Subchorionic hematoma at 10 weeks. Looking for advice/experience!

[EllieJade95]

Hi everyone,

I am 10 weeks pregnant today & had a scan on the 20th July at my EPU as I had a random one off red bleed. I was terrified as I had a miscarriage previously but I was told it was a very small subchorionic hematoma. After that, I had no further bleeding other than some light brown discharge for a day or so. She prescribed me progesterone pessaries given my previous miscarriage which I have been taking twice a day.

Fast forward to today, I had very bad stomach pain that came on all of a sudden and I came out in sweats, I went to the toilet (sorry TMI) but the pain still continued until I started to have a bleed again. It also made me sick. It was much more than my first bleed, but not a huge amount and has only continued when I go to the toilet (small amount) and this happened about an hour ago. I spoke to my EPU and she said that this is normal, as it can either bleed out or it absorbs and they’d really only be concerned if the pain and bleeding continued/got worse. In my logical head, this makes sense as if it triggered a miscarriage the pain & bleeding would have continued I would assume until it came out. The pain has now stopped, other than a slight cramp when I stand up.

I am trying to remain calm as she wasn’t concerned and the pain has stopped as quickly as it came on (I only had the pain for about 15 mins) but there’s still the anxious part of my head thinking “what if this is a miscarriage”.

I’m just wondering how normal this has been for others? I thought I had got lucky and may have just had that one of bleed, I’m hoping it was just bleeding out but I’m concerned and fearful it’s getting bigger. Would like to hear others experience!

I had a horrendous SCH with my DD (now sitting on couch next to me) and at the time I thought there was no way on gods green earth a pregnancy could continue with the amount of blood gushing out of me. But it did. What helped was that the SCH was below the pregnancy sack. I’d had 6 previous miscarriages so I really didn’t think it was viable but I was wrong! I stopped taking mini aspirin and doubled my progesterone pessaries at instruction of consultant and keep up the progesterone to 16 weeks. From memory I went from 400mcg to 800 mcg progesterone pessary (huge dose).

@Fudgewomble Thats how I feel. It’s like you see that amount of red blood and think how could everything possibly be okay? I don’t know where mine is located, I think from memory of what I could see it was also below but I’m not sure. I think if it wasn’t, she would have maybe highlighted that but they just said how small it was and it’s not a concern. I take two 400mg of progesterone pessaries a day and they also said up until 16 weeks - this has also thrown me as the side affects can be cramping and abdominal pain! Did you have many side affects from yours?

Sometimes just venting your worries (even virtually) can help you see the logic. Let us know how you get on at your 12 week scan. Fingers crossed your little bean is nice and snug above the bleed and will be developing nicely x

I'm sorry you're going through this anxiety. If positive stories help, I had an SCH and bled and spotted from 6 weeks until well into the second trimester. (I was already on progesterone pessaries as it was an IVF pregnancy.) I never stopped feeling anxious whenever there was blood, but the baby sailed through it all and arrived safe and well at term (he's a big boy of 9 now). Fingers crossed for you.

@EllieJade95 no I didn’t have side effects, other than feeling very chilled out despite it all! Wishing you the best of luck

How’s it going op?

Hope all is ok. I had a huge bleed at 9 weeks pregnant, and was convinced I'd had a miscarriage due to the volume of blood, seen in EPU next day and cervix closed and heartbeat seen on USS. Think I had another smaller bleed a few weeks later than nothing. They didn't advise me to avoid doing anything but I did stop heavy lifting etc just for my own peace of mind. Baby is now 18 months. But I'll never forget how scary that time was- sending hugs xxx

edit - big SCH which resolved by 20 week scan

@Beachside82 Touch wood no more bleeding today other than some brown ish when I wipe which I had after the first bleed initially too - I assume this is normal as it’s the old blood coming out.
Was slightly concerned about the slight pain I had when weeing, but that seems to have gone away after 2 paracetamol so not sure if it was just a bit of a sore area from the bleeding. Keeping my fingers crossed that I hopefully have no more. I have a private scan on Saturday so I’m going to ask them if it’s any smaller!

@violetfern Thank you for your message. My first bleed was so small but I was convinced it was a miscarriage but baby was fine. Even though I expected more bleeding I think this one was still a shock & felt a lot more. So far today I have just had some old brown blood & no pain touch wood. So I am hoping that it’s worked it’s way out. It’s so terrifying! Did you have any pain with yours? I think the one thing that threw me was the terrible pain I had before but the EPU said they’d only be concerned if that pain continued & if the bleeding did too. Hoping it’s resolved itself x

I think I had some crampy pain from what I remember. It was a horrible experience, just waiting, so I really feel for you. Fingers crossed that as the bleeding is getting better that it's all settled. I think I posted at the time and was amazed by how many people had been in the same position, which is definitely helpful when you're going through it. Xx

Oh I'm so sorry you're going through this, especially after the tough time you had. I had quite a large SCH and bled on and off until 12 weeks. Some bleeds were quite bad with pain! Then I went to my 12 week scan and it was mostly gone. By 16 it had totally resolved. It's so so scary but it's a very low risk thing. Wishing you all the luck. X

@EllieJade95 The main thing you can do is to rest if you can, do as little as possible. What is your job and can you rest?

Mine was a large SCH. That was after bleeding so badly I couldn't see how I could still be pregnant. I had a couple of massive clots longer than my middle finger. I bled, ended up at hospital as I couldn't stop bleeding. The contents that had come out of me were examined and it was just blood clots no other tissue (sorry). I was scanned 40 hours later and my SCH was classed as large at that point and I know it was larger than half the size of my uterus.

I was put on complete bed rest but luckily at home, so no lifting my toddler, no walking, no housework, no sex, no orgasms, that is what they told me. I literally did nothing unless I needed the toilet. That was from 7 1/2 weeks until my 20 week scan. I think partly down to how much blood I lost and the size of the the new SCH. That baby is now 17 years old!

So if you can, rest, rest, rest. Look after yourself and hopefully it resolves itself soon.

@Olivia199 It’s just the worst! I’m trying to think logically but I guess we are just programmed to think red bleeding must be a bad thing.
I think it’s also hard not knowing when the same thing is going to happen, makes me feel like I can’t leave the house! The pain did scare me as it felt like really bad gas but did go mostly once I had the bleed so I tried not to worry as I put it down to the pressure of it.
Thank you for your well wishes. I am recovering in bed at the moment! X

@Lamplightatdusk So sorry to hear of your situation, that sounds horrific! 🥹
Yes I can rest, I actually have a week off work luckily and my job is mainly working from home which I can do from the sofa/bed. I have a general heaviness feeling which I am hoping will improve as it makes me anxious.

I didn’t have any clots, it was just like a tap coming out of me but probably in retrospect it wasn’t as large as what some people have had but still a lot. I really struggle with the “tissue” as I don’t know what to look for. I never know if it’s like discharge or whether it’s more like very thick clots. I had some very light grey ish discharge come out but I’m pretty certain it was discharge as it was clear and small and not in a clot. It’s bloody terrifying especially not knowing if it’s going to come back!

I’m typing this whilst in bed, so definitely making sure I am resting from now on!

@EllieJade95 I think the general heaviness feeling can just be everything adjusting inside to carrying a baby. All sorts of weird stuff happens to your body and being pregnant makes you hyper aware of your body, constantly going what is that? Is that a ripple of wind or the baby moving? Same with the discharge. I didn't know what to look for when I bled loads and my sister had had a miscarriage and told me to keep everything, ie the pads with the clots.

It is great that you can rest and take it easy. Get your Dh/Dp to do everything they can, do not martyr yourself, stay home and rest. Give yourself a lovely break and all you can do is hope. As I said my SCH pregnancy is now a 17 year old strapping teenager.