I'm on holiday and I think I might be miscarrying at 6.5 weeks.

[ladysnorkmaiden]

I am trying REALLY hard to not freak out, but this is very upsetting to say the least. I've had one miscarriage, so I've been very cautious about getting too excited this time around.

I have had a little spotting for the last two days (at first very scant and pink, and then a little bit more and brown. I know that they say brown is not much to worry about---but that certainly wasn't my experience last time I was pregnant.) In addition to the light spotting, my breasts are no longer sore (and they were really, really sore), and I haven't felt queasy/otherworldly today like I have been feeling.

I know that loads of women have bleeds (like proper bleeds, not just a little spotting), and then go on to have healthy babies, but I am concerned that my symptoms (such as they were) seem to have gone too. And being so far away from home, of course, is making this all seem a bit scarier.

I have an early scan booked (I am entitled to one because of my age and my previous miscarriage) for a week and a half from now, but that just seems like lightyears away. Because it is so early on, I am not in any pain, and it is just a little spotting, I don't know that seeing a doctor here would do me any good. Any thoughts or experiences out there? Thanks so much in advance!

I didn't want your post to go unanswered, but I'm not sure how much help I can be...

Where are you? Can you see a local doctor? Are you staying in a hotel who could call a doctor for you?

I would be trying to see a doc straight away tbh in your position.

Are you in the UK? Maybe look for a private scan to confirm where things stand?

Oh gosh poor you!
I've had 2 previous MCs so I sympathise.

I know this is not a helpful answer but to be honest at this point it really is a waiting game.

The bleeding might stop, it might get worse. As you know some bleeds turn out OK and some don't.

I don't think the loss of symptoms is necessarily a bad sign- it might be HCG levels decreasing but it is quite common to lose symptoms for a bit and for them to reappear even in a nomal pregnancy, so this does not necessarily mean a MC.

You also don't have any cramping at the moment, which is a good sign.

I appreciate that when you are worried every day seems 100 hours long and you just want an answer now, but I'm not sure there is much a doc there could do for now. An early scan might be helpful in clarifying things, but i'm not sure where you are and if it would be helpful to get involved with all this there or wait until your scan when you are back?

Obviously if the bleeding gets heavy or you get bad cramps do go, but I just sit it out for the moment, and i'm sorry there isn't a better solution that that- especially when you are supposed to be on holiday.

I'm thinking of you.

I agree with cakebump, seeing someone wherever you are is preferable to worrying. When do you get home? I'd go to ur EPU for an even earlier early scan. If ur on hols in this country, could u go to an EPU near where you are,I'm sure someone would see you.x

Thanks so much, ladies! Because it is all so early (and because I lost my first pregnancy), I haven't told any friends yet, so it is really nice to feel supported. My husband is an absolute star, but he doesn't have much experience with spotting and/or sore breasts. ;)

I should have clarified: I am not in the UK at the moment. I am not anywhere dodgy, so I feel fine about the medical facilities available to me if it came to that. When I had my first miscarriage, I didn't experience bleeding until a few days before my 12 week scan (though growth had stopped at about 5.5 weeks), and even then they said, like CaptainHoratio, that it was a waiting game and there really wasn't anything they could do. So I am just not sure if I want to add that level of stress to the situation yet. Honestly, I am just not thinking very clearly at all...

But it is very helpful to know that symptoms can come and go. Maybe I just need to take a day or two to see how I feel. We are due to fly back on the 10th, but we could definitely come home sooner if things go very, very wrong. I think I am going to do a bit of googling to see where the closest hospital is here just in case. It feels grim to do that, but if I start experiencing pain, etc., I suppose I will want that info at the ready.

sigh Thanks again, everyone!

Oh i'm glad you have such a good DH to help you :-)

I don't know how easy/cheap it is for you to access the internet where you are but there are a lot of MNers who have been in your position and will be here to support you, whenever you need it.

I think googling the nearest hopsital etc just in case is a good idea- maybe also ask the hotel if they have a visiting doctor just in case- I always feel like if i've got a plan its somehow less likely to be needed.

I'd also buy some really good painkillers, sanitary pads etc (i've bought some and am telling myself that all being well i'll use them after the birth when i'll need them!

Really hoping it is all OK for you.

Hi ladysnork, I had the same situation in February this year. Was on holiday in Tenerife and was 10 weeks pg following a mmc in oct. I was devastated when I first got the spotting whilst on holiday. I phoned my gp surgery at home in uk who gave me the contact details of the midwife in my area. She was really great and said that I could go to the local hospital near where I was staying and get a scan if I really could not wait until I got home and even though I would have to pay for it, it should be covered by my insurance as they were aware I was pg. I would always check this with your insurance first though. Otherwise, you can pay for a private scan as you can in this country. As anxious as I was I decided to wait until I got home to have the scan as it was only 3/4 more days and the spotting did not actually get much worse whilst I was there. Maybe you could get the scan in the uk brought forward if you explain the circumstances and how anxious you are for the day you get back or the day after? Try getting your local midwife involved as it might be easier than contacting your local epu direct.

I did stock up on pads, pain killers and spare underwear for the plane home just in case. I just tried to rest and relax for the rest of the holiday and did anything to distract me.

How are you feeling now?

So sorry you have this shadow over you on holiday. Spotting without cramps is positive. Of course you know this could change as you have experienced MC before but for now try to take it easy and not think the worse. Only a scan will confirm what is happening but could be inconclusive at this stage so I for one would sit it out for now. Take care.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, and I hope that as other posters say it is just a bit of spotting. Having said that I've been through similar and wanted to share (sorry this might do me more good than you - feel free to stop reading!)

I was away from home for work, though within the UK, when I had my first MC of two and had to go during the night to see a doctor. To be honest all they could do was recommend I rest and see if the bleeding got any worse, then go home. And then when I had driven myself three hours to get home the next day my local hospital couldn't even scan me for several days anyway, despite the doctor in the place I was away from home having rung the night I went in etc. They were just too busy for a "non urgent" case like me - early miscarriage is, while really emotionally traumatic as you know, not a high medical risk to the mother. So I'd say get the info you need to get treatment if you start to feel pain or get other symptoms that really worry you, but don't expect anything too quick to happen - it might be that your holiday ends before they even see you if the service is anything like what the NHS provides, at least in my area.

Thanks again for all of this feedback. It really has helped me to calm down a bit. I do think that you're right---it is likely too early for a scan to be of much use, but I bought some pads as suggested, and I have the number of the hospital here in my purse just in case. I am feeling quite hopeful today because I still don't have any cramping, and, in fact, I haven't even had any spotting today. Here's hoping it was all just a fluke.

I am going to call the midwives tomorrow to see if I can move the date and time of the scan to about three seconds after I clear customs. Wish me luck!

And thanks again! It really is a wonderful thing to be able throw a concern out there and to get some really great support and info in return. Is that too sappy for mumsnet? I don't think I care---you all really helped. I wish you all the best!

Please don't worry about symptoms "disappearing". My sore boobs stopped about 7 or 8 weeks and now at 20 weeks I've had hardly any symptoms at all (apart from developing a sneezing allergy for the first time in my life!). I know it can be disconcerting, especially when they disappear suddenly, but it's generally unconnected. Hopefully it just means you will be one of the lucky ones who has a symptom free pregnancy!!

I hope that you mange to enjoy the rest of your holiday and get an earlier scan once you're home.

Good luck!

Oh I'm so glad you have had a better day, and no spotting

"Hopefully it just means you will be one of the lucky ones who has a symptom free pregnancy!!"

Well, BadgerFace, besides some sore boobs and a couple of days of light spotting, it looks like that may well be the case (though I suppose I probably just jinxed it....). I just got back from my early scan----STRONG HEARTBEAT!

He or she also has what appears to be a duck's bill, but the midwife seemed unconcerned.

Oh, I am just soooooo happy. What an amazing thing to see!

Thanks again for all of your support and words of wisdom. Here's to smooth sailing for all of us!

That's great news, so chuffed for you. Nothing quite like that first sight of a flickering heartbeat. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Congratulations!! How wonderful, so so pleased for you.
I was going to write that I have had lots of mcs and three successful pregnancies all with spotting. I know it isn't the same for everyone, but every time it was an mc I had cramps with the spotting, and the three successful pregnancies there were no cramps with the spotting, so I was quite hopeful for you. Just posting now in case anyone reading is in the same position.

Hurraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!! That's so exciting Ladysnork!