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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Brown discharge - 13 weeks!

16 replies

Olegia · 05/01/2023 13:17

Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you had experience with brown discharge/spotting, specifically at the end of your first trimester/beginning of second.
I've had a very light spotting at around 5 weeks pregnant (it was more like very very light pink), and that only went on for around a day.

I had my 12 week scan last week, and everything was looking well, good heartbeat etc... Out of nowhere today when I go to the toilet I noticed a bit of brown discharge in my underwear (not really when I pee, it's just resting there)

I immediately called the midwives who told me around 1 in 5 women have it, and it's 'relatively common'. Have any of you experienced that? Given that it feels a bit tight around my uterus with some twinges here and there (which I didn't have before) I'm worried it could be the beginning of a miscarriage...

OP posts:

WeeFamilyOfThree · 05/01/2023 13:22

Hi @Olegia - I was told that brown blood is very old blood that has just managed to work its way out of your body, and extremely unlikely to be anything to worry about.

If the bleeding changes to red or gets significantly heavier, accompanied with bad cramps and/or backache, seek medical advice, but it sounds like everything is fine!

SkyBlue20 · 05/01/2023 19:16

I’m 11weeks at the moment and having the same - brown discharge when I wipe. It’s not all the time but it is regularly and started a few days ago. I’ve got my 12 week scan on Wednesday so just hoping and praying all is well in there. As PP said, I believe brown is old blood so hopefully not a problem and just some old blood being dislodged by everything that’s going on in there.
Hope all is ok for you xx

Original poster

Olegia · 05/01/2023 19:27

Thanks both, I also believe it will be fine (in fact the discharge has stopped, TMI but I actually went up there to see if there would be any 'remains', and there wasn't).
I will keep you updated! I do know that spotting is common and no cause for concern in the first trimester, however I was wondering how that changes as you are into your second trimester

OP posts:

FlamingoBabe · 05/01/2023 19:28

I had brown discharge (quite thick and gloopy) when I was 10 weeks with my DS. Everything was fine (he’s currently 10 months and snoozing away as I type). It can be so worrying but like your midwife said, it’s very common and brown is typically nothing to worry about

Spacebears · 05/01/2023 19:33

I had this a couple times after sex between 9 - 20 weeks. My midwife also told me brown blood is normally old blood but if it's bright red and heavier then I should be more worried. Also cramping can be a bad sign. First time I went to EPU and had a scan, all was fine. Didn't get checked out the other times, as long as I didn't get heavier I didn't worry too much.

KateC1x1 · 05/01/2023 19:35

Hey, try not to worry.
I had brown spotting and pink spotting from literally conception with my 1st baby until maybe week 16. They eventually did a speculum as I kept worrying and i had cervical ectropion (apparently really common in pregnancy)
Fast forward to now with my second (currently 11 weeks) and I get it on and off now too so I'm assuming it's ectropion again.

My midwifes/doctors said unless it's bright red bleeding or loads of pink then not to worry as brown is old blood that can take weeks to leave your system.

Stay positive, I know it's hard but these early days of crazy body functions do end 🤗 x

BabyB2022 · 05/01/2023 21:28

Yes I had spotting at 8, 10 and 13 weeks. Mine was bright red initially and then went brown. All was OK, but had some further spotting ar 25 and 26 weeks but again everything was OK (I was checked out from maternity triage). Now 34 weeks and haven't had any further since 26 weeks🤞. Never had any bleeding in my first pregnancy so was quite worried, but they havent been able to find a cause of the random spotting.

Montague22 · 05/01/2023 21:37

If it’s not red with cramping don’t worry too much.
If it continues speak to your GP, they might swab you for infection, but unlikely.

Original poster

Olegia · 06/01/2023 07:40

Thanks all! 💛I will have an echography (which was already planned) next Tuesday, so will keep this post updated in case it can help anyone (and for my future self should spotting happen again)

OP posts:

Original poster

Olegia · 06/01/2023 14:09

Little update: I had some bleeding still today, so I called the midwives, who were very understanding and even said I could come by the clinic for a check-up.
I didn't know they'd even do an echo! The baby was very active, moving around and jumping, so all was fine!
She said the blood is most likely from the cervix (as opposed to an internal hematoma)

OP posts:

MidwifeMel · 06/01/2023 14:26

I just popped on to say that as a midwife myself I would have asked you to pop up for a reassurance check..maybe even arrange a scan to spot where the blood is coming from, but I see this has been done today.
Also to say I've had 4 pregnancies, one of them twins, and in two of them I had this same thing at intervals all the way through. Healthy babies for me.

Spacebears · 06/01/2023 14:59

Glad baby is doing okay OP!

Original poster

Olegia · 11/01/2023 17:27

Update: the discharge had stopped for a day, then came back for a day, then back to nothing until this morning when it continued! I called the midwives who referred me to a gyneco to check that my cervix is fine...
I have the appointment tomorrow..

OP posts:

RedPandaFluff · 11/01/2023 18:06

Hi @Olegia - good that they're keeping an eye on you; something I've learned from my two pregnancies is that bleeding of any kind can happen at any time and still be totally normal and fine! It's such a crazy ride but I hope you get some reassurance tomorrow

Original poster

Olegia · 12/01/2023 12:49

Update: turns out I have cervical ectropion. It's benign and happens when cells from inside the cervical canal grow onto the outside of the cervix, which can cause some bleeding.

However, incidentally (and this has got nothing to do with the bleeding), they also measured my cervix, and it's on the shorter side (she said between 27 and 30mm), so they said they'd repeat the measurements at 20 weeks, I'm mildly concerned as a short cervix is associated with more complications and higher risk of premature birth...

OP posts:

Lindtcat · 12/01/2023 14:11

Try not to worry OP. It's good that they know so they can keep an eye on you.

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