subchorionic hematoma help

[Alf1106]

Hi,

This is my first pregnancy. I had a bleed (bright red, small gush) on Wednesday along with cramps. It got lighter and by Thursday morning it was just brown spotting. Yesterday I went to the EPU at King Georges in Tooting and they scanned me.

Both the nurse and the doctor were really rude and made me feel stupid for being so upset. They told me that I was making their job harder.

They found that I was 5 weeks with a yoke and sack (not fetal pole) and that I had a subchornic hematoma. They said I will be fine. I asked what the chances of the pregnancy continuing and the doctor barked at me saying that "how on earth could she tell me that when she's seen over 30 women today!".

They didn't give me any advice, more information or anything. I left feeling really alone and lost.

The bleeding, touch wood, has stopped but I'm still crampy.

I'm really frightened and looking for some advice. Has anyone else had this?

thanks
xxxx

Oh my god OP I’m so sorry you have been treated like that

Could you book in with your GP/midwife and talk to them about the haemotoma? I would be tempted to put in a complaint about the way you were spoken to at the EPU and even go back and demand some advice/information about it.

I had a haemotoma very early on in this pregnancy and I still don’t know much about them (about 7 weeks I had an early scan and they spotted it) I was very worried but two weeks later it had been reabsorbed and had gone. I’m now 37 weeks pregnant and had no complications from it.

Sorry to hear you were so badly treated. I also had one and did unfortunately go on to miscarry ( not what you want to hear I know). However, my bleeding never let up and just got progressively worse and the pregnancy was "washed away" by it. Just remember nothing you do or don't do will make a difference.x

That’s an appalling way to be treated. I suggest you speak to PALS and complain.

Don’t hesitate to go back if the bleeding gets any worse.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

I got a heamatoma which caused a huge bleed at 14 weeks. Took ages to go but I am now 28 weeks and no signs of it. Baby measuring on the small side but still growing which is all that matters. I had to go on bed rest to get my bleeding to stop. Wasn't allowed to lift and as much as possoble had to be off my feet. Difficult with a 3 yo and a 9 mo. So I would say take it easy and hope for the best. There is hope as stredsful as it will be. If you have a private scan place nearby you could book in for reassurance in a couple of weeks time.

I also had one at 6 weeks. It was twice as big as the fetus at that stage. Was told I would lose the baby (who is now ten) Told to be on bed rest for a month. I did take it easy but was not in bed for a month, I couldn't be.

A month later it was worse and then gradually got reabsorbed and the baby grew bigger. I had on/off bright red bleeds for the first two months I think.

Try to take it easy and relax, I am sure you will be fine.

Yes, as Solita says, I booked in for a private scan later, to check all was on track (it wasn't at that point, so booked another and my DD was perfect by then) I think it was all over with the worry certainly by 3 months.

Yep, I had one, it was bigger than baby when first discovered and I had several gushes and prolonged bleeding until I was 22 weeks or so. She's now nearly 11........

I bled 10 times with my first, had a blood clot 3 times her size at 9 weeks, was told to expect a miscarriage (and they needed to test me for cancer) but she made it and is now 12 and cancer test was negative. Bled until week 12 no cramping but blood loss was so heavy had to chuck PJ bottoms out as totally red. She was small for dates early and a week in NICU but healthy after week 1. IVF baby. Bled a little with second but no clots. Good luck!

You poor thing

I had a big bleed at 10 weeks and had a SCH diagnosed on ultrasound, which was classified as 'moderate' because it was around 50% of the sac
More than 50% is large

I bled on and off until about 16 weeks but the baby was absolutely fine
They tend to scan a bit more frequently because it can restrict the placenta and cause growth issues but I didn't have any problems and my baby was born at normal weight and full term

There is some evidence that additional progesterone can help, in the form of Cyclogest pessaries three times a day

It might be worth going to see your GP and asking for a prescription or for a referral to the EPU if they won't prescribe

Sounds like you are in or near SW London so try and go to the Chelsea and Westminster EPU if you can. I found them really lovely

thanks everyone. I'm just so worried. The doctor told me, again rather sharply and I'm not over sensitive, not to come back for three weeks even if I did bleed as there was nothing she could do....

I had one. Was told to take it easy ...not quite bed rest but not far from it. No pushing or pulling - like a shopping trolley or lifting.

Basically, do as little as possible x

That sounds terrible, so sorry you had to go through it :(! I went in for spotting at 12 weeks and was also told by a huffy receptionist that "there's nothing they can do" so I should have just waited until my regular appointment later that week.

On a side note, during my last pregnancy I had persistent spotting around 6 weeks, like a very light period (not SCH). After an early scan showing a heartbeat my gynecologist prescribed progesterone pessaries saying that it can help maintain hormone levels. Sadly, that pregnancy ended with a miscarriage at 7+2 however I only started spotting at 10 weeks. I do believe that the progesterone contributed to the mc being delayed 3 weeks (during which I was absolutely miserable with sickness and exhaustion, and still thought I was pregnant). So I personally feel that not getting progesterone may not always be a bad thing. It prolonged an inevitable mc for me and made the whole experience much tougher than if everything happened earlier and I was less emotionally invested in the pregnancy.

@Pomfluff

Respectfully, what you 'personally believe' is totally, totally irrelevant

You didn't have a SCH so your thoughts on your medication doesn't come into it

When a SCH has been diagnosed, as it has been with OP, there is evidence to say that progesterone can help
It can help maintain the placenta when the SCH poses a risk of detaching, and it helps maintain the embryo when the improperly attached placenta may not be providing as much progesterone as it should

I'm sorry you had a MC but this isn't the place for dissuading proven medication because of your hunch

I scan in early pregnancy a lot and this is a common finding at 5 to 6weeks. Most places will arrange a rescan in 1-2 weeks to check for the development of a baby and the baby's heartbeat. It sounds as though they were very busy, but still... not a great way to communicate. If I were you, I would speak to my GP and express my concerns re pregnancy and mention your experience there. If it is not already done they can arrange a rescan for you. Most early pregnancy units should be following the NICE guidelines for Problems in Early Pregnancy. It is very useful for best practice. Fingers crossed all is fine. I wouldn't worry too much about the sub-chorionic bleed, we see them all the time and unless they are huge are not much of a worry. Even if you speak to the GP on the phone they can help. Good luck!💕