Heavy bleeding and clot at 14 weeks

[looking4hope]

Hi all,

I'm worried sick and would really like to know if this happened to you and what the outcome was. The previous pregnancy ended in a spontaneous MC at 10.5 weeks (after a good scan), so my anxiety is sky-high.

I had several scans and everything has looked fine so far. I'm 14+6 today, the last scan was at 13+5. Cramps and spotting started on Sunday. Because the spotting wasn't showing any signs of slowing down, I went to the MAU on Tuesday. The midwife found the heartbeat using a Doppler and a doctor did an internal exam to check if the cervix was closed (apparently it was). They were quite dismissive and just mentioned a cervical ectropion. I bled quite a lot during the exam, which continued for the last two days. Blood just pours out of me every time I stand or go to the toilet. This morning I also passed a thumbnail-sized clot after a BM. They kept saying bleeding is normal, but this level of bleeding doesn't seem normal to me.

Has anyone had this? I'm about to call the MAU again, but I'm dreading it as every time I called they were very dismissive and just told me to take Paracetamol.

This must be so stressful!

No one can reassure you but a scan.
Ring them immediately - ignore the tone if you get any and say you are concerned, bleeding with clots and you are having cramps, they should book you a scan so at least you will know.

Sending big hugs as that is very stressful!!!

@KittyMcTitty has basically said what I would recommend too. With that level of bleeding I am surprised they didn't scan you TBH.

So sorry you're going through this though, it must be so frightening for you. I hope you can get booked in for a scan soon, and I hope all is well.xx

Thank you both. I called and I was told to come in. I'm at the hospital now, maternity triage. However, it's a 2 hour+ wait as this is where women in labour also come in (stupid if you ask me). I'm not optimistic at all as it's red blood. I also heard that they don't offer you a scan on the spot, they book you in for another day. Quite worrying. This is a central London hospital...

Both the Whittington and UCH do walk in scans in their EPUs. I think it's only in the mornings but if you're not getting anywhere with the hospital you're at now then try one of those first thing. I went to both for bleeds in the first trimester and the staff were lovely every time.

Hope you get some answers soon.

Ps I had a huge bleed at 11 weeks, red blood, lasted over night. They didn't find out what caused it and apparently is more common than people think. Far as I know I have a healthy baby at 18 weeks now, no more bleeding since then xxx

Glogirl0305 I'm at UCLH. I've been at the hospital since 3pm and I've only seen a midwife briefly st 5pm. The MAU (for those over 14 weeks, can't go to EPU anymore) doesn't do scans (!!!). A doctor was supposed to see me at 5pm, but he was called for an emergency C-section. There's no other doctor available and the nighttime doctor comes at 9:30pm. It's chaos and so disheartening.

That sounds really stressful, poor you. When I was first pregnant 7 years ago St Thomas’s in Westminster had a walk in EPU which could scan you. I had a remarkably swift and efficient (and positive) experience there. I’m not sure if they’d still see you at 14 weeks but it’s worth looking up/ calling to ask in the morning?
Good luck

Same as Little Mouse, I’d also recommend that you go to St Thomas EPU first thing tomorrow. I was always scanned without an appointment there and they were great. The waits can be long though so I’d try and be there when they open at 8.30 AM if I were you.www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/gynaecology/specialties/early-pregnancy-acute-gynaecology.aspx
Big hugs, thinking of you x

How did you get on OP?

Thank you so much everyone for the kind words, advice and hand-holding, meant a lot. So sorry for the radio silence, the last few days have been so stressful and I stepped away from Mumsnet for a while. I found out yesterday afternoon that the baby is fine. I haven't been so worried in my entire life, so I'll post the full story below in case it helps anyone else.

I got home at 1:30am on Thursday, after spending 10 hours at the hospital. I was seen by a nice lady doctor just after midnight, after 9 hours of waiting. She did another speculum exam and although the cervical ectropion I was told about on Tuesday is quite large, the blood is not coming from there. She said that an ectropion shouldn't cause heavy bleeding or clots. The cervix is closed and because the midwife listened to the heartbeat at 5pm, she didn't listen again. I was doubled over with pain all day, which nobody could explain. Paracetamol didn't help at all. It might have been a haematoma causing the bleeding, which only a scan could detect. She requested a scan for me in the system, but apparently the decision needs to be vetted by someone else who reviews your notes and decides if you're worthy of a scan or not. It's just crazy. I chose the UCLH because of its reputation and now I regret my decision. I was in horrible pain, bleeding and nobody was doing anything to get to the bottom of it. Both me and DH were so discouraged and disappointed with the care I received.

On Friday, the hospital called me around lunchtime and said they can squeeze me in at 4pm for a scan (probably because someone cancelled). The sonographer was the nicest lady I've met at UCLH so far, answered all our questions and did her best to reassure us. Professionalism, empathy and amazing care - what every medical professional should have but so many lack. I still don't know what the cause of the bleeding is, she couldn't see any haemotoma, the placenta is not putting pressure on the cervix etc. As far as the pain is concerned, she mentioned that I might feel the ligaments stretching so strongly because I'm slim. It's like very bad period pain, coming in waves. Guess it's something I need to get used with. The bleeding continues, but at least I know the baby is fine.

It's been such a rollercoaster, a truly emotionally draining week. Trying to relax now.

Thank you again everyone! I hope this story helps others experiencing a similar level of bleeding and pain in the second trimester. It's not always bad news it seems

So relieved for you! I hope it all settles down now. Glad that you eventually got good care at UCLH, that long wait sounds awful, you must have been totally wrung out.

Glad everything is ok with the baby

I just wanted to post a final update here. Unfortunately all that bleeding and cramping was bad news.

My waters started breaking 2.5 days after that last scan on 30 November and a scan on 4 December, after a second gush of waters, showed no heartbeat and no amniotic fluid. I delivered our beautiful little boy at 15+5, after having labour induced.

I was fobbed off so many times, nobody at the hospital listened to me and didn't really care enough to look into the cause of the bleeding. I know my body and I knew something was wrong, but nobody listened. My cramps were very painful, similar to contractions, and that is not normal. I'm planning to make a formal complaint as the care I received was appalling.

I wanted to post this to urge other women experiencing similar levels of pain and bleeding to push to be seen and have investigations done. Don't let anyone tell you that it's 'normal' and you should just go home.

@looking4hope I don't know what to say other then I am so so sorry for your loss.
I'm absolutely heart broken for you.
Sleep tight little one ❤️

So sorry to read this op. Sending love.