think I'm having a miscarriage - but confused. Advice please!

[digitalgirl]

I'm currently on holiday in mauritius and not due to return for another week hence my call to all you experienced mumsnetters.

I'm 5+6 today and have had light brown spotting since 4+4. The spotting became light staining on 5+0 so went for a scan the next day. Bean measured right length for 5 weeks so the epu dr told me it was implantation bleeding and I'd be safe to fly off the next day.

At the airport I began to experience back ache and mild cramping which I put down to travel niggles, however they got more painful on the flight. More brown spotting. Have a small cry on the plane as it doesn't look good.

After 12 hour flight spotting seems to be easing up, get to hotel, first nights sleep is interrupted with waves of painful cramps and a small gush of brown blood. Wake up feeling Not Pregnant. although still have sore boobs.

Feel fine during day, then second night have backache and wake up to a small gush of red blood (no more than a teaspoon), convinced miscarriage has started. Wake up to find there's been no more fresh blood. Call my local epu to ask wether I need to go to a&e here in Mauritius despite not being in any more pain or not having any more red blood. Told that I can wait a few days, if bleeding or cramps get worse then to see a dr if not then its likely its not an mc.

Last night no cramps, but woke up to some brown spotting. Spotting very light throughout the day but noticing lots of 'bits' on tissue and in toilet after wee-ing.

This is my first pregnancy and I've never had a mc before. I was expecting it to be like a heavy period, is this to come or canl it just dribble out in tiny fragments for weeks on end?

Or is there any hope at all?

I'm not in any pain, don't have a fever and I'm not bleeding excessively so ive been told I can wait to return to UK for scan. In the meantime is there anyone out there who has had a similar mc or experience that has led to a healthy pg?

poor you digital girl - I've seen you on previous threads - what an awful thing to be happening - especially on holiday.

From what you describe, I wouldn't say for certain it's a miscarriage. I m/cd at six weeks - and there was a lot of bright red blood and clots and large bits of tissue.

I hope it will work out for you - try and rest and relax, and who knows, fingers crossed the bleeding may stop and it may all be alright.

I had similar symptoms with my pregnancy, lots of brown spotting and constant niggles. Ds is now 2.2 so try and relax and hopefully things will be fine x

Dear digitalgirl,

I have no experience of this but I really, really feel for you. You must feel so alone.
I am shocked at the lack of support you have received. There is no excuse for that. You may not be having a miscarrage at all, but you need reasurance.
I wonder if you can pay for a private scan? Have you travel insurance? Are you with someone who might be able to phone for you and ask these questions. In the meantime (easier said than done) try and keep calm.

Digitalgirl - so sorry that this is happening to you while you're on holiday. We had a similar experience whilst on holiday - although later on (10wks) and no good outcome.

At that stage I just had small red bleed that led me to go to A&E (in UK).

More recently, early mc was more like heavy period - did start a bit on and off though, although not as long and drawn out as you are describing.

Fingers crossed it is implantation bleeding, and I know there are lots of people out there who have had bleeding early on and throughout that have gone on to have a perfectly healthy baby.

Whatever it is, you can't change anything at the moment. If it is just bleeding, the best thing you can do is try to relax and take it easy and gently enjoy your holiday. If it isn't, the best thing is to try to relax and enjoy your holiday (although you would also be allowed alcohol in this case)

Fingers crossed for you, and do try to have a good holiday - it must be really hard.

I can't offer any advice but wanted to say I hope you are ok. Are there any private hospitals where you are that you could have a scan?

Easier said but try and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

thanks for your replies, I think its the small bits of tissue (specks about 1mm long, or smaller) that have made me believe its not hopeful (and at the same time confused me). Will try to relax and wait it out, tbh I'd rather not go to a hospital here unless it was more of an emergency although our insurance company have told us that they will cover anything I want to do even if its just to put my mind at ease. Its good to know I have that option but i think I'd rather wait, if I don't have a heavy bleed by the end of the holiday then I may get my hopes up again for the 7 week scan.

I don't know if this will help or not... I had a mc at 6 weeks and it started off with light brown bleeding but this quickly escalated to bright red bleeding. Next day I passed the sac so I knew it was over. Sounds slightly different to what you're going through so keep your hopes up. Take care

Digital - with DS1 I had bleeding and spotting and "bits" - with big gushes. DS1 is nearly 11 now so try not to worry too much.

Hope you are ok and put your feet up as much as you can.

DG - sorry to hear this is happening on your holiday.

I think we're around the same stage pg, I had a few brown spots last week, but nothing more. When I spoke to the doctor she said not to worry about a brown ones unless it turned into something more (ie red or loads and loads of it).

I hope it turns out to be a false alarm - its so tough at this early stage. So much to worry about plus feeling like cr*p

hi, hope you're doing ok. I dont think you'll really know until you get checked out. I've had two mc's. The second was very early and it was just like a very very heavy period. The first was a 'missed' mc so I only mc'd weeks after everything had stopped developing and the blood was very red and the clots/tissue were quite substantial. Sorry if that's tmi for anyone.

Lots of people do have brown spotting/bleeding and go on to have healthy pregnancies and the lack of pain could be a good sign.

If you can I would definitely try and get checked out while you are there. Good luck and fingers crossed.

Digitalgirl - just wondered how you are doing?
I think at this stage you don't need to panic. Try to relax (easier said than done I know) but it will help and you are in the best place for it!

Take care and thinking of you. xx

i also had brown spotting. I was petrified. Ran to accident and emergency. They told me if it was not red and there was not loads of it not to worry. Well obviously i did! Kept on bleeding for two days. Then it just stopped. Went on to ds who is now two. Go and see someone it will make you feel better.

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and had similar bleeding for a week when I first found out I was pregnant. Apparently the implantation is sometimes messy and bits of the endometrium get sheared off during the implantation and can take up to about a week to come out.

Try not to assume the worst right now. Brown blood is much better than red blood.

how are you digitalgirl?

Hi Digital, really upset to see this was you. Hope things are ok. Seems lots of good, happy ending stories on this thread, am hoping it works out like that for you too.
Big, big hug,
Har x

Hi, we are on the same sept thread. Sorry to read your post but here is what is happening to me and I think all is still ok with me...

started brown spotting at 4+3wks got heavier - had scan at 5+3 wks absolutley fine and saw heartbeat. Spotting cont. and got quite heavy then trailed off and stopped at 6wks then 6+1wks a clot of bright red blood!! I freak out completely decided its the start of mc and tell DH I hate him. Phone EPU and they say don't worry - one clot of bright red is ok but if I get more red then to call them back and ask for scan to be brought forward. After this bright red bleed I am getting the brown spotting but it is trailing off again. I have had 2 mc and both times when the red blood started - it did not stop it got heavier and heavier which is why I think I am alright this time as it was just one clot.

I know you have been worrying about lack of symptoms. I had no sore boobs and only started to feel slightly sick at 6 weeks and tiredness started then.

The best thing you can do is take things easy - and you are in the right place to do that! You might want to avoid caffiene - I am - and that includes choclate! I am feeling increasingly sick and tired so I think all is ok - I am 6+4 wks now

If you do start to lose lots of red then it prob is a mc but as you are still early on it should not be too much different to af. But take some painkillers and rest up. With both of my mc I still managed to go to work and actually lost 'the sac' there. Not ideal but I managed fine physically, but emotionally it was tough.

I will be thinking of you, I know how truly terrifying the thought of losing a pg is. But hopefully my story shows how you can have lots of bleeding, little symptoms to start with and all be ok xx

Oh and forgot to say that when I was 5wks I had the most awful cramps and dizziness when I was in bed - I thought I was going to pass out - but the scan showed everything was ok still!!

DG - sorry to hear you're stressing out on holiday. If insurance is happy to pay I'd be tempted to go and have a scan. Try and relax if you can and fingers crossed we'll see you back on the Sept thread soon.

xxx

DG I agree with Sunshinemummy - have a scan if your insurance will pay for one. It's always better to know than not to know. Just imagine, you might go for a scan this afternoon and by tonight, you might know that everything is fine.

Even if everything is not fine, you and your DP will have some time together to come to terms with it.

Remember you have a lot of people here on your side and take the courage from us.

Obviously I have no experience DG, but just wanted to wish you all the best. I'm sure all the other symptom spotters and 2ww-ers on the TTC threads send all their good thoughts too.

Take care.

DG oh honey im so sorry you are goin through this esp on your lovely much looked forward to holiday xx FWIW i had a MMC albeit a later one (14 wk but measured 11wk) and it was totally different to what you are experiencing. it did start with brown spotting but it really quickly changed to heavy red blood loss(sorry if TMI) coupled with large clots. my friend had alot of brown/ red bleeding with her DS and it turns out she had a cervical erosion which bled on and off for the first 16 weeks of her otherwise healthy preg. i would realy go for a scan even if it is just for peace of mind {{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}} for you and your DH/DP i hope you feel better soon xx
xx ei xx

DG

As you know I had a MC. Before I say what I am about to, just know that it is VERY different for each person, I have a friend that bled (lots of red blood) throughout her pregnancy and has a perfectly fine baby now. It was her own blood and not the a baby's (although they did not know that until after the birth). I also have a friend that had the symptoms you describe and has a perfectly healthly little boy.

However, I had the same symptoms you describe, I spotted very slightly from Week 5 through to Week 8 and had a full miscarriage in Week 9. The passing of the sac (which had only developed to Week 7) is what you expect a MC to be (heavy bleeding and then depending on the person either the whole sac or broken down material). That said, there is absolutely no point assuming you are having a MC as the stress is really bad for you and there is just as much chance you are not having a MC as that you are. Very easy to say, but the fact of the matter is, that much as it is an annoying cliche thing to say, what will be will be. There is nothing you can do except look after yourself, relax and try very hard to enjoy your holidays.

I hope and believe that you are fine and am thinking of you lots.

DG so sorry to hear this is happening on your holiday - it would be bad enough at home but so much more difficult and scary being in a foreign country. I hope the spotting has settled down and reading the posts below from experienced MNers it looks like there is still hope for you, hang on in there Prof - {{{{BIG HUGS}}}}

digital , i hope you are ok today? jollybear spotted your thread and we are all thinking of you and I wanted to post here to send you a big (((((hug))))).

So sorry you are having to go through the worry. (((hugs)))

I had brown blood followed very quicky by red blood when I lost mine. I think brown blood isn't too much to worry about.

I also had a friend who bled red blood up to about 20wks, that baby was fine and she has a 4 month old son now.

Please try to stay positive, we are all hoping and praying that you and Digibean will be fine. (((hugs again)))