10 weeks and bleeding

[fatfingers]

I am pregnant after a 2nd trimester mc 2 years ago and an extremely prem birth prior to that so I am a nervous wreck. I have been bleeding for 5 days now, was scanned at EPU on Wed and they believe its implantation bleed. They could see the bleed and were not too concerned. Everytime I walk anywhere or hang the washing out or anything else that involves moving, the bleed seems to start again. Has anyone else had this?

I blead on all 3 of my pregnancies and dc1 and dc2 turned out fine,still pregnant with the 3rd.
you sound like uve been through a lot, im afraid I cant relate to that but I can reassure you that bleeding in pregnancy doesn't always mean somethings wrong.and when I say I was bleeding, I mean fairly badly through 1st trimesters and with my first I had a bleed at 5months and was terrified!!
I hope everything turns out well for you.
I also used to bleed heavily after I had busy days, did a lot of lifting etc.

Oh thank you Sarah, that makes me feel a bit better. I have had problems before but not in the first trimester so this is new to me! It was reassuring that EPU could see the bleed and were not concerned about location, etc.

Did you just carry on as normal or try and rest? I don't know what to do for the best really, have rested this week but have to do basic things like washing, supermarket, etc. I also work full time and have to walk half a mile from car park to work and then back again which I'm sure will set it off!

I'm 13 weeks and had bleeding/spotting from 6 to 10 weeks from a subchorionic bleed. It is really worrying to see bleeding and with your history must be especially frightening. If it helps I'm told subchorionic bleeds (if that's what you have? Sounds like it, they happen when the placenta us implanting I believe) are quite common, and most times they heal up uneventfully with time. If the EPU aren't too concerned by the bleed location, that sounds reassuring. Also, your baby was there and growing appropriately, which means it isn't being affected.

I was told to carry on with normal life or rest, as I preferred - the message was that physically activity won't make any difference but that it is important emotionally that you don't do anything that you'll beat yourself up over if anything does go wrong. I was advised "pelvic rest" though.

As I understand it the bleed is like a small blood blister and the blood either has to reabsorb or come out. My bleed area is near the cervix and I was told the blood was more likely to find its way out because of the location. As of now, I haven't bled for 3 weeks though the "blood blister" was still visible at my 12 week scan, but seems to be shrinking and reabsorbing now. Fingers crossed yours will do likewise.

When is your next scan? Hopefully they will scan you again in a week or two for reassurance, given your history?

My first I rested more OP, but with dc2 I couldn't as I already had dc1 and this time around I had no chance of resting as still had two children to look after and work three days a week. I blead for a week non stop before they scanned me too!!

Thanks both, I feel a bit calmer this morning and its reassuring to hear your experiences.

Ceara - that sounds right. They said I shouldn't do anything that puts strain on my stomach or pelvic floor muscles like lifting just to allow the area to heal. They also said the same about some of the blood being absorbed by my body but because the bleed is quite low, some of it will come out. I have another scan in just over a week when I will see my consultant so I'm counting down to that really - he's going to prescribe progesterone this time to try and keep the pregnancy going.

Sarahleanne - I am in the same boat as I have 2 dcs already and I work full time with a 1 hour commute each way so its just not possible to rest completely. I have taken this week off work and the house is going to wrack and ruin while I laze about but I can't keep that up much longer!

OP, sounds like we're in much the same boat. For what it's worth I also took a few days off work but then life (work, commute etc) had to continue though as you say, I've avoided lifting and exercising since the bleed was diagnosed, and have also generally tried to keep off my feet whenever possible. And no sex. This activity level doesn't seem (touch wood) to be interfering with healing. The advice in the US tends sometimes I understand to be more conservative (complete bed rest) but my doctor and midwife were both clear that that approach isn't evidence based and that carrying on with daily life won't affect the outcome and can actually help indirectly through maintaining sanity and general health - which kind of made sense to me. I must admit I ditched the guilt about housework, though, and for 6 weeks have done little beyond the bare minimum to mostly keep us just the right side of insanitary squalor! But this is my first pregnancy. I guess it is harder when you have the needs of an existing child to consider as well.

Progesterone support sounds good. I wasn't prescribed it for the bleed specifically as mine is an IVF pregnancy so I was taking progesterone supplementation already. It is really great you are being looked after and will see your consultant and be scanned again in a week. Fingers crossed. I'm told 90% of the time these bleeds sort themselves out and don't threaten the placenta or the pregnancy, especially if they are in a less concerning location relative to the placenta which it sounds as though yours is. But it's so very unfair you are having to go through this complication, especially with your history. Hang on in there. And stay away from Dr Google!