Sent to A and E

[Katiewaite1]

I am 6 weeks pregnant and have had 2 episodes of spot bleeding. I rang the maternity ward who have sent me to A and E. not what I was expecting and I am very worried now. Will A and E be able to do the right checks etc?

Oh Katie, poor you....I suspect A and E might refer you to the Early Pregnancy Unit at your hospital if you have got one and if it opens in time this morning...if not A an E will be able to do the checks they need to.

I think they probably want to rule out an ectopic just to keep you safe, but spotting in early pregnancy can be perfectly OK.

Do you have someone with you?

You would normally be sent to an early pregnancy clinic, but maternity should know the procedure at your local hospital. A&E will probably have a look to see if your cervix is closed, but may not be able to arrange a scan (unless they have facilities for this locally because there isn't a dedicated EPU) Unfortunately you are at a very early stage where a scan may not be conclusive because 6 weeks is the earliest you'd expect to see a heartbeat, so absence of one will not prove anything either way at the moment. So you are prepared, a 6 week scan will be transvaginal (fanny-cam) not through your abdomen.
Lots of women spot or bleed in early pregnancy and are fine, so FX that's the case for you.

Thanks both, I don't understand why they have said A and E and not the pregancy section. I am worried them poking about will cause problems, but I guess they know what they are doing. Feel less confident they will at A and E though as they won't be specialist. It is a tiny bit of bood, hardly noticeable but better to be checked over I guess.

In my first pregnancy, I was told to go to A&E. They managed the triage (the nurse asking you why you were there) and then referred me to the EPU. I got the impression they used A&E to manage incoming patients and refer them to the right part of the hospital.

So it might be similar at your hosp or they might genuinely want you to be seen in A&E, either way it's the right thing to do to go.

Good luck, I really hope it's nothing to worry about

I went to a&e with spotting in early pregnancy, saw a very tired doctor who said there was nothing they could do in a&e and spotting just happens sometimes.

I had spotting on and off from 5 to 10 weeks but it turned out it was nothing to worry about, dd is now 5 months old!

Good luck.

Their examinations will not cause problems, don't worry.

If you are spotting then you must go in to hospital - most likely all is OK but there is a small (10% for all women) risk of miscarriage and a smaller (1%) risk of ectopic they need to rule out.

A&E can do blood and urine checks to check your HCG (pregnancy hormone) is up and rising and palpate (poke you) to check no ectopic pain. As it's a week day, they will then send you to the EPU (early pregnancy unit) who will scan you (vaginally- they have a wand they place part way into your vagina giving to check all is OK.

The risks are small (1% small!!! So don't worry!) but we are lucky they will always check here in the UK, as ectopics can be deadly if ignored. Hence A&E... but 99% its all OK!

PS. I am high risk and had 2x spotting this pregnancy and am currently 16 weeks, went to A&E each time, got the all clear.

How are you, Katie?

Just back from an early scan and all looked ok, a little heart beat was there :-) they didn't seem to concerned with the bleeding once they had seen that. Been an very stressful day though mix in weird hormones levels and I am a bit of a wreak!

Congratulations! Really pleased to hear that things are fine, and a heartbeat at 6 weeks is a great sign. Fingers crossed you have nothing else to worry about for the next 8 months!

So pleased the scan went well today and you got to see a little heartbeat

Glad to hear! :)

Thanks all, your messages really helped this morning :-)