Hi all,
Just wanted to write in praise of my local NHS EPU.
This is my first pregnancy (aged 37) and am only 4/5 weeks gone. Started having brown discharge (sorry for tmi) on Mon which by Wed had become thick dark brown and was having period type pains.
I called the EPU but they were closed so got an emergency appt with my GP surgery. The duty dr didnt examine me or offer any tests just advised I wait and see what happened over next few days and to take a home preg test to see if I was still pregnant. He asked if I still felt pregnant which upset me a bit as how do you tell in the early stages. He said if it became a heavy red bleed then to assume it was a miscariage and if not then it could be an implantation bleed. I didnt sleep that night for the worry as it could go either way.
I did a preg test on Thurs and got positive and the pains were still there and bleeding was heavier and dark brown. So I called the EPU and they said to come straight in. I did and the nurse couldnt have been more helpful. She took blood tests as thought I was too early for a scan. Called up for results a few hrs later and levels were high so was asked to come in for a scan the next day (this morning). The EPU doctor was lovely and explained everything about the scan. He was 95% sure he could see the gestational sac in the womb (showed me it on the screen) and is going to scan me again on tues to confirm 100% as it will be larger and easier to confirm then. He said that some women experience bleeding at 4/5 weeks but I did the right thing in being checked out in case of a poss ectopic pregnancy.
So going to the EPU has put my mind at rest and I will now be able to sleep, thank goodness.
Had I of followed the GP advice and just waited I would have been left wondering if I was still pregnant or not till the 12 week scan in mid March!!