6 weeks, heartbeat seen but started bleeding

[Poly1982]

Hi there,

I’m not sure if anyone will be able to help but it’s the wee small hours of the morning and I’m sure we all know how we drive ourselves mad.

I had an early scan today (6 weeks and 2 days since lmp) after a seemingly successful round of IVF. All was well, everything was where it should be. Measured at 6 weeks and the heartbeat was visible. I will say I have adenomyosis which is basically a dodgy uterus and the sonographer was quite rough when pressing in sideways to get a view. So much so that I winced at one point.

Came home delighted and went for a meal to celebrate. When I stood up after the meal I had started to bleed out of nowhere. It leaked through my dress and was bright red like a period. This continued for about 30 mins and then slowed down so that it’s now just a steady pace but I can’t feel it when I cough or move if that makes sense?

Sorry for the long post but I’m at my wits end. Did anyone else experience this after a scan? Do you think this a miscarriage or a haemorrhage? I have a very light tummy ache but nothing to write home about. Gosh this process is such a cruel rollercoaster.

Hi @Poly1982

Sorry to hear of your distress, I'm not sure if I will be correct in what I say or not but wanted you to Google this just incase it makes sense.

Could it be a haematoma? I know they are much more likely to happen through ivf pregnancies and they cause sudden bleeding like what you've explained above.

Sending you love x

I think that’s what I meant…not haemorrhage! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yes maybe. That’s what I’m really hoping for. I had a chemical pregnancy back in April and that was bad enough so I just can’t bear the thought of going through it all again.

Thanks so much for replying. It means the world on a long lonely night :) xx

@Poly1982

I'm crossing everything for you 🤍
I know what a lonely place this is xx

Hi I’ve had a couple of mc around the same weeks as you but the bleeding was like period that went on for a few days at least, whereas yours seems quite short. I know how you feel and all I can say is for my last pregnancy I was bleeding a lot and everything was fine. So not always a mc x

Thanks so much ❤️ God I hope so. I’m just scared to move in case it starts again in earnest. It’s definitely there but not flowing like it was. What a gross word! Sorry! It was just going so well before today when I went for the scan. Now I’m kicking myself. Silly I know. Good to know about haematomas being more common with ivf…I shall obsessively Google that for a bit ;)

Fingers and toes all crossed for you! My DD was normal conception but had previously had issues with MC. Straight after my 12 week scan I had huge bleeding, clots etc and it carried on about 6 ish weeks, getting slower - she's fine and now 13. I hope you have the same result. Obstetrician didn't know why I had a bleed but she kept telling me heartbeat is strong so she's not worrying - good luck

Was it an internal ultrasound? I bled ridiculously after mine at 7 weeks. Baby was fine though.

It wasn’t an internal. She wanted to but because she was so rough I declined. I just woke up to go to the loo and the blood leaked through my pjs. Seemed a lot but has settled again. It’s hard to think this is ok as I have never experienced it before and it’s so scary. I still don’t have any real pain though so I suppose that’s something. The bleeding episode has lasted for 9 hrs now which seems a lot but I have only just changed the pad and it was only probably half full. Sorry for the graphic details. It’s just so hard to know if there’s still hope.

thanks so much for your replies. It’s got me through a very long night xxx

Custardbear that’s a very heartwarming story ☺️

Can you phone the place you had the scan and ask for their advice?

Will do as soon as they open

I bled a lot at 7 weeks after an ultrasound but it was an internal one. If she was quite rough though there’s a good chance it could have still irritated things which has caused the bleeding. The cervix is so sensitive in pregnancy. The fact it’s only half a pad is a good sign, if it was a miscarriage then you would expect more but I’m no expert. I have everything crossed for you.

Try not to panic. I had similar at 6 weeks. Then 12 then 16. Had a scan at each occurrence to check and all was fine. Was convinced I was miscarrying though, especially as it was red but it tailed off each time.
Mine was down to a haematoma and also cervical ectropion. If you've had no cramping that's a good sign. Ring your epu and get another early scan if possible.
Best of luck to you.

Oh ladies I’m welling up with your kindness. Thanks so much for taking the time. It’s been such a vile night. I’m not being dramatic it’s just every time I stand up there’s blood. Obvs it pools when I’m lying down and then comes out when I move or cough so I’m a nervous wreck.
I just can’t wait until the clinic opens. I’m usually very calm and sensible but this pregnancy has been years and years in the making and our last shot at ivf so I’m feeling the pressure.

@Poly1982

Thinking of you today. Hope all is ok xx

Not really ok. It was as I thought. Large bleed on the right hand side where she pushed in too hard. Couldn’t visualise heartbeat today but she said to give it a couple of days. I know it’s over though. So devastating and really angry with myself.

OP I am so sorry to hear this. I am still keeping everything crossed for a positive outcome for you. This is not your fault!

Have they offered you another scan for a couple of days time? How is the bleeding now?

My ivf clinic have a scan booked for a couple of days time. I’m so cross with myself because I booked in with a private clinic called MUMS whereas I should have just waited. It was just my husband was home from work and I wanted to share the moment with him. Not for a second did I imagine there was a risk or that she would press so hard 🤦🏻‍♀️

The hard thing about it is it was all so perfect yesterday. No signs of any bleeding, all the correct size and a lovely little heartbeat. A couple of hrs later a catastrophic bleed and big haematoma. Life is just brutal.

It gets tricker and trickier. Went to the IVF clinic yesterday morning so they could confirm what’s happening but they couldn’t say either way. She said the foetus is still there and the correct size but she couldn’t see the heartbeat. However, because it’s still measuring correctly at 6 weeks and 3 days she can’t say it’s not viable because it’s still so early and might just not be visible so she said go away and rest and she’ll scan me in 10 days to confirm. Pure torture 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s such a limbo land. I did have abdominal bruising on the right hand side like I suspected too.

the size of the fetal pole had gone up from 3.2mm on Monday to 4.8mm yesterday but maybe that’s just because it’s a different sonographer. I just wish I knew why I could see the heartbeat on Monday but not after the bleed on Tuesday or Wed? Surely that spells the end?

Has anyone ever seen the heartbeat at 6weeks and then not been able to visualise it for a few days but it be ok? That’s what I can’t imagine being possible.

Sorry for the ramble. This is like writing a therapy diary!

No experience or advice but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you... x

You are very kind. Isn’t it silly how we drive ourselves mad searching for answers 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sounds like all hope is not lost yet and it’s strange how there is growth too. A heartbeat isn’t always seen at your gestation with it being so early so maybe the sonographer just couldn’t see it today? I don’t want to give false hope either though. You’re right, it’s a torturous situation for you. Only thing you can do other than waiting is to go for another private scan in the meantime or explain to your local EPU and see if they’ll scan? A tricky one because you obviously don’t want it to cause any further bruising or bleeding. Has the bleeding stopped now? Has there been any clots?

Hi - no idea if this is helpful or not, but will share my experience. Early scan - heartbeat/viable pregnancy at around the 6/7 weeks, had initial spotting but then turning into a period like bleed. Went on to have a healthy pregnancy and DD born in March, so is feasible but completely nerve wracking, I understand. Fingers crossed

Thanks both. Yes the bleeding has completely stopped now. It went on from Monday evening until Tuesday morning. Some small clots but nothing major and no cramping.

it’s just such a head wrecker trying to work out answers where there aren’t any but I really appreciate you responding and helping me with the conundrum.

I suppose the trickiest part for me is why I could see and hear it on Monday but then not after the bleed on Tues or Wed. I did wonder whether it was because she pressed so hard she was able to get a reading whereas the other two were soooo gentle for obvious reasons. But perhaps that makes no difference 🤷🏻‍♀️ Such a conundrum!