Starting to bleed (miscarrying?)- advice needed urgently

[Nobhead]

I am 5-6 weeks pregnant and I have started to bleed about 2 hours ago. It's not massively heavy but it's like the start of a period. I rang my GP who gave me the number of the early bleed clinic at the hospital the number just rang out and every other number I had for the maternity unit did too. I trang the switch board who put me through to the ward and the person I spkoe to told me the clinic closes at 12 noon every day (WTF is that normal? ). They told me to come in tomorrow morning as they wouldn't be able to scan me until then unless the bleeding gets worse or I have severe abdominal pain. Is this normal has anyone else experienced this? I am terrified now that I am miscarrying, I never had any bleeding when pregnant with my DS, would you just go to A&E or am I panicking too soon? Please help

bleeding is really common at this stage in pregnancy, i had bleeding with all 3 of mine.
don't go to A&E, but do go to the clinic at the hospital tomorrow and have your scan.

to be honest, if you are miscarrying there is nothing that they can do anyway (sorry if that sounds harsh) :( so you're best off making yourself comfortable at home and resting. Can your partner come home to be with you?

If you are passing any more than half a cup full of blood or have pain that you cannot cope with, there is little point going to A&E.

Unfortunately, what you have experienced with the early fetal assessment is sadly quite normal, these services are severely lacking and innadequate.

Going in the morning is your best bet ime.

I have had 2 lots of bleeding this pregnancy and am now 17 weeks. it is very, very common in early pregnancy and does not always have to mean the worst. I would wait til tomorrow morning as yesterday says, if you go to A&E you will have a long wait and they may not scan you there- mine wouldn't when I wa bleeding at 9 weeks, they referred me to the EPU the next morning for a scan instead.

Best of luck for tomorrow.

Don't panic - bleeding is quite common. I have never miscarried but from what I understand it is quite painful and is bright red blood.

I bled with both pregnancies - same as you describe; sort of dark brown discharge. It could be implantation bleeding that's taken time to come out. My second bleed was dark - really a very dark brown, maroon-type colour. This turned out to be a subchorionic haemorrhage (sp?!) but did not affect the birth at all. I had an early scan with that one but not the first.

When I called out of hours they said 'If you are miscarrying, there's not much we can do about it and it will happen whatever.' It's blunt, but true. Don't worry; even if you do miscarry I know many women who have gone on to successfully conceive.

I think Tightwad may mean UNLESS you are passing more than/have pain you cannot cope with...
that was the advice I received everytime I was bleeding from Doctors/Midwives.

x-post with everyone...

Nobhead, lots and lots of women bleed at all stages in their pregnancy and they and their babies are just fine, there'll be people along shortly with their positive stories for you :) so basically, please don't automatically assume the worst until you've actually been told to prepare for the worst as you'll drive yourself potty.

having said all that...

What they have said to you is standard practise as ultimately as the others have said there's nothing that can be done, and unless you are in severe pain, passing out/dizzy/weak or passing what you think is far too much blood, far too quickly then they won't really be wanting to see you I'm afraid. (and if those do happen, get onto NHS24/direct OOH GP or straight to A&E ok)

Now, assuming the worst, the best thing you can do is to prepare just in case as awful as it sounds, and I don't mean to upset you - have you got some strong painkillers (ibuprofen and paracetamol can be taken at the same time, co-codamol is good) a hot water bottle, some pads, old clothes/leggings or trackies are good, someone you can phone for support or to come and be with you asap if anything really starts? if you get to the point where it's inevitable then there is an excellent thread on the miscarriage board about how to cope with practialities, i will go and find it and bump it up just now...

and then just go and put your feet up if you possibly can and just relax as best you can.

Really hoping you'll be fine and if you get into the EPU tomorrow morning that everything will be found to be just as it should be x keep posting too, it really helps

Thanks aworryingtrend, that is what i meant, sorry for any misunderstanding x

Just to point out to EmmaCate - you can have brown blood/mucusy discharge and be about to miscarry - I think I've also read that brown blood is very common in ectopics too.

of course you can have brown blood and be fine of course, for the other side of the coin :)

I can't find the thread I was talking about, must have been deleted although can't imagine why

Thanks so much to all of you, you have eased my mind [happy]. I feel more optimistic now, I'm not usually a worrier at all but this got me panicked. I will go tomorrow morning and fingers crossed everything will be ay ok. I'm at home anyway as had to take the afternoon off as an electrcian is coming. My DH will be home at about 5pm so I'll just park my backside on the couch and be on MN all afternoon.

*I was meant to type after you have eased my mind .

Just wanted to say good luck for the morning, let us know how you get on. hugs

:) keep us posted? x

Thanks Daisy - I was trying to say that I thought miscarrying involved the symptoms I described so until she gets those, she should not assume the worst. I was not trying to say brown blood means there's no risk of anything serious.

As I said though - I have no experience of MCs so OP if anyone posts who has and says different, then listen to them!

I had an internal scan today and I have miscarried , thanks to you all for your wonderful support (as ever on MN).

Oh no I am so so sorry. That is devastating. I hope you have lots of RL support and of course always on here.

Thanks worrying. I do have lots of support, I'm in the house alone until DH gets in from work and DS from nursery. I'd rather be alone for a bit to sort myself out IYSWIM. I've taken the rest of the week off work so just going to relax.

I'm really sorry to hear that too. Though bleeding can unfortunately mean what's happened to you, I also know just how common it is from all the other posts about it (inc my own previously) so I was saddened to see how it's turned out for you. Take care.

oh I am so sorry nobhead {{{hug}}}

Do you have any follow-up scan planned or has it all pretty much gone already?

No it's pretty much gone. i had a blood test to check for ectopic pregnancy and i get the results tomorrow.

Very sorry to hear your news Nobhead. I never know what to say, but I'll think of you.