2nd trimester bleeding/spotting...anxious and sad

[Rochyella84]

Hi ladies,

I am new to Mumsnet, but this is my 2nd pregnancy. I am currently just over 14 weeks along.

First trimester was mostly smooth aside from the obvious symptoms, then around 11-12 weeks I began to get the odd bit of spotting - either pink or brownish discharge. It would just be there on a few wipes, then go away.

All was fine at 12 week scan, then at 13 weeks I had some bright red bleeding. Again it was short lived but I went straight for a scan and thankfully baby was totally fine and they couldn't find a reason for it. Now I am having very very light brownish spotting every few days and I also have increased discharge in general so I constantly feel like I'm leaking blood and repeatedly check and largely there is nothing there.

This whole thing is really getting to me, I feel constantly on edge, constantly worried that something is going to go wrong, even though I know that the odd bit of brown spotting isn't meant to be worrying.

Can anyone relate? I need to calm myself down but its so hard to think about anything else.

I've had loads of bleeding and spotting in all my pregnancies (actually much more in the two healthy ones, not with my mc). If you've had it several times and each time all has been fine with baby and there is no sign the bleeding is coming from your uterus (they'd be able to see this on the scan), then it's very likely it's just cervical erosion, which is normal and quite common in pregnancy, especially if you've been on hormonal contraceptives in the past (these change the sorts of tissue on the outside of the cervix. Lots of things can irritate it and cause it to bleed - constipation, change in activities, sex obviously, sometimes it happens for absolutely no reason, just your change in hormones around the time the placenta takes over hormone production (end of 1st trimester, usually around 11-13 weeks). If all is otherwise well, I would really try to relax and put it out of your mind. It very likely is nothing.

In my 1st pregnancy, I had gushing red bleeding around 11 weeks (probably due to the hormone changes around then). Like it was literally running down my legs. All was fine. I had some spotting again at 16 weeks and then nothing after that. It was all from my cervix, nothing to do with baby and I had an otherwise easy pregnancy. This pregnancy (my 3rd) I literally bleed and spotted for 2 weeks straight, sometimes to the point of bleeding through clothes. Again, all fine. So heavy bleeding doesn't even necessarily mean anything and a bit of spotting really is probably nothing (very likely to be your cervix as tiny movements continue to irritate the blood vessels and they continue to bleed small amounts often, which is why you get small amounts of brown spotting). You also tend to get a lot more cervical discharge when you are having some cervical irritation, so that likely explains the extra wetness as well. Though things like BV or thrush could irritate it as well, so something to keep an eye on. Really it very likely is just that and it's totally harmless and has nothing to do with baby, so I would do your best to relax. I know it's not easy to do when it seems so unusual and you don't quite know what's happening.

I can totally relate. I had heavy bleeds at 9+3 and 11+3. Babies were fine both times and on the second time they spotted the cause as a subchorionic bleed.

Since then I've had no big bleeds but a few little ones and they really upset me. Even though rationally I know the babies can cope with a lot worse it's still really stressful.

The bleed has now shrunk a lot (from 8cm x 5cm to 4cm x 1cm) but I still get stressed at every slightly odd thing that comes out of my vagina.

Logic and emotion are not close buddies during pregnancy.

Mindutopia I felt like I was reading information about my pregnancy! I'm 16 weeks today and have three big, bright red, bleeds so far, as well as brown spotting continually for around 2 weeks along with feeling generally wet/a lot of discharge.

OP I totally understand your worry, but the more it has happened to me (and the healthy scans that follow), have helped me to understand that this is just normal for me, in this pregnancy. Do try not to worry - it's likely that everything is just fine and that the baby is totally unaware of all of this!

I had a bleed at 12 weeks the day after my 12 week scan! Waited 4 days for another which showed baby was ok. I turn hsd brown spotting/discharge for 5 weeks after, pretty much everyday.

I was concerned but luckily baby was ok and am currently 23+4!

It's such a worrying time. Fingers crossed for you I'm sure all with be ok. Anymore red bleeding with pain then get yourself back down to EPU.

Thanks so much ladies....it really helps to hear similar stories and positive outcomes, and to know I am not alone. I'm an anxious one anyway and had a very easy first pregnancy with nothing like this happening so I can't help but compare to that and worry. I've had a dull low back ache throughout both pregnancies which is obviously a standard symptom for me but it is very similar to period pain and coupled with the bleed and the spotting it just feels like I'm going to get my period any minute! So disconcerting!

@Rochyella84 Hey I know this is an old post but just wanted to check how things turned out for you? x