP - who was fabulous. I was advised to take things reasonably easy, and no sex (as you had advised this was more to do with the hormones released in orgasm iirc). Like you, I had lots of random aches and pains, and certainly in the early weeks,

I did had steroid injections in case of early childbirth & sure enough, ds arrived 4 weeks early, but perfectly healthy (only spent a couple of hours in SCBU). At 31 weeks, they finally diagnosed cervical erosion (which is apparently the most common cause of bleeding in pg), which is when the cervix reacts to pg hormones by becoming very easily bruised/damaged.

With dd I bled less, and was more relaxed about it anyway, although I did have quite a big bleed at the start of my labour with her (she was born at term).

So, for me, bleeding came to be a 'normal' part of my pg.

HTH - I know how scary it can be, and knowing lots of people go through it does help I think.

Hi everyone, this is my first post as I'm new to mumsnet! I came across this thread whilst browsing the pregnancy chat topics... I'm currently 29 + 4 with my 2nd baby (I have a 24 month old son already).

I would just like to agree with the above poster that perhaps the unknown bleeding is caused by something called a 'cervical erosion/ectropian'... which is something the GP has diagnosed me with in this pregnancy as I've had random bleeding on and off (placenta is anterior but is high up out of the way). Apparently it's perfectly normal, and quite common! Here is an explanation I found online that sums up what it is:

"The narrow passage through the cervix is lined with glandular cells that secrete mucus, while the outer part of the cervix is usually lined with a different, flat type of lining cell. Sometimes the glandular cells grow down and appear on the outer surface of the cervix to form a red, velvet-like area called a cervical erosion. This term is misleading however, nothing is really being eroded and the condition is entirely normal.

A more accurate term is a cervical ectropion. These cervical changes are a natural response to the female hormone, oestrogen, and can occur naturally in some women, during pregnancy, in those who have had children, and in women taking the oral contraceptive pill. Most ectropions cause no symptoms. However, in some women they produce an increased mucus discharge. Occasionally the delicate cells may bleed easily when touched or during vigorous sex."

So basically it's an extra-sensitive cervix that might be causing the bleeds due to pregnancy hormones..my bleeds have normally been triggered by straining to do a bm or when any type of pressure is exerted (such as a sneeze or bad cough, or blowing my nose). I've been up to the hospital for monitoring and baby is fine, I was told if bleeding is only slight and stops quickly then not to worry.

Hth!

Lottie xx

That's extremely helpful but how come when they looked at my cervix hey said it wax fine? Would erosion be visible? If it is the placenta why have I not been offered steroid injections. Spoke to gp this evening as pain persists and got the same wishy washy response as from everyone I have seen. I wish I had better medical advice. Wondering what to do next.

Hi Ginaga66 I’m having similar symptoms and not getting any diagnosis from any department. Did you pregnancy progress as planned or was this all a warning sign? I hope all went well for you x