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.

@Poly1982 sorry to read about your situation. I never thought transvaginal scans can cause damage! It's a scary thought as I go through so many with recurrent miscarriages. Hope it ends up being ok, keep us posted.

It was actually an abdominal scan! It wouldn’t happen to anyone normal. I have severe adenomyosis so my uterus is very delicate. I did tell the sonographer but she thought she knew best. That’s why I had bruising on my abdomen.

She was just determined to get a good image so pushing extra hard on the side as it’s more difficult abdominally.

@Poly1982

Just seen your updates - I'm so sorry.
I truly, truly hope you get good news.

Always here to talk if needed xx

Aww thank you. That’s so kind ☺️

Early scans can be so hard to get. Hopefully all fine at the next one x

Got everything crossed for you. Have been lurking and wishing you well xxx

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the positive thoughts 🙏🏼 I’m trying to stay neutral like everyone suggests but keep swinging wildly from despair to hope and back again 🤦🏻‍♀️ X

I'm obviously absolutely no expert but I do think it could be a good sign that your bleeding was very short lived... xx

Oooh I really hope so 🙏🏼xx

I have to say my boobs are still swollen, tender and veiny (nice!) but I’m on huge amounts of progesterone which is known to mimic pregnancy symptoms. So I’m trying not to get carried away. It’s a blooming cruel hormone to dose hopeful ladies up with!!

I'll be thinking about you and praying for you 🤞🏻 xx

This must be such a tough time for you, I had a bleed at 7 weeks and the wait between the bleed and scan was torture - I really hope you have a positive outcome, they are so little at this point that hopefully their position is just affecting not seeing the heartbeat. Everything crossed for you and a positive outcome 💕

Thanks so so much. I’ve never posted on a forum before but what a lovely thing it is to be able to brain dump and have people who understand 🥰

Something just came to me!! I have a very tilted / retroverted uterus. I’m not saying that what it is but it could be an answer as to why she had to press so hard to get the heartbeat and why the other drs couldn’t see it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Has anyone ever struggled to get heartbeat on an 6 week scan with a tilted uterus? I could be wildly off track!

I am no expert but your logic makes total sense to me. When is your scan? This waiting must be driving you completely bonkers.

It’s not until 19th 😩 Honestly my brain is on overdrive trying to work it out!

Will be keeping everything crossed for you that your next scan shows good news 🤞🤞

Ok I promised I wouldn’t be one of those people who don’t give the ending to the story.
I couldn’t wait for the scan on Monday so I went to the EPU today to be examined as I’ve been passing quite a lot of brown discharge (still no pain though) and they did a blood test. Basically my HCG is 1700 which has dropped massively. It was 1020 on day 13 and now I should be 7.5 weeks. They’re doing a scan tomorrow but we both acknowledged that it was as I thought…this pregnancy stopped at 6 weeks a couple of hrs after the scan when I had the big bleed. Interesting fact, I’ve since realised that my uterus is tilted (retroverted) so that’s why she had to press so incredibly hard on the side to get the heartbeat at the 6week scan. So sad but I’m over all of the anxiety and waiting now. I just really want it done. I’m thinking of asking for a d&c to avoid the pain as I have such severe endo it makes my really sick. Has anyone got experience of that procedure? I don’t want to do more damage by taking the short cut xx

@Poly1982 was hoping for a positive outcome to your story. Sorry to hear that it's heading to a loss.
If you get offered d & c I would take it. I passed my miscarriage without d and c and ended up in hospital due to significant blood loss. D and c is at least managed. My friend had one and has gone on to conceive 3 more times. She says it was far better than the alternative (she miscarried and passed it naturally).
All the best, and I hope you recover quickly.

So sorry to hear this OP. I was really hoping all was going to be ok. How devastating that it happened so close after the early scan.

If your uterus is delicate I would avoid d and c and go for medication. D and c can have risks of scar tissues (asherman). There is another procedure called MVA which is gentler and done while awake. I'm so sorry to hear this news. There is hope after miscarriage though and most women go on to have healthy pregnancies after. This time will pass and be just a horrible memory that will get easier with time x

I am so, so sorry :'( is this definitely your last chance of IVF? I feel so sad for you. X

I agree with @Whispers1988 I had a d&c and had severe adhesions (scarring) for which I had to have another surgery. Once scaring happens, it can always grow back again. You may end up doing more damage to the fragile fertility organs that we already have.

Oh ladies thank you so so much. I thought I’d already replied on here but it didn’t post. The d&c is so tempting psychologically because it’s already been such a long road but I completely agree with the post about scar tissue and making an already delicate uterus a whole lot worse. I’ve been speaking to some of my girl friends in the meantime and everyone is saying the same thing. I think it’s right. So tempting to press the eject button but knowing my luck it would come back to bite me in the long run. Maybe the medicine to get things going will be the way to go but I know that’s the most painful route.
God I didn’t have a clue prior to the last year just how cruel fertility treatments can be.
we do have one last embryo in the freezer but I had said this was the last go as I am broken and battered but who knows how I’ll feel in a few months. Again, I can’t thank you all enough xxx