Bleeding. And Freaking. Need some help...

[tunibell]

I'm 5 weeks pregnant and just saw blood when I went to the bathroom about 2 minutes ago. Not a lot of blood, but not a spot or two either. It wasn't bright red; more reddish/brownish/pinkish.

So what's the protocol here? Scared out of my mind at the moment.

[A-lo]

I had some simple spotting at 5 weeks myself. I know it's upsetting but I think you only should really worry if it turns bright red and/or you have cramping. Keep an eye on it and if you are still spotting in the morning give your OB a call. I'm about 9 weeks and I have a healthy baby so far. Hope this helps you.

[tunibell]

Thank you! Now, when you say spotting...I've always been confused by what that means, quantitatively-speaking. I mean, it wasn't the sort of volume you'd need a pad/tampon for...more of a panty-liner. Does that qualify?

[A-lo]

Spotting for me was more of a pantyliner kind of day, but I have had heavier spotting which required a pad, but not a tampon.

[jennylou]

It's not uncommon to experience spotting in early pregnancy. I wouldn't necessarily rush to the emergency room tonight, but should it continue or increases in flow, definitely call your OB. They'll either send you to the ER or have you come into the office for an ultrasound.

Good luck.

[wildcat]

When I was almost 9weeks pregnant, I had some spotting late at night. Spotting for me was red blood on the toilet paper, but never enough to even make it to my underwear. I called my on-call dr. and they said unless it was enough to soak a pad an hour, to call the dr. in the morning. I was totally freaked and cried all night. Called the next morning, they had me come in and we weren't able to find the heartbeat at my appt 2 days before, so they sent me for an u/s and there was the baby, moving and heart beating!! I think that's when I finally stopped crying. Then, the same story happened exactly 1 week later (this time with less tears). There never was an explanation for my spotting. However, at my 16week u/s, I had a low-lying placenta, which could have caused it. First trimester spotting is not necessarily "normal", but is common...my dr. quoted me about 25% of all pregnancies. I agree with a pp, keep an eye on it and definitely call the dr. in the morning whether it has stopped or not. Try not to get too nervous just yet!

[NYN]

i had a similar story to wildcat's. at 7 weeks i noticed dry, brown blood on my underwear. my doc had me go in for an u/s and he found a heartbeat. exactly one week later i woke up at 4am to go pee and i found myself covered (and this is no exagerration - i was literally covered) in bright, red blood. it was everywhere and when i peed it was in the toilet. it wouldn't stop and i was sure i had lost the baby. i knew the doctor couldn't do anything at that point so i just waited until his office hours that day for another u/s. had my u/s and again, we found a heartbeat. doctor sent me for a shot of rhogam (this is the shot they give you when you have a negative blood type) and w/in hours it stopped (not sure if it was b/c of the rhogam or if it was just coincidence).

like wildcat, they never could tell me what caused it - just said it happens to 1 in 4 women.

[SAMIKE32700]

I had some bleeding at 7 weeks and when I saw my Dr he said it was implantation bleeding. He could see more on the u/s and said it could come. Luckily it never did.

[k8lyn]

i've had brown spotting throughout my whole pregnancy and am still going strong at 15 weeks. at 5+ weeks i had a gush of red blood and was sure i was miscarrying. went in for an ultrasound and there was the heartbeat. had continuous brown spotting (with maybe one week of no spotting) and then at month 13 had another gush of red blood that almost soaked a pantiliner. called the doctor freaking out, went to the office the next day, and the baby's still fine. no placenta previa (placenta growing over the cervix), no detaching placenta, no visible tears in the uterine lining. the doctor said, "you're just a bleeder. some women bleed through their whole pregnancies and have healthy babies."

i rented a doppler heart monitor at week 10 and it has been a lifesaver. when i get scared, i listen to the heartbeat and am reassured that even if i'm spotting, i'm not miscarrying.

see if you can't get into the doctor to have an ultrasound though. the heartbeat can be detected as early as 6 weeks. and once you see the heartbeat, the chance of miscarriage goes down dramatically (to under 5% i've read). good luck!

[tunibell]

Thanks so much, everyone! I can't tell you how much better your replies made me feel. Smooches to all of you. :)

The spotting was strictly brown following my initial post, and now it has stopped completely, so I feel a whole bunch better. Had a beta draw done today just to make sure, but I am definitely more optomistic.

Thanks again!

[kmmommy]

I had a lot of bright red bleeding and even clots (sorry if TMI) at 8 1/2 weeks. I went into the ER and all was well with DS.

My mom said my aunt bled a lot during her first trimester with her 1st baby and she just turned 14!

Hang it there girl. My fingers are crossed that this baby sticks!