4 Weeks - Cramping & Brown Discharge

[LucyMay1]

I’m just over 4 weeks pregnant and have been experiencing mild cramping (sometimes lowkey sharp bloated-like niggles and occasional period-like pain) and bloating since I tested just under a week ago, and I had brown mucus/jelly-like discharge on two occasions over the weekend. I’m just so worried about it being an ectopic.

I’m seeing a doctor but just want some reassurance!

I had that with DD1. Off and on until 9 weeks. She is now a 23 year old.
It is very common.

I had an ectopic and was symptomless until a good bit later on. You're absolutely doing the right thing getting checked. When you say 'seeing a doctor' is that your GP? I'd give your local EPU or EPAS a call as they're the ones with the expertise on this and will look after you well. If it is ectopic (though those symptoms alone don't have to mean so at all) you're very early and so it's way more likely it can be resolved with minimal impact.

the pain you describe sounds fairly normal, i'm 4 weeks and 2 days rn and a few days ago was getting sharper twinges and mild background period like cramping and its all settled. In my ectopic is was one sided pain (my right). If you experience shoulder tip pain don't wait for your doctor appointment, make sure you're seen right away.

@aLogLady thanks so much for your advice. Yes, my GP but she’s going to speak to the EPU today as she said she wants them to scan me but I’m guessing it’s way too early at this point.

If you don’t mind, can I ask what symptoms you got later on that led to an ectopic? I have endometriosis so I know I’m more at risk which is why I’m worried.

I had this at 4 weeks, it was just brown discharge, didnt last that long, ive had 3 previous mc's so was kind of prepping myself for my first chemical.
Which would have totalled at 4 mc's.
I went on to have a scan at 7 weeks as nobody would touch me, not even the dr's at 4 weeks. Because you'll see nothing at all on the scans.
My pregnsncy has gone on to be a healthy one and im currently 36+3, inpatiently waiting for my rainbow to come.

It could just be the blastocyst burrowing in your lining! I hope this pregnancy is healthy for you x

of course. i mean my first warning was a very early positive test (6dpo!) and the test line not getting particularly stronger over many tests. because I was about to do an IVF round, I had to phone the clinic to cancel, and when i told to Dr about the v early positive he flagged that it could be ectopic. I had no symptoms, just tests not getting much stronger and lingering on 1-2 weeks on digi. then I woke in the night with bad cramps, nausea and needed to use the bathroom urgently. It was very likely a minor internal bleed, as any liquid can irritate the peritoneum and bowels and it was confirmed a few days later that even though the pregnancy was still too small to see there were two haemorrhagic areas in my abdomen. But still no actual pain from the ectopic itself, just indirect. This is why abnormal pain, but more importantly shoulder tip pain, is to be treated with urgency as it can point to internal bleeding. Mine was just mild bleeding not rupture. EPU gave me repeat bloods, hcg was high but not doubling, acting erratic. I ended up opting for expectant management as my hcg was falling slowly. They monitor you very closely to keep you safe. No matter what you'll be ok, and maybe all this worry is for nothing anyway! The best thing is that your doc has referred you to EPU and you will be taken seriously and checked out. It's such early days that you'll be able to choose what treatment you want if indeed you need it, so don't worry, you've placed yourself in safe hands.

@aLogLady ok that’s interesting, thank you for explaining it all to me. I haven’t had any further brown discharge since Sunday but I’m still getting mild period-like cramps on and off (3-4 times a day) and a twinge on my right almost like I’ve twisted awkwardly. It’s not painful enough to wake me up or take painkillers but it’s the one-sided niggle that’s concerning me. I would say the period-like cramps are definitely central. I’m also getting urgency and looser stools I would say but I don’t know if that’s because I’m eating better and drinking a lot more that I normally would.

I tested positive on 11dpo after I had a few symptoms (light pink discharge, lower back pain).

I’ve got two HCG blood tests booked in for next week 48 hours apart as they said they can’t scan until 6 wks. I’m guessing those will give me a good indication then. I’m trying to distract myself but just so scared!

@LucyMay1 im certainly no expert, but to be honest, I wouldn’t be particularly worried with everything you’ve described. I’m 18dpo and getting central cramps, and getting occasional twinges on my right ovary (where I know the egg came from). You develop something called a corpus luteum on the ovary that provided the egg, which is essentially a functional cyst that communicates with your embryo. It can get bigger and make things sensitive. I also know I have a harmless small para ovarian cyst that can cause pain, mild twinges. There are loads of things can can cause symptoms. Rising progesterone alongside your hcg also interferes with digestion. Can slow things down, create gas which could make unusual pain. And honestly? Im nervous for my repeat blood today (to help rule out 2nd ectopic) and the nerves have affected my stool! My stomach is fluttery and so is my heart! I’ll have a scan next week too to confirm position.

it sounds like everything might be just fine from what you’ve described, but even if it’s not, although it’s obviously very sad and not a wanted outcome, you’re very early, and are going to be monitored the a team set up for exactly these things, so you’ll be safe.

@aLogLady ah thank you so so much! Sometimes you just need to hear this kind of thing to make your mind let go of all the silly thoughts.

I’m keeping everything crossed for you too! Sending you lots of love 🥰

I had an ectopic pregnancy, actually recieved the methotrexate jab 2 weeks ago this Friday, it was weird for me because I had unprotected sex on the 22nd of August, my period before that was the 10th of August, I then bled for 5-6 days on the 7th of September, positive test was the 27th of September and then scan was the 4th of October, I had sore boobs which is why I did a test, but no sickness considering how many weeks I would have been I was sick as a dog with my last 4 pregnancies from 5 weeks, I ended up having a scan and there was no pregnancy in my womb, I also had a period inbetween so was very shocked finding out I was pregnant. Scan later confirmed that the fetus was growing in my left tube. I was also getting sharp stabbing pains in the left side and aches round the front of my abdomen and back and round my side.

@hadenough2025 I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope you’re doing ok.

How bad was your sharp pains in the left-hand side and were the pains obviously mainly located in the left as I’m finding it hard to tell where mine are located? I haven’t had any bleeding of the sort, just a couple of occasions of brown mucus which has now stopped. And, how far gone were you when started getting the pains and when you had your scan?

Hey sorry for slow reply, been a manic day plus still in lots of pain.

the pain was all over if honest in my back, left side then sometimes in my right side too, was like a sharp stabbing pain, then kind of an ache if that makes sense. I was about 7-8 weeks when I started getting them, 9 weeks when I found it was ectopic. I also didn’t bleed either, I think my bleeding was my ‘period’ i thought I had on the 7th of September. After that no blood nothing was very strange. It’s only the last week and a bit I’ve bled but that’s because of the methotrexate injection.

The scan finally with the nhs was on the 8th and 10th of October. Sorry forgot to say. When she poked it with the scanner which was internal it bloody hurt a lot. I was still getting postive tests too because my hcg levels was 835 on first blood test then went up too 905 48 hours later, my hcg wasn’t doubling like it should have which led to them scanning me finally and finding it in my left tube.