13 weeks pregnant, heavy bleeding

[Gemziewooo]

This is my 4th pregnancy, sadly I lost my first at 18 weeks, but went on to have two healthy pregnancies. I am now 13 weeks pregnant, had my dating scan on monday and everything was normal, baby doing great. However last night I was at college and when I went to the toilet I experienced a gush of blood and couple of clots, I'm not sure how big they were. The blood was really fresh and red, I drove straight to hospital where they checked my bloods, blood pressure etc and everything came back ok, they booked me into a scan for this morning. The bleeding was awful, very heavy, with back ache, couple of niggly pains in the abdomen, everytime I moved I bled, I was covered. I really thought I had lost this baby, turned up at my scan this morning, explained I was bleeding, had aches and pains, (not bleeding at much as last night but was still bleeding) they scanned me and amazenly my baby is still alive and kicking, I couldn't believe it! They can't explain about the bleeding, or what caused it, but with baby doing good, and bleeding settling down its a good sign. I am still really scared about the future weeks of being pregnant, has anyone had similar experiences, and everything/one has turned fine? I'm so worried xx

I had the same thing at 12 weeks ... Both twins still going strong at 16 week scan and had no more bleeding so far (I'm 17 weeks). I was the same in that there wasn't any explanation for the bleeding. Fingers crossed for you.

Or thanks for your reply, did u have the aches and pains too? I'm not having twins, there's only one in there, the bleeding is settling down now, but I'm just taking one day as it comes x

Hi Gemzie,

I had a big bleed at 14 weeks completely out of the blue. I was at work, went for a wee, wiped, looked down and there was red blood everywhere!!! Tissue paper was soaked through, toilet bowl was full of blood etc, I have never been so shocked or scared. I went straight to the hospital and was examined by a Doctor who said my cervix was closed which was a positive and there was nothing obvious to look at. I had a strange kind of scan (it was just a small image on a hand held device) and was so relieved to see baby was in there kicking and wriggling. They couldn't give me an explanation for the scan but offered suggestions of possible blood cysts that some women can get (that burst with movement) or issues with where my placenta was lying. I was allowed home but continued to lose brown blood for about 4 days at a very slow pace. Midwives were not concerned as it was old blood and not fresh bleeding. I was signed off work for 6 weeks until I had my 20 week scan as I was in an active job and they didn't want to risk me having any more bleeds until my anomaly scan could give the all clear.

My 20 week scan was fine and no cause could be found for the bleed: there were no cysts to be seen and my placenta position was fine. I haven't had any bleeding since and I'm now 31 weeks. I was on edge for a very long time though, until I had my 20 week scan I was always expecting it to happen again and used to dread going to the toilet in case I saw blood. I sympathise with the anxiety you're feeling.

Just take it easy - is there any chance you can get some time off work to rest?

Hi yeah I'm off work, I'm so pleased your ok, did you have pains too? Thanks for your reply, do you know what your having? Xx

I didn't have any pains when I had the actual bleed - hence why it took me so much by surprise! However, the days after when I was losing the old, brown blood I was having a few aches and niggles. I just took paracetamol when I needed it but it wasn't too problematic. I'm having a little boy!!! Can't wait!!

I didn't have pains either. Was the same as writer wannabe - just got a massive shock when went to the loo

I actually had two bleeds, one at about eight weeks and one at about 12 weeks. I know exactly how you feel, it is the scariest thing ever.

My first one, I was literally walking to the clinic for a private reassurance scan since our dating scan wasn't until 14 weeks (due to travel). I felt a huge gush and my jeans were a mess. We went and got a taxi and sitting in the waiting room was the worst experience, since I had to have a full bladder so couldn't even go to the loo to check myself. Thankfully, there was a heartbeat.

The technician doing the scan said she could see a 'pouch' of blood on the monitor and that she reckoned my implantation had caused a sort of blood blister that had just now decided to burst. Which made sense. There was no pain.

My next bleed was even worse, more of it, more red and came with an immediate feeling of nausea. For that one I was in an airport in Colorado on my own, trying to sort out my cancelled flight. I was at a very high altitude and dehydrated (which I think could have been a factor). I went to the loo and cried, but I didn't go to the hospital because it was the same as before, gushed but no pain. I told myself if it kept on, I had pain or I had clots, I would go to A&E. But I wasn't keen to have to deal with the horrific American medical system.

Also, I should say, I had days of light brown streaks between weeks seven and 16 or so, but I never took this as a problem, it seems common.

At our 14 week scan, everything was perfect.

So, it happens. I've read about women that bled nearly every month and had a healthy baby. I think the red flags are any sort of pain, and heavy clotting. Also, prolonged bleeding. But of course, if in doubt, go to hospital.

Good luck, I know how completely terrible and demoralising it can be when it happens, I hope it doesn't happen again. I'm nearly 21 weeks now and no more bleeding. Hopefully it's smooth sailing from now on for you!

I had absolutely loads of bleeding at about 11.5 weeks. Massive gush all over the floor and then two days of really heavy bleeding (heavier than a period) followed bt two weeks of brown blood.

They found the cause to be a fairly massive haematoma.

DS2 was born at 39+5 healthy and totally unaware of all the stress!

I also had two bleeds with this pregnancy, one at six weeks which was caused by a clot which thinned out by 12 weeks and a random gush of blood at 11 weeks. No pain, got up to get ready for work and bright red blood when I wiped and the bowl full of blood. Baby was fine and they thought it could be a small bleed on my placenta or a bleed on my cervix. Having had 12 week mcs before it scared the hell out of me and I only think I'll relax once I hit 20 weeks (I hope, but I expect I won't relax till have a healthy baby in my arms!). I've always associated bleeding with mc but I'm trying to take it a day and have had a couple of scans to reassure me.

I bled from 6 weeks to 17 weeks. It was a constant brown trickle, but I had a couple of bleeds that were huge and gushy....one particular bleed had the hospital wanting an ambulance for me.

All was well - somehow my tiny DD held on. They said it was likely sunchorionic haematoma that were bleeding and warned me that it would likely keep happening. I was signed off work, only allowed back once the bleeding had slowed (17 weeks) and then finally stopped at 20 weeks.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone for your replies, I didn't realise how common this could actually be! Xx

I had big bleed at 13 weeks followed by on off bleeding until 20 weeks when it stopped. All very stressful but I relaxed after 28weeks. DS was delivered at 36 weeks (I had pregnancy induced hypertension so was high risk) and is now 9yrs old and worth every minute of the stress he put me through.

Thanks for your reply, I didn't realise how common it is for a pregnant lady to bleed! Am just takin each day as it comes and keeping my fingers crossed for a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby at the end xx