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

Original poster

Bleeding in pregnancy - 20 weeks

24 replies

rahrah1 · 09/10/2006 22:13

Hi all, just need a bit of advise, I am 20 weeks tomorrow and had a big bleed at 10 weeks. I bleed for 3 weeks after that and then it stoppped. Then I started bleeding a week and a half ago again and have had 2 fresh bleeds. Both times recently I have gone to the early pregnancy unit at the hospital. The last time I went the doctor said I was at risk of miscarriage, which could take up to a couple of weeks (That just sounds crazy!!). I know that the baby is still viable, as I can feel it move(I think - this is my 1st). I have constant cramps and and still bleeding... Has anyone else had this? I have got SPD and IBS aswell, so this does not help. Just wondering if anyone knows of anything I can do or how you can get a second opinion? It is really getting me down now, as we are so close to getting the baby to 22 weeks, where they said I can go to a different ward and they might be able to do something.... The whole thing seems crazy to me...

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hairymclary · 09/10/2006 22:18

hi rahrah, no advice I'm afraid, unless there is another hospital with an EPU you could visit for a second opinion.
to be brutally honest I don't think there is anything they can do if you are miscarrying but the fact that you can feel baby is a good sign IMO
also, the fact that you have had other bleeds and baby has been fine may mean that the bleeding is actually being caused by something else

HalloweenSucks · 09/10/2006 22:28

Did they give you any indication of what might be causing the bleeding? Or at least where it is coming from (ie the neck of your womb, inside your womb, the placenta etc)?

Have you asked the doctor about getting a second opinion? What is your gp like? Can you contact your midwife and push for some kind of investigation into what is happening or at least a second opinion.

Sorry, don't have a lot of advice as I am only 9wks with my first. However, I don't think the level of stress you must be feeling can help at all.

Wishing you lots of love an luck for a speedy outcome to this.

Original poster
rahrah1 · 09/10/2006 22:55

Hi Halloweensucks and hairymclary...

I have contacted the midwife and have an appointment with a registrar tomorrow at the hospital (Hence why I wanted advise or suggestions) They have already said this is the policy and they are unsure what he can say differently from the last doctor. It just sounds crazy as I dont know where the bleeding is coming from, and if there could be anything they could do. I have heard of stitches etc... but they have not even done any investigation. They seem to all say that before the 22 weeks, that the bleed can result in 2 outcomes... 1)Cross ur legs and baby continues 2) You miscarry... But it is not that simple and I cant beleive it is that black and white.

HalloweenSucks good luck with your preg's.. xx

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hairymclary · 09/10/2006 22:57

tbh i think it really is that black and white.

stitches can be used to stop a baby being born early, but if you are miscarrying and bleeding then a stitch would just keep it all in iyswim?

after 22/23 weeks a baby is viable (ie can live outside the womb) but if you did get to the point and the baby was born i think survival rates would still be pretty low.

HalloweenSucks · 09/10/2006 23:05

I had a bleed at 8 weeks and the first doctor I saw said 'it is probably a m/c, most likely a chromosomal defect, nothing we can do, take some paracetamol and wait and see' (no examination, no reassurance). I pushed to see somebody else and was sent to a gynaecology ward at my local hospital where they did a transvaginal ultrasound and a normal ultrasound, an internal and some other tests. They found why I was bleeding (cervical erosion) and said while it was no threat to the baby it could easily happen again. The most important thing was that I was taken seriously and they could tell me why I was bleediing and prepare me for it happening again. It did take me simultaneously getting very angry and very tearful with my GP for them to investigate at length, but having already had a m/c in July I wasn't prepared to be fobbed off with 'cross your legs and we'll see'. I now have open access to the ward at the hospital and can go back without an appointment if I have any concerns.

Again, I don't know what they have tried or if they can locate a cause but make sure you say how desperate you are to know what is happening. Although bleeding is common in pregnancy it is not normal and there must be a reason why it is happening. Often it can be harmless, but it's the not knowing that is terrible.

Hoping you have a happy and health pregnancy rahrah!

hairymclary · 09/10/2006 23:09

HS I had a similar experience. Bleeding at 6 weeks. told there was nothing they could do, eventually had a scan but they could find absolutely no reason for it.
THankfull it didn't happen again but I was petrified as, like you, I had had a miscarriage previously.

It is scary but I honestly think that if you've had a big bleed before which stopped then it's probably the same thing (whatever that may have been) and if baby survived first time then it will again

Original poster
rahrah1 · 09/10/2006 23:14

Thanks - I am defo going to push tomorrow more then. I am scared stiff at the moment to move and have my legs elevated... but I cant do that for another 1-2 months. (for one thing I will be a beached whale!) I agree there must be a reason and it could be harmless, if he does not help tomorrow then I will insist on seeing the consultant. Time to get TOUGH!! Thankf for the advise... xx

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HalloweenSucks · 09/10/2006 23:18

hairymclary of course you're probably right, but as a first time pg person who has already had a m/c all of that rational, logical thinking goes straight out of the window (and there was me determined to eschew first-time paranoia in favour of an all-accepting earth mother stance. Pah!).

I just know in my case it helped to know why I was bleeding, obviously if they don't know, they don't know but I wanted to know they had at least checked it out.

Right, going to be more like hairymclary, all grown up and sensible about it all (ooh I wish I could believe myself).

HalloweenSucks · 09/10/2006 23:19

rahrah, hope you get some answers. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

xx

hairymclary · 09/10/2006 23:20

oh yes I agree HS. If you can find a reason for it then that's excellent. I worried throughout my pregnancy in case it happened again.

You should definitely push for a scan asap.

muppetisacat · 10/10/2006 11:29

Poor you... if it helps you could read my thread 'heavy bleed at 13 weeks' which is still listed under pregnancy. Won't repeat what I said there but suffice to say I was 13 weeks - really heavy bleeding of bright red blood - told I was going to miscarry....

Well, here I am, nearly 19 weeks, baby hanging in there and growing normally. Never did find out where it was coming from - no sign of bleeding in uterus on scan, midwife said could be cervical erosion but not sure. I have been spotting brown ever since but it seems that is just going to be the way it is for me this time.

Also, remember that between around 17 and 20 weeks your baby (and uterus) go through big growth spurt, so it's not unusual to feel cramps low down - your womb is really beginning to stretch to accommodate your baby.

I hope this comforts you slightly to know there are other people bleeding through 2nd trimester. As my GP said to me - it isn't normal but it's NOT uncommon. I know I still feel a bit of a freak when other mother's find out I'm still bleeding but we're all different. I really think there's no such thing as a 'normal' pregnancy.

franca70 · 10/10/2006 11:41

rahrah, I haven't read the whole thread, but did they scan you? examine you? are you dilated? it might be placenta previa, which doesn't necessarily result into miscarriage. Be tough, you are entitled to a scan, at leasdt to know what is happening exactly. I really hope you get some answers. good luck

duchesse · 10/10/2006 15:35

Hi there, just to say that I had my third bleed of this pregnancy (and I'm still only 11wks 6 days), the last one being last Thursday- with clots, open cervix and everything. Was examined by two doctors and neither gave me any hope- they discussed miscarriage options with me. I went for a scan just to confirm what they all thought, and...the baby is fine. Healthy, growing and active. My sonographer could not pinpoint the cause or source of the bleeding, but she did note that there was a lot less blood surrounding the foetus htan there was following my bleed at 8wks 5 days.

Apparently it is perfectly possible to bleed like a butcher's shop and for the little thing to stay stuck in there. So am crossing fingers for you. The only way to find out if the foetus is well is to have a scan if possible. Good luck!

Daisypops · 10/10/2006 19:54

Any sign of rahrah1? Come and tell us how you are. x

Original poster
rahrah1 · 10/10/2006 23:28

Hi all, sorry for delay but was at the hospital hours. My appointment was at 2.30 and did not get out until 6.00, and then went to bed. I went to see the registrar, but had spasms in my stomach so they took me to the labour ward. They then referred me to the Gynie unit to be assessed. They found a heartbeat and I have a scan on Thursday. They think the spasms are coming from my uterus, not being helped by my IBS. They also found an infection. I refused an internal and swaps, but been referred for a consultant to do the investigations next Tuesday. So I am back at home with some anti b's and more painkillers, but defo feel like I've made progress. Thanks for your support all...

OP posts:
hairymclary · 11/10/2006 20:49

hi rahrah, glad to hear it's positive (re heartbeat)

why did you refuse the internal and swabs?

Original poster
rahrah1 · 12/10/2006 11:47

Hi all,

I refused the internal and swap at this point as the last 2 times they completed this I had 2 big bleeds, one after another and did not want to risk anything without talking to the consulatant. So they have booked me in with him on Tuesday. I was booked in for a scan today, so they can make sure that I dont have another bleed in the uterus and that the cervix is closed. Had that done this morning and they could not find anything, so the bleeding must be coming from somewhere else, so I am more happy with them doing an internal now.

On a positive note - the baby is 423gs and fighting fit... all looks very well with the baby and no problems founds... I am soooooooooooooooo Happy!!!!

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Original poster
rahrah1 · 12/10/2006 12:00

Duchesse - How are you doing? Hope all is well..... Has anyone spoken to her?

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franca70 · 12/10/2006 12:13

happy that hte scan went well, rahrah.

hairymclary · 12/10/2006 20:34

rahrah I am so glad for you. And really looking forward to reading a birth announcement in a few months time!

Original poster
rahrah1 · 12/10/2006 21:32

Thanks all... xx

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duchesse · 17/10/2006 19:04

Hi, just to say that I'm afraid my little one has not made it- my first trimester scan revealed that it had died last week, at 12 weeks 3 days. Probably something very wrong with it, judging by the amount of fluid around the skull and neck.

lulumama · 17/10/2006 19:08

duchesse ...so sorry

Gwu · 17/10/2006 19:16

I'm so sorry Duchesse.

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