Questions on Spotting

Updated on July 07, 2008
J. asks from Forest Park, IL
30 answers

Suprise!!!It appears I am pregnant with my 3rd child. While not exactly planned, I am excited none the less. As far as I can determine I am about 4 weeks along and for the last 3-4 days I have been spotting, nothing too heavy and no cramps. I thought I was gearing up for the regular monthly fun, but after the pee test today my plans have changed. My family just changed insurance companies/ healthcare providers on Tuesday and I have not yet transfered any files to their new doctors offices. So I am assuming that it may be a few days before I can see my new OB. The spotting thing would not worry me too much but I had a miscarrage before and I was spotting . So my head is swimming trying to grasp being pregnant and worring that I my lose the baby all at the same time. I just need a little info, positive or negative...Could this be normal.

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So What Happened?

I called the new OBs office today. They were closed to patients, but the nurse is holding a time for me next week. 1st thing Mon. morning I am doing a "quick registration" with the new office, and I will see the Dr. soon after. Thank you for all the encouraging info. This spotting is not nearly as heavy as it was last time and not accompanied by the horrible vomiting that OBs office swore was normal. (I left that office 2 children ago). Thanks again!

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E.D.

answers from Chicago on

J., I was told that as long as it's brown in color it could just be old blood. If it is BRIGHT red and a lot (like filling multiple pads in a short time then go to the er! Hope that helps and congratulations!

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D.P.

answers from Chicago on

For my second pregnancy, I spotted right before we were set to go on vacation and my first doc appt wasn't scheduled for another two weeks, after we were going to be back home. I totally PANICKED! I spoke to the doctor to see if I should go to the emergency room (I wasn't going to cancel my trip just to go to his office). What I was told was it could be nothing or it could be the beginnings of a miscarriage. Either way, there wasn't really anything they could do. If bleeding was really bad or came with pain, I should go to the emergency room. If not, he told me to wait it out and see him at my appt two weeks later. Everything ended up fine for me so try not to worry!!

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.! I spotted and then started bleeding heavily with my last child. I went to be checked and it was early on so they really could not do a hearbeat at the time or an US. I got my levels checked and they were rising rapidly. My midwife was concertned that I was losing the baby, but it was all ok. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes.
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

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C.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,

Congrats! and Good Luck! With or without spotting we always worry............. I had spotting with my twins, and they are happy, healthy and 8 years old now. I was nursing my 3 month old daughter when I got pregnant, and the doctor felt like the nursing was stimulating contractions and causing the spotting so he thought it would be best if I stopped nursing. I did have placenta previa with that pregnancy.

I hope all turns out well for you. :)

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

Congratulations! I had the same thing occur with my third pregnancy and I had never had it before. I panicked and ran to my OBGYN and they said it was probably implantation spotting. I have a healthy four year old daughter. Hopefully your baby is just fine, too! It is pretty early, and just about the right time for this to occur.

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C.W.

answers from Champaign on

I had the same issue with my second pregnancy. I had two 'periods' which turned out to be really heavy spotting before I even realized I was pregnant...I was already 8 weeks along. They brought me in for an ultrasound to make sure things were ok b/c of the spotting and it turns out I was just low on progesterone. I now have a very healthy happy almost two year old! Best of luck!

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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

I was told by my doctor that it is VERY NORMAL to spot, especially in the very beginning of your pregnancy. A lot of times your body is just shedding the "remains" of what was there from last month. If you are bleeding heavily or passing blood clots, then I would definitely get to the doctor ASAP. But it is very normal, so try not to worry too much!

Sincerely,
J.

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K.D.

answers from Chicago on

I too was surprised with baby number three last year. i had no idea i was pregnant because i had what i thought was a full blown period only 2 days after i shold have started. i bled for over a week. i was very scared, i too had had a few miscarraiges. my nurse at my ob's office said that many women spot and even have what they think are periods while pregnant. yours could be implantation bleeding. my story has a happy ending-my beautiful 10 month old daughter is playing at my my feet as i type this. good luck!

K.

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J.A.

answers from Rockford on

It doesn't have to be an indicator of bad news. I spotted throughout my first trimester, and everything was fine. Get into your OB. They'll probably take a blood test and you'll have answers within a few days.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

J.,

Spotting can be normal in early pregnancy, but you should still follow up with an MD or NP. Your insurance or MD office may also have an advice nurse that can give you more reassurance or schedule an appointment.

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L.F.

answers from Chicago on

I think your o.k I went through the same thing when I was pregnant with my second child just pray and you'll be o.k.

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E.S.

answers from Chicago on

What you might want to do is call your Ob/Gyn and explain that you need to switch doctors due to the change in insurance, but get a recommondation or look to see who is in your plan and ask your doctor for their opinion. If your records are not transferred yetthe Dr. you see can always call your dr. You really do not have to wait to see a doctor.

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E.P.

answers from Chicago on

Could be normal - my daughter is 13 years old, now, but she gave me quite a scare when I was pregnant - I spotted at 8 weeks and, after an ultrasound, the dr. informed me that everything looked normal and people actually can spot around the time that they would normally get their period. However, I did let an ultrasound and doctor confirm the positive outcome so please don't wait too long for peace of mind. Congratulations on number 3!

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V.E.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,
I would not be too alarmed. I spotted with all my children that first month of my pregancy. I had normal pregancies. Best of luck.
V. E.
www.freedomathometeam.com/vedmon
###-###-####

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S.W.

answers from Chicago on

my sister spotted through out the begining of her pregnancy and her daughter is now 4. Good luck and God bless.

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J.M.

answers from Iowa City on

J.
I had almost a completely regular period, just shorter, when I was pregnant with my daughter. So the spotting may be normal for this pregnancy. At any rate, call your new doctor on Monday morning. They should at least have a nurse talk to you about what you're feeling and then schedule an appointment as soon as the insurance is active and they think is appropriate based on your situation. If they blow you off because they say you are new patient, time to find a new doctor. Good luck with the doctors and Congratulations!!!

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H.C.

answers from Chicago on

Call your new OB and find out how to get in now. Yes, could be normal, but why assume you have to wait? You probably don't!

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

With my first baby I had light spotting off and on for a few weeks the first trimester. My midwife thought it was normal but they did do an ultrasound around 7 weeks to be sure there was a heartbeat. Everything was fine. From what I have heard, spotting can be very normal, especially if it is not accompanied by cramps and is not heavy.

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T.B.

answers from Chicago on

I had a still born and then a few years later found out I was pregnant again. At about 5/6 weeks I started spotting and of course fearing the worst I went to the ER right away. Well long story short I found out during the ultrasound that I was having twins! 8 yrs later and everyone is great! I would just say that if it gets heavier or you pass clots definitely get in!!! Congrats and God bless on the new pregnancy!

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K.V.

answers from Chicago on

Congrats! When I was pregnant with my daughter, I spotted almost my entire first trimester, from about 4 weeks on. My doctor told me that it was normal with some women as long as it was not heavy and there were no cramping. They did an ultrasound just to make sure. Hope this calms you a little. Best of luck!

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

COngratulations on the pregnancy! Just to reassure you, I had spotting with both of my pregnancies. The thing is though, with one, it was because my progesterone levels were dropping and I needed to go on hormone therapy. If the same thing is happening with you, you will need to extra hormones, or you could possibly lose the baby. I hope all turns out well for you. It is a simple blood test to determine if your hormones are low or dropping. With my first pregnancy, I had the spotting, but everything was fine, the second, I needed the hormones. Good luck to you!

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

It could be very normal. Could be implantation going on. It happened with both my pregnancies.

I didn't realize I was pregnant with #1 as I thought it was my period at first. With #2, I was more aware of the situation. When I spoke with my Dr. it was suggested I sit with my feet up as much as possible. I realize it is kind of a joke when you have other children, but that is what was shared with me.

And, see your Dr. when you can. I saw mine a day before I was 4 weeks. I know some won't take you then. They tell you they can't tell anything. Mine did. Had an ultrasound and it gave me piece of mind.

Good luck. It is scary. I completely understand that. My fingers are more than crossed!!!

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,

I had spotting with both my pregnancies. The first was a singular pregnancy and the second was twins. Both times I spotted however, I almost lost both. It turned out that I had low progesterone and had to go on progesterone suppositories and bed rest for the first trimester of each pregnancy. My children are now 12 and the twins are almost 10. I was 37 years old the first time I conceived and 39 years old with the twins.
I don't want to alarm you but you should go to the OB/GYN to just get checked out. It is better to be proactive in my opinion. Good Luck and congratulations!

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M.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! : )

Oops! I'm editing this response b/c I didn't notice that you had already called the dr. I think that's smart. Also, I don't think that changing insurance should create any gap in coverage I changed last year when I was in the midst of fertility treatments and having appts w/dr's nearly every week. I never had to delay an appt or had a problem w/coverage.

Hope all's well with you and that you have a healthy pregnancy!

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S.O.

answers from Champaign on

Even if your records aren't transferred, the doctor should be able to treat you. They can do a blood test to verify the pregnancy (it looks at the levels, not just existence of hormones). They can test again in two days to verify the levels are doubling (every 2-3 days). I would give them a call and ask what their recommendations are.

Good luck.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

If you have a regular doctor could you just call and ask? Worse come to worse check with Board of Health if there is free or cheap help somewhere while you wait. How soon does your insurance go into effect?

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

You shouldn't have to transfer files to get an initial exam. When I was pregnant with my 4th child - also a surprise - I too spotted and was told after an ultrasound that he was a blighted ovum and I needed a D&C. The OB who had taken care of me for 15 years recommended this and wouldn't do a repeat test to make sure. So I called another in my area who had never seen me before, requested a second opinion, and three days later he saw me - no files transferred. He also repeated all the tests which showed a baby there, the only explanation given to the blighted ovum diagnosis that sometimes the fetus isn't as developed as the sac and he was too small to see.

For your peace of mind I'd see if you could get an appointment without transferring files. I'd also beware of any negative results. Spotting can be very normal during pregnancy, even if you've never spotted before. Your gut instinct is a better indicator of where the pregnancy is at and I'd definitely follow that.

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J.T.

answers from Chicago on

I had spotting with both my 2nd and 3rd pregnancy and everything was fine. Being that you are in the very early stages of pregnancy it could be implantation bleeding. However just to be on the safe side and to give yourself piece of mind, you may want to give the doctor a call. Congrats on baby #3!

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M.H.

answers from Kokomo on

I know several people who spotted during the first three months of their pregnancy. I think that as long as you are not cramping or there is not a lot of blood, it should be ok. If you are that concerned and can not get into the doctor, go to the ER. They will at least be able to do an ultrasound and let you know if everything looks ok. It might give you piece of mind until you can get into the OB. Good luck and congrats on the new addition to your family.

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

It can be normal and it can also be the first stage of miscarriage. A very large percentage of embryos are not chromosomally normal. Most of them don't implant and so you don't get pregnant. Others do implant but they only grow a tiny bit if at all, which is why a miscarriage at around 6-7 weeks is common. there is nothing you can do to change this. It is nature's way of dealing with an embryo that was not quite right. I am 42 and it has happened twice to me. Each time I hug my little sweetie and understand that I am so lucky to already have a wonderful little girl. Good Luck.

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