111 Doctor told me I’m miscarrying

[TR1234]

Hello,
I think I’m just looking for some positive stories but am just really angry at 111.

I’m about 9.5 weeks pregnant and have had some brown bleeding today. More than spotting but not full period.

I phoned 111 and got a phone call from a man who told me that 1/3 pregnancies end in miscarrying and I’m probably just miscarrying so to stay off work. He said they won’t do anything now but to be in connected when it gets worse.

Lovely right? I’d never phone 111 again. I know miscarriage was an option but I know it’s not 100% at this point 😔

That’s terrible! I’m so sorry 😔
Do you have contact with a midwife, a triage number you can call, for someone with better experience in this area?
As you say miscarriage is not 100% what this could be. Hoping for the best for you!

That's awful! I was in the same situation and when I phoned 111 they put me in touch with the early pregnancy unit and sent me for a scan the next day.

I think you should phone the EPU directly if you can, 111 should have directed you there really.

There is nothing 111 could do so really you shouldn't have phoned them. They are for urgent care and advice.

The doctor was probably quite factual as he or she is very busy. At this stage of pregnancy nothing can be done to help so unless you are in serious pain or crazily bleeding just go with it and take care f yourself physically and emotionally. I've had 2 so know what it's like.

That sounds very cold. But factually it’s correct. Unless you are in pain or haemorrhaging there isn’t much that can be done for an early pregnancy miscarriage. Your local EPU will probably be open on a Monday. A scan will offer reassurance or otherwise but from a clinical point of view that is not an emergency so again will be done on Monday. I wish you all the best and have my fingers crossed.

Yeah it does sound quite cold, but its true.

I hope the doctor was wrong.

If it's only brown spotting and not bright red bleeding and if you don't have any pain you may well find it settles down. I had some spotting on and off for a few weeks during early pregnancy and had 2 trips to an EPU and had the old dildo cam scan. There is nothing that can be 'done' to prevent a miscarriage.

Anyway it settled and my DD is now 10 happy years old! Do hope things work out for you x

It's not really a 111 thing though, I understand your upset, but what were you expecting the outcome to be? They can't tell you all is ok; but if it is a miscarriage, they can't prevent it either.

Sorry OP, for what it's worth lots of women bleed and go on to have healthy babies.

for what it's worth lots of women bleed and go on to have healthy babies.

In which case someone should not be diagnosing a miscarriage over the phone.

No, I agree, they should not.

There isn’t really anything 111 can do, unless you’re bleeding really heavily it’s just a waiting game. Yes it’s shit, and his manner wasn’t very good but what he advised isn’t wrong.

Call your EPU on Monday and they’ll likely scan you at some point in the week.

I know it’s hard but unfortunately it’s just the way it is for early pregnancy. There are no medical miracles.

I know you probably wanted help and reassurance, but truly what he told you is factual, even if it seems cold and wasn't what you wanted to hear.

There's really not much 111 or anyone else could do at this point. You could be offered a scan, but there's nothing that can be medically done to help or change the outcome. 

I had a huge bleed when carrying my twins. All was ok

I had 2 lots of bleeding in early pregnancy, the first was enough to assume it was my period as it was that time but it just never really got going hence why I tested, second time at about 6 weeks & enough to make me think it was a miscarriage. Had an early scan (had to be referred by doctor in my area) & to my surprise it was all fine & now 29 weeks. Everyone else is right that if you are misscarrying then as horrible as it is there’s really nothing anyone can do, just wanted to let you know my story to show that it’s not always bad news.

Not very helpful of 111 - they could have given you better advice like 'ring EPU on Monday'. Factual maybe, but not necessarily helpful.

I had a red bleed at 9 weeks and 14 weeks and my 'miscarriage' (as I was told by a very rude doctor) is now 2 years old

Yes and lots don’t. I had ‘only’ brown blood and had a missed miscarriage. I had lots of red bleeding and DS2 is 20 months. I don’t think the 111 man said definitively it was a miscarriage. In fact he said ‘probably.’ And he did offer the practical advice of staying off work, didn’t he?

I had fresh red blood at 9 weeks, woke up covered in it. Had an emergency scan at a private place the next day, epu couldn't get in me till the day after. Bub was fine, DH broke down as we were both convinved it was all over as we'd had a mc at 11 weeks previous which meant actual labour. I'm now 31 weeks. I'd get a scan asap and not alone. I hope you'll be fine. If scan is good at this point I was told risk of mc went down to 2.5%

I also want to say the heartless responses on this thread are disgusting.

"Dr's prolly busy"
"There is nothing they can do to stop it."
Blah blah blah

I had all this when I miscarried. There is no excuse for a lack of caring. When I first went to A&E bleeding I was sent home without strong painkillers, due to INCOMPETENCE!

When I came back having gone through most of labour I kept getting these comments. I was in agony. I still couldn't loose my rag. I had to somehow manage to politely convey REPEATEDLY my message that was: 'I know you can't save the baby, I'm bagging you for pain relief!!!'. I begged everyone reception, passing paramedics, police officers, triage nurse. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. One dose of oramorph. It was not enough. They then abandoned me in a bed. Only when there was a change of shift did the lead nurse rush me some sort of pain relief drip.

Later I heard discussion of whether they needed to refer me to gyno. When I got to gyno they were so apologetic and upset for me. They said if it ever happened again to go straight to the ward.

They had to remove the 'pregnancy' from my vagina where it had got stuck. They saved me from sepsis!

If a dr is not a specialist never take their word for anything. The consultant gyno confirmed I'd been through labour and that the mc was 'complete'. They also told me it was likely food poisoning due to my gestation and two raised markers for infection. Other Dr's always say to me mc v common 1/3, chromosomes bs, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Hope all is ok for you 😘 I had a massive red bleed on Wednesday night with clots! After 2 miscarriages before I was certain it was over. Had a scan on Thursday and baby was in there wiggling and kicking away! No pain is good xx

Yes I also had a massive bleed, at about 12 weeks. Like seriously heavy, through the night, I had slept ontop of quilt on holiday as it was so hot (despite being November and in England) and it went through my pjs, through the quilt and quite a bit on the mattress too. Bright bright red. I was sure that was it.

Everything was actually fine, and I never found out the cause of it. Had a few bleeds throughout the pregnancy after that too.

I've had brown bleeding with both of my pregnancies. In the first case I unfortunately did end up miscarrying, but in the second case a scan showed a tiny blob with a strong heartbeat. I'm now 20 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby

Hi, I don't want to give you false hope but I wanted to let you know there is hope even with bleeding. I had a huge bleed at about 6/7 weeks in my pregnancy. Sorry for TMI but it was heavy like I've never had before with golf size clots and bright red. I went to the doctors and she told me I was likely miscarrying. I had to wait until the next day for a scan at EPU. Obviously I was devastated. The scan show a teeny tiny dot and heartbeat. My little boy is now 9 months and my absolute world. There is hope, I really hope you get a positive ending to your story as I completely understand the heartbreak and worry you're going through x