If you had a MC please may I ask how it started

[Icouldstillbejoseph]

After a year of TTC I got a BFP 5 days ago (I'm 40), 2 previous children 7+ years ago.
I've never had a MC but I feel like I might be heading that way now.

I know there is nothing I can do and the chances weren't exactly in my favour but I wonder if anyone could say if this sounded like a worrying sign.... I've had brown discharge and cramps for the past 2 days. Getting browner and more profuse but not needing to wear a pad or take pain relief yet. Pretty much just how my periods start (I often spot for days before)

Anyone had similar? I'm wondering what to expect next.... wish it would hurry up and start if that's what's going to happen.

I've had no pg symptoms, but I didn't have with my other pregnancies until 6 weeks.

I’ve had three miscarriages. Two were missed miscarriages so I had absolutely no sign I had miscarried whatsoever with the first one until 11 weeks when I started having brown discharge. No cramping or red bleeding at all, just brown discharge which almost looked like coffee grounds. Second missed miscarriage I didn’t even have spotting, I’d had two early scans showing a strong heartbeat but the heartbeat had stopped by the 12 week scan. I had symptoms all the way throughout with them.

With my ‘natural’ miscarriage, I got to 5 weeks and started having light pink mucus when I wiped. By the end of the day it had turned bright red and heavy with clots plus I started cramping. It was all over quite quickly and once I passed the sac the bleeding and cramps stopped.

Brown discharge can be normal but also can be sinister, there’s sadly no real way of knowing right now; it’s very much a waiting game. Hope all is ok for you .

Hi there, I'm not going to be of any help because I don't actually know myself, but I'm in the same boat as you.
I had an MMC at my 8 week scan last year which was a shock because I had no signs of anything being wrong.
I'm now 7+3 and I have been light brown spotting irregularly for 4 days but this morning it was slightly heavier and pinker. I've had mild cramps for a week as well as a gurgling in my lower abdomen, the occasional burning sensation and a general feeling of an impending AF. My boobs aren't so sore anymore either. I'm 42 with a 13 year old DD but this will be my hubby's first baby. So I've jumped in your thread hoping for some words of wisdom too. And so you know that you are not alone.

Hi @MariposaPink - I was going to DM you as I saw your post about it being your husband's birthday on another thread.
I can't think of anything more eloquent to say than its utter dogshit

I just re read that. Your husband's birthday isn't dogshit

I’m sorry you are going through this ! It’s common to bled in pregnancy though so it could be nothing.

I was 9 weeks pregnant and I went pee and saw a tiny bit of blood on my toilet paper . It was literally a spec . I checked a few hours later and the same thing . I had mild period cramps but I’ve had successful pregnancies too and that’s completely normal .

The next day everything seemed fine but at midnight I went pee and there was a watery pink discharge on my underwear . The next day I started properly bleeding like a regular period and went for a scan to confirm . It was a missed miscarriage, baby died around 5/6 weeks. I didn’t actually pass any tissue or clots until 4 days later .

@Icouldstillbejoseph Oh you did make me laugh! I knew what you meant but can also see how it could be read! Bearing in mind we're still locked down, it could've been a dogshit birthday but he said he's having a nice day.

Have you spoken to your GP yet? My GP advised I go to A&E who will refer me to the EPU for an ultrasound. But I don't want to go. I figured that if the bleeding gets worse and I begin to suffer from unbearable pain, then I will take a trip there. Until then, I want to stay at home and live in my very comfortable denial.

Have you recently had sex? I bleed constantly for 3 weeks at 11 weeks pregnant after sex. Scared the hell out of me. Baby was ok.

I did have an mc at 7 weeks and it was thick bright red blood and came quite quickly and thickly. Lasted about ten days.

Hope your ok and good luck xx

Nah @MariposaPink, I haven't... I work in a hospital in maternity so could get a scan if I wanted to on Monday. I think it will be all over by then anyway.
I sent a picture of my discharge (bet you're glad you're not on my WhatsApp) to a colleague/friend who is an EPU nurse. She replied "uh-oh" and a sad emoji. Said all I needed to hear really.
Wish it would hurry up and then I could have a glass of wine
I still feel hopeful for you

@coffeeandjuice no :( I haven't

I've had 4 mc and two children. I had brown spotting with all 6. Not helpful, but you don't know until it's heavy, or a scan.

Hi OP, I’ve had one mc. Tested about 3 days after period due. Was spotting so thought it was my period at first but it just didn’t get going so I tested. Got faintish positive, plus had some symptoms of early pregnancy.

Carried on spotting (brownish) until about 9-10 weeks. GP said it was nothing to worry about because it was brown. Then just before 11 weeks started bleeding slightly, brown then pink and rapidly red, light at first. Over weekend so not scanned till Monday, told it was missed mc. Booked in for ERPC later in the week. Miscarried naturally at home over Monday night/Tuesday morning so I didn’t need the ERPC.

So it dragged on for weeks and the pg was probably never viable. I wish I had insisted on an early scan because of the spotting (it was nearly 20 years ago now and they weren’t so hot on early scans then). At least I would have known earlier. I did have 2 successful pregnancies afterwards and paid for an early scan with the second of those, because I was so concerned (no bleeding but no pg symptoms either at that stage).

Good luck!

I have had 3 pregnancies, 1 of them a MC, 1 healthy baby and 1 I'm in the 3rd trimester of. All of them started the first week with pre-period like symptoms and I was just waiting for the period to happen. I didn't actually realise I was pregnant this time until 6 weeks because of those symptoms plus the fact my only previous cycle (during breastfeeding) was 6 weeks long! That could be the case with you. My MC was "missed", and although the baby stopped growing at around 8 weeks according to the scan we only found out at 10 weeks. I had gone to A&E with bad period like cramping, enough to make me ask to leave work, and some brown discharge (not much). They did a pee test to confirm pregnancy and if I remember right they were able to tell me an hour later that the HCG was there but low, so they would refer me to early pregnancy assessment for a scan, which I had the next day. Even then, I didn't experience any increase in bleeding until the actual miscarriage happened quite suddenly a couple ofmornings later. Moral of the story, don't assume it is a MC. A&E can tell you what to expect based on HCG level, but I think it might be too early for a scan in your case. Best wishes, xx

@Icouldstillbejoseph Oh it’s so difficult to stay positive and hold onto hope when you feel like you just “know.” That’s why I like sitting in my pit of comfortable denial. But you don’t know 100% until you have a scan despite the bleeding. I’ve read so many posts on here of bleeding and clotting during a viable pregnancy.

I’ve been googling brown discharge images all morning and comparing them with mine so I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at one more!

I was also thinking about the amount of gin I could drown my sorrows in if this is another non-viable pregnancy and I have it confirmed. But I’m shit scared of going near a hospital so no gin for me.

I'm still hoping for you too.

I have no hope now. Just been to the toilet and my back hurts and I essentially have the start of a period.
Well, I enjoyed that while it lasted and at least I didn't endure the puking stage for fuck all at the end of it. That really must be the pits.

@Icouldstillbejoseph I'm so sorry you're going through this. Can you put your feet up until Monday? Take paracetamol for the back pain?

@MariposaPink yup, luckily my DC are with their dad this weekend so I have plenty of time to wallow.
I'm still hopefully for you - keep me posted

@Icouldstillbejoseph I will and you keep me posted too. If you need some support over the weekend just post a message on here. Lots of love

Sorry you are going through this OP. I've lost 3 pregnancies, the last 2 were MCs, the last of which was last week at almost 10 weeks. The previous was at 7 weeks.

Both started with brown spotting, then pink/brown mucous, but only when wiping. Both started in the afternoons and had progressed to needing a pantyliner by the evening and getting more red. Overnight, not much at all.

The one at 7 weeks, I had no pain at all. I went to work and carried on. Bleeding got more red, then I MC'd whilst at work. I suspect that being on my feet helped move things along and work distracted me somewhat.

The on this week progressed similar. Bleeding got heavier, pain got worse and crampy and I knew my cervix was likely opening. I passed the pregnancy 24hrs after the bleeding started.

OP, if you got BFP 5 days ago, are you around 4.5 weeks pregnant? You could try calling you local EPU, but I'd surprised if they would scan you. I called 2 EPU's when I MC last week, and both said they weren't scanning anyone, except in emergencies. I physically had to go there twice, to take in the pregnancy for genetic testing (3rd loss in a row now and no children) and even though I was already going there, they still wouldn't scan me.

If your blood group is negative, I'd check with your GP whether you'll need anti-D, to help prevent MC in future pregnancies. There is a forum on the miscarriage website which might be helpful. They also have a helpline and many FAQ's on their website.

Paracetamol and a hot water bottle can help. If you have any questions, just ask. I hope you are doing ok?

So sorry Icould 🙁 x

@Icouldstillbejoseph it's only been 20 minutes since my last post and I've been dragged out of my comfortable denial...went to the loo and deep red blood and lots of little clots. Now to keep my mouth shut until tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be too painful both physically and emotionally. I refuse to spoil my lovely hubby's birthday.

Aww fuck it. Sorry to hear that @MariposaPink. I'm having a G&T. I'm toasting you and admiring you for keeping it quiet, I doubt I'd be capable.
Hope it's painless and quick for you

@Elouera thanks - I could get a scan if I wanted as I work in a large maternity unit. I don't see the point. Especially not now as my mooncup is in and filling (TMI?!).
Hey fucking ho. Onto more disappointing months. Sigh.

OP- you shouldn't be inserting anything into your vagina!!! Mooncup included due to the risk of infection. With each MC, I was advised pads only (which I HATE!!!), no baths, spas, no intercourse even with a condom and nothing inserted into the vagina at all. Not until the bleeding has completely stopped for at least 2 days. I hope you are doing ok considering?

I should add, that a scan in your case would check you aren't having an ectopic pregnancy. I had a scan at 7 weeks which showed a heartbeat, and the foetus in the uterus, so that was part the reason they wouldn't scan me this time.

Thank you @Elouera - I know that's the advice but I don't think the evidence base is particularly robust so I'm choosing to ignore it. I will only have myself to blame if I get an infection I know but I don't have any pads and I'm not going out