Miscarriage or something else.

[HappyWeekend]

I'm 36 and never been pregnant before. We had a frozen embryo transfer after IVF and we are now 6 weeks pregnant. '

Yesterday, I was doing housework and felt suddenly wet so went to wipe thinking it was progesterone leaking, but it was bright red blood. It felt like quite a bit at the time. About half hour again I felt it coming out. Then it stopped, it turned brown when I wiped and a small area - about the size of a 50p coin soaked into the pad over the rest of the day and had stopped by bedtime- this morning there is nothing. I've had no pain yet.

The EPU can't see me until tomorrow,

I don't know what a miscarriage is like. Does it start with bright red blood - no clots and then stop and then come back later on?

Based on what you've described, it doesn't sound like a miscarriage to me. Although the experience can be different for different people, usually with a miscarriage there's some level of cramping or pain, and the bleeding is heavier than what you've described and goes on for longer.

Don't panic (I know, easy to say but not easy to do) bleeding is very common in pregnancy. I've had a lot of bleeding starting from 7 or 8 weeks this pregnancy, mostly small red blood like you described, although I did also on one occasion have a heavy, clotty bleed similar to a previous miscarriage and whilst they never found the cause I'm now 31w pregnant so it doesn't appear to have done baby any harm. They said the little bleeds could just be an irritated cervix. I personally found using the progesterone rectally for a while did reduce the frequency and amount of bleeding.

Fingers crossed everything is ok with you as well xxx

Thank you

Hey@HappyWeekend how did you get on at the EPU?

Hi.

It went well. You were spot on - they think the pessaries are irritating my cervix. I had more today but less and thought I'd put it in too far.

They did an ultrasound scan last week and saw a heartbeat at 6 weeks 1 day.

Thank you so much for your original response - it kept me sane! (Almost!)

Glad to hear it, and congratulations!

Just incase anyone reads this - an update on my experience. It has a positive outlook but I've been constantly anxious for 6 weeks!

The bright red bleeding at 6 weeks tapered off and had completely stopped in two days. I had an abdominal scan and we saw our embryo's heartbeat - it measured 1.8mm.

A week later I had an IVF scan. They insisted on the internal scan. The embryo was then 9.3mm and I heard its heartbeat. I was thrilled - walked to Asda to get a photoframe for my picture and I bled again. This time more heavily - it was very watery. I went home - on the doorstep there was another gush of blood. This time dark, deep red. There was a dark red, jelly-like clot the size of my thumb.

I thought it was the same as before. I called EPU. The bleeding was heavy again the next day with mild cramps.

We went to EPU - 2 days after our scan at the clinic. I refused an internal scan so they had to do it abdominally. There was a heartbeat. They said the embryo was measuring 9.1mm. By now I was obsessed with CRL references and I knew my embryo shouldn't have shrunk. The midwife wasn't concerned, but I was.

3 days after my second bleed at 7 weeks, it tapered off to brown water and then stopped altogether.

I told my ivf consultant and she asked how deep I was putting the progesterone - I told her deep - the aplicators and instructions said so. She told me an inch and a half would be fine. About the length of my finger.

Since doing this - I have had no more bleeding (now 13 weeks). I spent weeks paniced that the baby was smaller on the second scan, searching mumsnet, looking at miscarriage reassurers.

At 11 weeks my pregnancy symptoms improved. I thought perhaps a sign of a missed miscarriage. I've read every story on missed miscarriages that the internet can offer.

I suffered a particularily painful bereavement of a close family member at 12 weeks. I worried what that would do if the embryo was still going.

And at 12 weeks 4 days I had my dating scan. It was difficult, I couldn't imagine life continuing after the death of a family member. But there on the screen was a little baby rolling around and waving at us. And it was perfect.

So pleased to read your update! Hopefully no more bleeding now and you can enjoy your second trimester ❤

If it does come back though, do call the midwife and go in for a check up to ease your mind. My bleeding didn't fully resolve until around 24w but all is well :)

Best of luck xxx