Strange spotting at 4+4

[jacquejacque]

I'm 4 weeks and 4 days pregnant and have started spotting today.

For a bit of background, I sadly had a chemical pregnancy in June, which came as two days of light brown spotting (and no pain) followed by really painful and heavy bleeding that lasted for well over a week (usual af is 3 days). The lines on the tests had faded away to almost nothing since the first BFP so it wasn't totally unexpected.

I got my BFP at 10dpo this time and tested every day until 12dpo, with the lines getting stronger each time. I'm now 15dpo and noticed a small amount of brown tinged cm when wiping this morning. Over the course of the day I haven't seen any when wiping, but it is still there around my cervix. Just now I checked for it and got a tiny dark red clot (about the size of a strawberry seed) on my finger.

I've had dull backache since day 1, and have had a horrible upset stomach all day (have had at least one episode of this every day so far too) which means I'm not even sure if I'm having any mild cramps or not.

What can I do? Is it another chemical? Would the doctors laugh me away with being so early and the bleeding not being heavy yet?

I've sent DH out for more tests but I don't even know if that's the right thing to do.

Anyone? I'm scared 😔

I had similar at 4+4. Brown bleeding, a bit of red on wiping, no clots but not sure I would have noticed something that small.

I called 111 and they told me to go to A&E as the EPU was closed. I had to have 2 blood tests 48 hours apart to confirm hcg levels had doubled.

I did speak to the EPU (though they didn’t want to see me in the end), and they specifically told me not to do more tests. The urine tests aren’t hugely accurate beyond ‘yes, you’re pregnant’ - I even got a negative one at hospital after my positives at home.

I’d try the EPU if you have one, but I’ve read lots of similar stories on here and it seems that not all of them are very helpful and they’re often not very sympathetic. They seem to all have different policies on who they’ll see and when, too.

Much sympathy, it’s horribly stressful. I’m 11 weeks today though. It can be fine!

Thank you so much @lambdroid. I'm sorry you had to go through that, it must have been so scary.

I'm laid in bed after having had a bit of a cry and I'm sure I can feel some mild twinges, but I'm not sure. Did you have any cramping?

Hi @jacquejacque. Last year I had a mc at 6 weeks. Mine started with brown spotting then progressed to red bleeding with extremely painful cramps. Far worse than the worst period pains, and more similar to contractions.

As soon as it started, I called my GP who got me straight in for a scan at the EPU. They couldn't see anything then took bloods 48 hours apart which confirmed I'd had a mc.

In saying that, there are lots of ladies who spot red blood during pregnancy and everything is fine.

Back aches and diarrhoea are normal in pregnancy too.

I really hope everything's ok. I know early pregnancy is a scary time. I would suggest that if you're not seeing any spotting or bleeding on wiping, things are probably ok. There's no harm in calling your GP if you're afraid, but when you're so early on, they would probably tell you to just wait it out. Even internal scans wouldn't show anything yet.

Best of luck.

@Glitterandunicorns I'm so sorry you went through that.

My CP was scary and painful and confusing but it came bang on the day AF was due and so wasn't entirely surprising, I can't imagine how you must have felt you poor thing.

Thank you so much for the reassurance, I've just nipped for a wee and still nothing on wiping. The cramps I thought were coming seem to have dissipated for now too.

Am wondering whether to wait it out until tomorrow and then call EPU. What do I do about work? Should I tell my boss?

I did have some weird cramps/aches for a couple of hours, but they eased off pretty quickly.

I’d try your EPU first, but ours is only open 10:30-3:30 or something and you have to leave a message and they call you back. Some you can’t self-refer to, so may have to be GP.

Hard to say about work. I’d probably go if not too much bleeding as no guarantee the EPU would see you quickly and may offer you an appointment in a day or so. I had my 14 month old to look after, and the distraction was actually good. Much better than sitting and moping.

I’m self-employed so can’t comment on the boss thing.

Thank you @jacquejacque. If there's still nothing on wiping, and the cramps seem to have dissipated, I'd probably see how you are tomorrow. Without wanting to be in any way harsh, even if it is the worst, they can't do anything for you other than take blood from you to confirm.

Fingers crossed for you