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Original poster

Bleed at 18 weeks - handhold needed!

35 replies

CritterTamer · 20/01/2019 13:14

Hi ladies

I know that no one can do anything to help - just hoping for a bit of a handhold/some positive stories really!

I'm 18 weeks pregnant today with twins (desperately wanted IVF pregnancy), and yesterday morning we had a gender scan, where we found out that I'm carrying one little boy and one little girl 😊 everything was looking great with the exception that one of the placentas is currently low lying. Said nothing to worry about at this stage, plenty of time for it to move up, etc. and off we went. Got home later that afternoon and everything was fine, but 10 minutes later my pants were full of red blood out of nowhere and lots more coming out on wiping (sorry for TMI). Couldn't get hold of midwife so called 111 who told me to go straight to A&E so we spent half the night at the hospital where they could find nothing else wrong except the bleeding (which had stopped) and slightly low iron levels. They don't scan at weekends apparently so I'm booked in for an emergency scan tomorrow, but they did find both heartbeats with a doppler thank goodness but it's going to be a long wait until tomorrow...

The consultant suggested it might be to do with the low lying placenta - anyone got any experience of this and can offer advice?

Thanks for reading 😊

OP posts:
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DreamingofItaly · 20/01/2019 13:16

No advice but a hand hold from me. I would think it's positive both heartbeats are there. I hope someone can come on with experience to offer advice x

sickmumma · 20/01/2019 13:22

A friend had a low lying placenta and bled constantly through her pregnancy and had the baby last month with no problems! In the end the placenta moved up out the way too! apparently as your bump grows the placenta will move up and this is what can cause the bleeding so fingers crossed this is true for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻

mommybear1 · 20/01/2019 13:23

Handhold OP Thanks

Original poster
CritterTamer · 20/01/2019 13:31

Thanks ladies. @Sickmumma - that's interesting about your friend - glad everything worked out well in the end for her. From what I read about low lying placentas it seemed that they don't normaly cause problems until the third trimester so I was dubious but maybe that's it after all 🤞 I'll make sure the hospital checks it out properly tomorrow.

OP posts:
GabbyGal · 20/01/2019 13:41

I had a bleed at 12 weeks (much earlier I know) but after checking me out and doing a scan they put it down to the placenta moving and probably hitting a blood vessel. So could be the same thing for you particularly if one of your placentas is low and the doctors expect it to move up. I’m sure it’s fine, try not to worry. Easier said than done I know, I panicked when I had a bleed and I also had to wait 24 hours for a scan because it was on a Sunday. I’m sure everything will be fine Flowers

Heyha · 20/01/2019 13:51

Oh gosh hand hold for you right here. I wonder if the pressure from having the scan has jiggled everything including the low-lying placenta about and just upset something a bit? I couldn't believe how hard they had to press down at 12 week scan so to have two babies and two placentas being mashed about must have been quite a lot going on in there. Great that both heartbeats sounding good though so hope scan will show two little wrigglers completely unaware of all the worry!

Original poster
CritterTamer · 20/01/2019 15:15

Thanks for your responses ladies - they have helped. I thought the brown spotting had stopped earlier but unfortunately I've just had a lot more really stringy, dark brown jelly-like discharge so I've no idea what's going on. Trying to stay calm!

OP posts:
gambaspilpil · 20/01/2019 15:19

CritterTamer I had a big bleed at around 14 weeks and was convinced I was miscarrying. Ended up being the artery in the placenta rupturing so I had extra monitoring of the placenta for the remainder of my pregnancy. It’s very stressful and it will all become a clearer with the scan. Thankfully they have found two beating little hearts and I hope you get positive news tomorrow.

sh13 · 20/01/2019 15:58

Good luck for tommorow can’t imagine how stressed you are , finding the heartbeats is a good sign Flowers

Sunshinegirl82 · 20/01/2019 17:59

Hi Op, I had 2 big bleeds in my first pregnancy at 20 and 21 weeks. Obviously I was terrified. I went in to labour triage and they ended up admitting me until the bleeding stopped. I also had a low lying placenta. DS was unbothered throughout with a steady heartbeat.

I was consultant led (I'm assuming you are too due to twins and IVF?) so booked into see them ASAP (my midwife made me an appointment). She advised rest (and signed me off work for a bit) they also kept a close eye on me with regular growth scans.

They never found a definitive cause for the bleeds but it was put down to the low lying placenta. I didn't have any further bleeds, baby was delivered safely at term. I had a EMCS and a few other complications but those were all completely unconnected to the placenta issues.

It's the most stressful thing I've ever gone through but ultimately everything worked out ok. DS is now 2.5 and perfect! I know it's hideous but try just to take one day at a time and book in to see your consultant if you possibly can (for reassurance if nothing else). Best of luck.

Original poster
CritterTamer · 20/01/2019 18:19

Thank you @gambaspilpil and @gabbygal and @sunshinegirl82 for sharing your stories - it is helping to keep me calm 😊 I'm really hoping it's to do with the low lying placenta but won't know more until the scan tomorrow. I am consultant led care but my first consultant appointment isn't until February 6th and there was no mention last night of bringing that forward. The gynae ward did tell me to head up to see them following the scan tomorrow to talk through whatever it shows so hopefully will get more info then. I'm still spotting brown but no more red bleeding since that one out yesterday so I'm hoping that's a good sign 🤞

OP posts:
MissSmiley · 20/01/2019 19:28

I had a huge bleed with my ivf twins at 15 weeks, but everything was ok in the end
I know it's hard to be calm after everything you've already been through, big hugs to you

physicskate · 20/01/2019 19:47

Omg @CritterTamer!!! A huge congrats on your pregnancy (I remember you from the infertility board)!

As mentioned, it could easily be just because the placenta is low-lying. It could be some irritation from your cervix too. I'm sure you already know all the million and one perfectly fine things it could be and I wish I could say anything remotely reassuring!!!

Please please step away from google. Do something nice for yourself this evening and try to be kind to yourselves!! I have everything crossed for you!!!

Original poster
CritterTamer · 20/01/2019 20:10

Thanks @physicskate and @misssmiley - your kind messages have made me all weepy again! I'm absutely terrified but also aware there's nothing at all I can do and what will be will be so going to take your advice and watch old episodes of Game of Thrones for the rest of the evening and hope that takes my mind off it! Will update tomorrow after the scan 😊

OP posts:
mommybear1 · 21/01/2019 08:03

Thinking of you OP Thanks

Strugglingonagain · 21/01/2019 08:18

Thinking of you today OP and hope all is ok x

Seline · 21/01/2019 08:25

OP this was me a few months ago, except my twins were a natural conception. The bleed was fine and I was sent away. It kept happening and I got checked each time. Eventually, my waters broke, one placenta failed and I delivered at 26 weeks.

I don't say that to scare you, most of the time that doesn't happen but if anything happens, no matter how minor, please go in and get checked.

My twins are fine now but one was in a lot of trouble for a bit.

Keep your eye on it and best of luck!

Original poster
CritterTamer · 21/01/2019 10:45

Hospital have called and said the first availability for an 'emergency' scan is not until tomorrow afternoon! Another day of limbo 😢

OP posts:
physicskate · 21/01/2019 11:28

You've made it this far. You can make it til then! One step at a time... one minute if needs be.

Any further bleeding?

Original poster
CritterTamer · 21/01/2019 11:44

Yes you're right of course - I just wish every minute didn't feel like an hour! No further fresh bleeding but still getting the odd bit of brown gungey stuff - is it usual for that to carry on for a couple of days after a bleed?

OP posts:
physicskate · 21/01/2019 12:08

I would have thought that wouldn't be unusual!! But it also means what caused the bleed is no longer bleeding - it's old blood. I would personally take that as good news.

JustMe18 · 21/01/2019 14:34

I had a few bleeds and everything was fine..

Can you go to a private scan clinic today?

Danteinferno · 21/01/2019 14:36

I had a low lying placental (which moved) so had several bleeds between 12-20 weeks. I carried on having unexplained bleeds until birth but he was fine every time. It’s aooo scary but the fact they found heartbeats etc I really good. It’s prob because of your placenta

Original poster
CritterTamer · 21/01/2019 14:43

Thanks all - had a long chat with the community midwife earlier and she was lovely - reassured me not to worry at all about the brown spotting and said from the history I gave her it doesn't sound too serious - she agreed it might be the placenta too and just told me to rest completely until scan tomorrow. Feeling more positive now and decided to just try to relax until tomorrow - thank you all so much for your support and stories.

OP posts:
ReggieKrayDoYouKnowMyName · 21/01/2019 14:49

Hi OP. I didn’t have any bleeding at all with DD1 but DD2s pregnancy was plagued by bleeding- and sometimes it would go away and come back without any seeming rhyme or reason and there would often be a weird brown, grungy bleed a couple of days after a fresh, red one (something to do with blood getting trapped in the cervix I think). Anyway, they never found a reason but it was always fine and not her, it was me bleeding. Good luck with the scan.

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