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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Bleeding at six weeks, what do I do?

44 replies

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 06:53

Good morning everyone,

I've had some very light spotting since finding out I was pregnant but put it down to implantation bleeding or suspected (undiagnosed) cervical entropion/erosion.

This morning though I had a big blob of brown blood, exactly like the start of a period. This means I've lost the embryo, right?

I'm not sure what to do now. NHS website says to get in touch with doc or midwife immediately about any blood, but I'm not registered with a midwife yet and as I only just moved into the area I only registered with a GP on Thursday, and they said it'll middle of next week before I'm fully on the system, and anyway they're closed today, so I'm at a loose end :(

I know I probably don't need to be seen and it's just a normal miscarriage that will happen on its own, but I'm worried about an ectopic or something else sinister. Can I just ring a hospital midwifery department and beg to be seen?

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squashie34 · 09/05/2020 06:56

I would ring your hospitals early pregnancy unit and tell them about your bleed - they can then tell you what to do which is likely to be to go in for an examination. Thinking of you 💕

kirinm · 09/05/2020 06:59

I bled heavily until I was 18w so blood doesn't necessarily mean you're miscarrying. I think your nearest EPU is your best bet. At 6w they may scan you. Whereabouts in the country are you? I know some EPUs are open at the weekend near me (London). Try not to panic.

Piglet11 · 09/05/2020 07:07

I bled a lot from6-8 weeks. I am now 16 weeks and haven’t bled since. I think it might have been an irritated cervix it the fact I was having twins (massive surprise when you think you are miscarrying). Unfortunately all they offered me was a blood test at 6 weeks as it was to early. I have everything crossed for you x

Zippy1510 · 09/05/2020 07:09

I bled throughout my entire pregnancy due to an ectropion. Sometimes the bleeding was bright red and clotted like the start of a period. I had multiple trips to the EPU and then triage later on but the baby was never in any danger. It was just frustrating and stressful. The EPU should be able to get you in for an early internal scan and to take bloods to check hcg levels.

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 07:11

Thank you both, appreciate it very much xx

I rang my nearest epu, lovely lady on the phone said basically to wait and see if the bleeding became very heavy, and if so to go to my emergency care unit.

Hopefully it won't come to that and the bleeding will stop.Really hope it's a situation like yours @kirinm !

Thanks again for the replies.

I wonder, how soon after a pregnancy loss do the hormones leave your system and you get a negative on a pregnancy test? I figure I'll want to test again when the bleeding has stopped to see if I'm still pregnant but don't want to just be testing old hormones iyswim

Sorry for being so clueless, this all completely new to me.

OP posts:

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 07:15

@Piglet11 @Zippy1510 Sorry, cross post, thanks for your replies, I appreciate it do much xx

I feel a lot better from reading these. I had a lot of spotting throughout the time I was on the combined pill (came off end of Feb), which along with CM is why I suspect cervical entropion. Docs would always tell me it was due to the pill and not to worry.

Twins would be lovely!

Thanks again xx

OP posts:

OnlyJudyCanJudgeMe · 09/05/2020 07:23

Phone the nearest EPU.

OnlyJudyCanJudgeMe · 09/05/2020 07:23

Cross post, sorry.

Piglet11 · 09/05/2020 07:27

If the blood is starting to brown then hopefully that means it’s old blood and is stopping. I did a home test to check the same and the line was even stronger (so strong in fact it sucked all the colour out of the control line, and since it doesn’t state which line is the control, I thought I had definitely miscarried), however I haven’t tried taking a test after a miscarriage so I don’t know how long it will take sorry. Sometimes you can bleed a lot if it’s a cervical entropion if you have sex or something.

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 07:30

Thanks @Piglet11, did have sex yesterday but nearly 24 hours before this blood this morning so I didn't relate the two. Wonder if that's all it was!

Thanks again

OP posts:

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 07:35

Just looked it up and apparently you can still get a positive even three or four weeks after a miscarriage, so no quick answers I guess :(

OP posts:

Piglet11 · 09/05/2020 07:43

I am gonna try and be positive for you and lean to the fact that you have hopefully irritated Your cervix when having sex. I googled the hell out of it when i was bleeding so I have everything crossed that that is what it is for you. Even bowl movements can put pressure on the cervix and if it was already irritated you could bleed.

On the other hand if it gets worse then phone the doctors, the not knowing either way is horrendous.

kersh33 · 09/05/2020 07:45

I had brown spotting every day between around 4 to 10 weeks. I'm now 24 weeks with baby kicking away and 2 perfect scans.

I was very worried at the time and got an early scan at 7 weeks to check for an ectopic pregnancy but I just had to accept that it was just one of those things. It was never red though, just brown but was quite abundant some days.

Fingers crossed all works out for you - it is a very stressful time.

Piglet11 · 09/05/2020 07:47

Also my SIL had an topic pregnancy last week and was in absolute agony. That might not be the same For everyone but I am led to believe you would know about it.

I am by no means a trained person in these matters, just trying to bring a little hope at such a horrible time x

MrsMyreton · 09/05/2020 07:58

Hi OP,

I bled at 6 weeks and 10 weeks with lots of brown in between. Had stopped by the time of my dating scan at 12 weeks. I'm now 21 weeks with no issues. It can be so stressful!

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 08:23

Thanks to everyone who has responded with encouragement, it is a huge help. I'm so grateful to you guys. I have everything crossed that I'm like you all and will have a healthy scan regardless.

It's just the not knowing what's going on that's getting to me, I think. If I knew that the bleeding was harmless I wouldn't mind it at all, and if I knew it was a miscarriage, well, I could have a little cry and move on, but the limbo is painful.

I have no significant pain which is giving me comfort. I've also heard that an ectopic is agony.

OP posts:

Piglet11 · 09/05/2020 08:23

*ectopic

Williams3001 · 09/05/2020 08:47

@CoalCraft Not speaking for every case but with only light bleeding I would try to stay hopeful. Bleeding can be very common in early pregnancy (about 1 in 4 if I remember correctly); around 4–6 weeks is most common when the embryo is implanting.

If you do think it's a miscarriage after the bleeding stops, it's best to get it confirmed by the EPU; if nothing else, you should be offered support if you need it, and it can go on your medical notes, which would be helpful for your medical practitioner in the future. Fingers cross the blood stops and baby is okay 🤞🏻.

Hatscats · 09/05/2020 08:48

I had on and off light bleeding, brown gunky stuff on and off for weeks, during the first 11 weeks or so. I had at scan at 6 weeks which only showed a yolk sack, so back at 8 weeks and baby was there I was so shocked! This was EPU before the lockdown.
I didn’t have any bad pain, just mild uterus stretching cramps. You could always book a private scan for 7 weeks if EPU still won’t see you. The 6 weeks one for me only ruled out ectopic, but by 7 you should see something. Hope it goes well for you.

Skybooks · 09/05/2020 10:01

I could have written your post, I'm 6 weeks tomorrow and started spotting yesterday and its heavier brown/red this morning.

Spoken to local midwife and they have referred me for epu call on monday.

Sorry I can't help but I can hand hold, are.you still bleeding?

Peanut870 · 09/05/2020 10:06

Hi OP, I started bleeding just before 6 weeks. It got heavier with clots (sorry tmi). Had an abdominal scan a couple of days later which showed the gestational and yolk sacs. Had another abdominal scan at 8 weeks (Thursday just gone) and they saw a heartbeat! I understand the waiting is so difficult and you feel so helpless. I'm still bleeding, but it is currently light, however I still feel terrified! I'm not sure if reading my experience helps you at all. Hope all goes well for you, will be thinking about you.

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 13:24

Thank you everyone your messages give me hope and comfort xx

The bleeding has stopped now, still a bit of brown when I wipe but I think it's just left over. It was a small amount in the grand scheme of things, always brown with a touch of red, and only a little bit heavier than the spotting I always had on the pill. I am crossing everything that it is an irritated / eroded cervix and not actually from my uterus.

@Skybooks wishing you very best of luck with your Monday appointment, hope you get good news. Unfortunately I was not referred, but I think as soon as my details have come through with my new GP I will ring them and explain what happened and say I am worried about ectopic or a miscarriage. Hopefully they will refer me too. It is a hard wait, handhold for you.

Right now I'm trying not to read too much into the fact that my nipples have stopped hurting. I felt a bit light-headed doing the gardening just now but it might just be tiredness.

Thanks again everyone for your support I cannot express my thanks enough

OP posts:

Lunawuna · 09/05/2020 13:27

Without wanting to be Debbie downer, I had an ectopic this year and it was sore, but not debilitating, to the point where it wasn’t taken seriously by my GP and I ended up rupturing/needing emergency surgery/a blood transfusion. If you are at all worried, please call 111 and don’t downplay any symptoms.

ammyjanee13 · 09/05/2020 13:30

I am in the exact same boat right now!
6 weeks pregnant and had a bleed yesterday that started light and brown with some strong period cramping and it hasn't stopped today either. I rang my local midwife centre and they have referred me to the EPU.

I've got an appointment there 10:30 tomorrow morning but I've got to go through a whole day of worry and tears. It sucks even more with the current situation that my fiancé isn't even allowed into the hospital with me.

My fingers are crossed for us both.

Original poster

CoalCraft · 09/05/2020 13:31

@Lunawuna Thanks for sharing your experience, sorry that happened to you.

I am conscious of the risk of ectopic. At the moment I'm pain free but will ring GP in the week and if I have any significant pain I will head to the emergency care unit.

OP posts:

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