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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

brown bleeding (again)

25 replies

noseymcposey · 14/11/2013 08:33

I had pink/brown bleeding a week ago at 9 weeks - so went to see the GP who said it was really common at 8-9 weeks so not to worry and that was that. It turned brown but carried on being there when I wiped for the next 3 days. All been fine this week but just wiped and it's back, more brown bleeding.

Should I go back to the GP? I didn't have any bleeding in my pg with DS so this is not usual for me though I know every pg is different.

I don't really want to go back to the GP to be fobbed off again?

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lizziekal · 14/11/2013 08:42

Bleeding/spotting is very common but it is also very scary (and unfortunately, in some cases be an indication that all is not quite as it should be). Do you have a local EPU where you could go and get checked out to put your mind at rest?
I had spotting a few times during the first trimester and my local hospital was always happy to scan me to make sure all was well. xx

Original poster

noseymcposey · 14/11/2013 09:16

I need a GP's referral for EPU, so phoned the surgery and going to see GP at 11.30. Can I just ask him to refer me? I suspect he will just say 'it's normal' like he did last week. He also said, even if it was a miscarriage then there would be nothing they can do and I really don't want to get fobbed off again.

The first time I did find it quite reassuring - is it reasonable to ask him to refer me or am I over-reacting?

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Chocolatemolehill · 14/11/2013 09:27

Is there not an EPU unit with a walk-in clinic in your area? I've had spotting (pink and brown) but also bleeding (bright red) in this pregnancy form about 6+4 to 8+4 weeks (I'm 9 weeks today)
I went to EPU a couple of times and they told me the baby was fine (there was a heartbeat!) But they also discovered a subchorionic hematoma (a pool of blood/blood clot). In most cases they are harmless (they happen in about 20% of pregnancies) and go away spontaneously. However, if they are very big and located very close to the baby/placenta they can be a bit tricky. Again, even in these circumstances the vast majority of pregnancies are fine but sometimes you may be advised a bed rest.
In the UK doctors most of the time ignore them and tell you to carry on as normal, maybe just take it a bit easy, but in other countries (including where I come from) they are more likely to advise hospital or bed rest.

Original poster

noseymcposey · 14/11/2013 10:07

No, there's no walk-in option, when I spoke to EPU they said it can only be done on GP's referral. Surely if I ask GP outright they wouldn't say no?

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Writerwannabe83 · 14/11/2013 10:11

That's a shame about the EPU, when I experienced brown bleeding at 7 and 10 weeks I just rang the EPU for advice and they arranged for me to have a scan themselves. I also had a bleed at 14 week (fresh blood) and again, I called them and they told me to go straight down.

Brown bleeding is common but it doesn't stop it being scary I was told to stay off work whilst the bleeding was occurring and not go back until 48 hours after it had stopped.

lizziekal · 14/11/2013 10:16

I don't think you're overreacting in the slightest: the anxiety which not knowing can cause won't do you or the bean any good whatsoever. I think it woud be unspeakably cruel of your GP to refuse to refer you - this is exactly what the EPU is for.
Obviously if it is bad news then there is nothing that can be done, but there are also risks involved in letting a failed pregnancy continue. I had an infection caused by a MMC.
I hope you have no problems with your GP and get good news at the EPU xx

Original poster

noseymcposey · 14/11/2013 12:11

So I've seen the GP and he agreed to refer me but EPU are all on a training course today so I have to phone them directly in the morning if it continues. Even though when I spoke to them this morning they said I had to go via my GP! On another note the GP (haven't seen this one before) was so incredibly rude to the EPU people he spoke to it was so cringey he wasn't rude to me or even on my behalf he was just very very obnoxious and it was cringey!

Not sure what to do as I know work want me to go in tomorrow as they are short staffed and it will be really inconvenient if I don't. I've been off all week anyway as I've got some coughing virus that's making me feel like shit. If I phone in the morning, they probably wouldn't fit me in same day anyway would they? Don't know whether to go to work or not...

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Original poster

noseymcposey · 15/11/2013 08:57

Just spoke to EPU and explained situation and the nurse said 'so what do you want us to do' Scan me??

We then had a very circular conversation to say that I needed a GP's referral and I explained I'd already seen my GP yesterday but there wasn't anyone there for him to refer me to so the Registrar said I had to phone back directly this morning. Nurse was having none of it, but has finally agreed to phone my GP to confirm that he has indeed already tried to refer me... Apparently their first available scan is Thursday anyway

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lizziekal · 15/11/2013 09:08

Oh no. I can't believe they're making things so difficult for you. How is the spotting today? It's not ideal (and in my opinion really shouldn't be necessay) but is there somewhere local to you which offers cheap-ish reassurance scans? It might be worth the money if the NHS aren't going to help you before Thursday and depends on how well you are able to cope with the uncertainty. xx

Chocolatemolehill · 15/11/2013 11:01

Would you be able to have a private scan? It's not the cheapest thing but may be worth it as would put your mind at ease. Where are you based? I know a couple of good places in London (including a low-cost option)

PickleSarnie · 15/11/2013 13:03

The thing is, and I know how utterly frustrating it is because I've been in your position, at an over-stretched EPU they are unwilling to give scans for early bleeding mainly because if the worst was happening, there is nothing they can do at that stage. And also because bleeding is so common that there is probably nothing to worry about. (which obviously isn't going to stop you worrying about it anyway!)

They will generally scan if they thought you were experiencing ectopic syptoms or if the bleeding was so heavy that it would cause a risk to your health.

Some EPUs (St Georges in Tooting is one for example) will allow you to self refer and just turn up and wait.

When is your scheduled scan? Can you afford a private one before then?

beata13 · 15/11/2013 16:40

Hi,I'm new here. Had a heavy bleeding with blood clots .So so scared. Been to epu, had scan yesterday and now it's just waiting. By the scan I'm just 6weeks today so its to small to see a heartbeat. But it's there. However bleeding with passing blood clots doesn't mean anything good. They told me to prepare for the worst. Anyone had something like this?

lizziekal · 15/11/2013 17:04

Beata, did they say what they could see on the scan? Gestational sac, yolk sac, fetal pole? Were they able to see where the bleeding was coming from? My SIL had an early subchorionic haematoma with bleeding at 6 weeks and my nephew has just turned 2-don't give up hope just yet x

beata13 · 15/11/2013 17:11

GEstational sac , and the rest is there. Fetal pole of 4mm. No explanation for bleeding or passing blood clots.

beata13 · 15/11/2013 17:13

They said that fetus is to small to see heart beat. Sometimes its visible that early,but not always.

lizziekal · 15/11/2013 17:13

In which case beata13, hold tight and try to rest up as much as possible over the next couple of days. Have they given you a follow up appointment?

beata13 · 15/11/2013 17:18

I'm thinking about the worst. The pregnancy is counted from first day of last period so they said its 8+4, but by the scan and fetus size pregnancy us 6 weeks today. So smaller than it should be. Maybe it died a week or two ago?

beata13 · 15/11/2013 17:22

Another scan in 2 weeks time. That's really long, I'm already heartbroken. 2 weeks of waiting and I will end up in mental hospital.

beata13 · 15/11/2013 17:28

Do u know anyone with this symptoms and it finished good? Firstly I had dark brown spots on wednesday evening, seen a doctor-no scan, and I was asked to come back to epu next day morning-yesterday. I had heavy bleeding with blood clots before went for scan and my "bean" was there. Since the scan I didn't have blood clots or this heavy bleeding. It rather looks like a period, just the colour is pinkish to red, not red and heavy like yesterday morning.

deeda811 · 15/11/2013 18:47

Hi, I had some brownish spotting on monday (I'm 7 weeks) and all of my nausea disappeared for about 12 hours which was really scary even though the EPU didn't seem at all concerned. It's all stopped now, and all my nausea etc is back which is a relief.
Beata - I know what I had is nothing like what you've had, but I did a load of reading and googling stuff in those 12 hours and from what I saw, all sorts of weird stuff happens during pregnancy and people still end up with a healthy baby. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

beata13 · 15/11/2013 19:34

I think all my pain has stopped about hour or so ago.. I'm still bleeding. All symptoms are like in a miscarriage- from what I read. Up until Wednesday I was feeling very good. My only symptoms were swallowed books and heartburn. All stopped since Wednesday. I'm trying to stay positive but it's not really working.
Thanks for good words.

cantheyseeme · 15/11/2013 20:19

I had this for nearlly 2 weeks, my gp reffered me to EPU straight away and they were great, im now 37 weeks gone so it really can vary x

beata13 · 15/11/2013 20:39

Canttheyseeme did u had same problems as me? I've just realized why the pain stopped. I went to bathroom and saw bloodcloth. Different this time. Maybe that was my bean. I will need to wait 2 weeks to find out.

cantheyseeme · 15/11/2013 20:50

I had bleeding and ache for ages, i didnt clot though, i really hope everything turns out ok for you.

beata13 · 15/11/2013 21:24

Thanks.
I think I was my bean, I will be very surprised if I will see it in 2 weeks at the scan.surprised and happy. My partner thinks it's gone and he already mentioned that he is scared to try again.
Wish u luck in delivery.

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