Bleeding in early pregnancy - does it often end well?

[Notamumyet81]

Hi All,

This is my first time on Mumsnet - I hope you are all well!

I'm looking for other mumsnetter's experiences of bleeding in early pregnancy.

As a bit of background, my first pregnancy ended at the end of October at 11.5 weeks in a fairly traumatic incomplete miscarriage (I ended up in a lot of pain, being rushed to a&e and having an emergency ERPC at 3am to stop the bleeding, followed by a couple of nights in hospital and a month off work).

Anyway, I recovered fairly quickly, had a normal period at the end of November, and by the beginning of December my iron levels were back up to normal so my husband and I started trying again.

I took a pregnancy test on the 29th December on day 30 of my cycle - my period was due around then, or a day or so later - and I got a strong positive. I say 'strong' because the + was much darker than the test I took last time I was pregnant, but it might be irrelevant.

Anyway, the very next day I started to get a bit of brown discharge. My heart sank as this is how my last miscarriage started. I really wished I hadn't taken the test so early as if I hadn't known I had conceived I would just have thought this was my period. The brown discharge turned pinky, and then even a little more red (just enough to create a 'line' in one pantyliner over the course of the day). I was fully expecting it to turn into a normal period, and for the pain to start as it did with my previous miscarriage. But instead the discharge became pink again and then stopped. I was spotting for about 24-36 hours in total between the 30th-31st.

I took a digital pregnancy test on the evening of the 31st. I know that it would still show pregnant at that stage even if I was losing the pregnancy, but I knew that it was 2 weeks since I ovulated so I wanted to see if it said 1-2 weeks pregnant, which would suggest the hcg levels weren't so high, or 2-3 weeks pregnant. It came out positive and 2-3 weeks pregnant.

I've not had any further spotting over the past 2 days and I do 'feel' pregnant - my boobs hurt and I have nausea like I had last time. I'm hoping it might just have been a bit of 'breakthough bleeding'. However I don't want to get my hopes up. I know all I can really do is wait patiently and go to the doctors when they re-open next week to get my bloods checked. It is very early days but I was really hoping not to have another miscarriage (as does everyone I'm sure).

But in the meantime I just wondered what other people's experiences have been of bleeding early in pregnancy... does it often end well?

Thanks so much in advance for your replies!

Another positive story - bled varying amounts almost daily from BFP to about 13 weeks, then it suddenly stopped and I've had none since. Currently 25 weeks and all looking perfectly healthy. I had a number of early scans and they could never give me a reason other than it was 'one of those things'. One did suggest it might be a low-lying placenta, which could be why the bleeding stopped as time passed and the placenta moved up, but who knows. Will keep my fingers crossed for a good outcome for you.

Thanks BananaToast - it is helpful to read the positive stories.

I've not had any further spotting or bleeding so far and I took another test this morning, 5 days after the last one I took, and it is now saying 'pregnant 3+ weeks', so moving in the right direction hopefully. Though I'm still going to call my GP at lunchtime to make an appointment.

I honestly don't think I'll actually be able to relax and stop worrying at all until I'm well into the 2nd trimester, if I make it that far. How do other people take their mind off worrying after a miscarriage? This is going to be a really long couple of months ...

That's really good news. I'm not sure how anyone gets through the first few months, especially with bleeding/other cause for concern. This is my first pregnancy so I had no previous experience of miscarriage but was still a complete wreck for the first trimester. Every day felt like a massive achievement and I felt several times like I was just waiting to miscarry, it was horrible. Even after my 12 week scan I was quite reluctant to tell anyone too soon, and I'm still trying to avoid any mention of the pregnancy on Facebook etc., it all just seems far too fragile to shout it from the rooftops.

Hi Not, how kind of you to remember thanks. Think it sounds very positive that you're registering 3+. Hope you get some reassurance from your GP.

Scan this morning showed a tiny, empty sac but Doctor felt it was too early to be conclusive about whether it was a miscarriage, pregnancy or ectopic (which I hadn't even registered as a possibility). Had bloods taken and they will be repeated on Wednesday and I will be scanned again next week. It was very emotional and I really dont have much hope for a happy outcome. Dr was lovely but wish it was a bit more definitive. Ds2 has to start medical treatment this week which is toxic during pregnancy so I have to stay away from him for something which is probably not even viable...

Hi Not. Just wanted to add my experience.

I had my bfp on a Friday and my period was due the Tuesday after. The Monday came and so did the bleeding. Started as pink/brown discharge and progressed to quite bright red blood pretty much all that week. I was like you and dreaded going to the toilet every time.

I pretty much bled for the first 12 weeks with constant period type dull cramps. Ranging from a small amount of pink discharge to bright red.

However I am currently taking 10 mins break while my perfect 7 month old snoozes next to me. By the sounds of your posts things are settling down for you which is good but if you get more bleeding just know it's not necessarily bad news.

Hope you can soon relax and enjoy your pregnancy and congratulations! x

Not- that sounds very positive.

Lageo - sorry your news was not more conclusive. I would imagine a sac means it cannot be ectopic though. Hope your little boy gets better soon and you don't have to stay away for too long.

Thanks again all.

Lageo - sorry to hear you are still having to wait to find out for sure what's actually going on. How annoying. However perhaps you'll have a better idea after you get the 2nd bloods taken on Wednesday - then you will either be able to be close to your DS, or know that you are staying away for a good reason.

bananatoast - I know what you mean about pregnancy feeling so fragile ... In my last pregnancy I also felt like aI was just waiting to miscarry, which was weird as I didn't actually have any reason to think that as, except for the tiniest spot of brown discharge at 6 weeks, everything seemed fine until 11 weeks when the miscarriage did start. I'm not sure why I had that feeling... maybe it was intuition that something wasn't right, or maybe I'm just a worrier! Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed for this time and for everyone else making their way through this anxious time.

It's been really helpful to read about other people's experiences.

Lageo - sorry that you don't have conclusive answers yet.

I've been bleeding lightly today and am booked in for a scan at EPU on weds. That feels like ages away :(

Straightforward first pregnancy at age 35.Bled heavily 8 weeks into
the second and lost the baby at home 3 days later.Blighted ovum -no bleeding,nowarning ,detected at 10 week scan, as I was considering CVS testing , third time round .Bled slightly (brown not red) at 6 weeks with 4th .Was so upset , as we had agreed this wad our last attempt at a much wanted second child .Had immediate and very reassuring scan as they detected a heartbeat .They monitored the growth with regular scans until I was 32 weeks .My DD 2 was born 9lbs8oz (after a nerve wracking amnio test .I was nearly 40 by then) She is now 25 .And perfect .
I feel for you especially as you haven't other children .I think as others have said ,each 'case' is different but interestingly they did tell me to rest as much as possible the last time . I don't know if it made any difference .

I had heavy bleeding and pain at 8 to 9 weeks with my last pregnancy. Dd was delivered healthy and well at term.Do sorry for your loss, hoping you have a healthy pregnancy this time. Good luck.

Hi Gillian, I'm sorry to hear you've been bleeding too. These other ladies positive stories are heartening though. How far along are you? I hope tomorrow is a quick day and it's Wednesday before you know it. I've got an appointment with my GP on Friday now. I'm still a bit early for a scan as only 5 + 2, but when I left hospital in October they said they would start scanning me from 6 weeks next time, so hoping I can get a scan next week and see how things are going in there.

Post and Insanity, thanks for your well wishes and your experiences. It seems like a sensible idea to rest as much as possible, as you were told Post ... I must admit I'd love to be told that by my GP and have an excuse to do it. I do have a very stressful job, a long commute, a small business outside of work, plus a house renovation going on ... the job is the main issue stress-wise. I did say to my husband before we started TTC that I wasn't sure carrying a pregnancy would be possible under this pressure. But then most of the things I've read seem to say stress hasn't been proven as a cause of miscarriage & people do carry pregnancies to term in the most terrible circumstances. I'm not sure I'm convinced stress doesn't play a role though - perhaps different people's bodies react differently to stress hormonally/chemically or whatever. But perhaps that is a question for another post though!

Thanks again all and good luck to everyone worrying in pregnancy right now

I lost every pregnancy that bled. Kept every one that did not.

Thanks for the support not.

I'm somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks (not had dating scan yet and irregular cycle!).

It's not too heavy and there's no pain, but it's still a bit alarming and makes me anxious. Luckily my manager is lovely and he won't mind me taking any necessary time off.

I hope you get a scan swiftly once you've reached 6 weeks x

Was that comment aimed at me, I hope not as the op asked for people experiences, and these are mine. I can't make it up.

No, sorry, it was aimed at the poster whose name starts with not

Your post appeared inbetween and I couldn't edit mine.

Sorry!

Sorry haven't RTFT but everyone is so different.

My light bleeding early ended up well - healthy DS

Friends heavy bleeding throughout also ended well

I don't think the bleeding really tells much unless you know your own body eg been through it before

Good luck

Ok..lol.

What comment Reekypear? Sorry to hear you lost every pregnancy that bled.

Oh - I just realised, do you mean Gillian's comment? I think she is saying not as in the start of my username, not in a sarcastic 90s way!

Yes I lost three that bled. My two others had no bleeding. But it does not always follow that way. I just lived in dread, checking all the time. As I lost my first I never had a stress free pregnancy.

Hope all works out for ladies on here.

Four pregnancies, all with some degree of bleeding.
First: haemorrhagic cyst, DD now 3.
Second: heavy with clots, 8w miscarriage.
Third: light spotting, scanned - twins, all looked fine. Miscarried at 7w the following week with pain and light bleeding - ERPC.
Fourth: heavy bleed at 5w, on and off bleeding/brown discharge for 6w. Currently 16w and feeling regular wriggles.

Hope you can get a reassuring scan - I waited untli 8w as the risk of subsequent miscarriage once you've seen a HB at 8w is much lower, after what happened with the twins I wasn't going to be readily reassured by an early scan.

Hi All. just wanted to give a little positive feed back from bleeding
I was spotting for over a week straight which obviously made me feel nervous and worried
i was sent to Early Pregnancy Unit and they done a early scan ( i'm only 7 weeks) happy to say we saw a heart beat and everything seems okay
i know its hard to stay calm but just visit your GP if your having doubts

HI Guys,
This is my first time posting on mumsnet. We are currently TTC, this is my first time experiencing one day light bleeding that starts on 1/14/21 evening and ended the next day friday. It was not flowing like a regular perion. Before Thursday i have pink mucus looking discharge throughout the day starting from Monday till it has lead to one day bleeding. After friday I have not seen any more spotting I took a HPT came out Negative on Monday 1/18/2021. I am not sure if it is too early or I was taking it during 7pm I could have waited for the morning to get tested.I never spotted with my 2 other babies.
Hope you beautiful soul can share with me if you ever got pregnant after seeing this or getting this spotting to one day bleeding.

Hi guys, after some advice here.

Currently 4 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby. First baby born in 2014, so been a long 7 years since I was last pregnant.

On Thursday, I started with what I thought was my implantation bleeding, nothing on a pad just when wiping started off brown and then sometimes red/pink. Had this for a good few days, yesterday (Monday) I started bleeding like it was my period, with abit of uncomfort on one side of my abdomen. It’s not leaking into a pad as of yet but everytime I wipe its there bright red/period type.
I have an emergency scan tomorrow but I’ve got my head around that they’ll be nothing to see and obviously thinking the worse.

Has anyone else experienced this and gone on to have a baby at the end of the pregnancy.

Ty

@Chel194 hey! Didn't want to not pop on and tell you what I'm currently going through
The bleeding could well be nothing so don't give up hope just yet

I'm pretty sure I miscarried my baby today, after scans only showing a sac when I should be 9 weeks and bleeding every day for the past week yesterday it got heavier and I started having clots, today I had Intense cramping pain and then alot of blood and whilst on the toilet I think I lost the sac, visiting epu tomorrow to make sure everything has gone
I just want it to be gone now so I can start thinking about trying again

Sending good wishes and hope everything works out for you!