Am I Miscarrying?

Updated on October 31, 2006
J.S. asks from Springfield, MO
13 answers

I just found out on Friday that I am pregnant with my fourth baby. I have been ecstatic. However, on Thursday, I spent the day with very heavy cramping in my upper abdomen (just below my ribs). On Saturday, I started bleeding. It started out as brown, and throughout the day today (Sunday) it has turned bright red. There have been no large clots passed, but (at the risk of sounding gross) there have been some very small chunks sometimes when I use the bathroom. I'm really not even sure as to what to compare the size to....maybe about half the size of a piece of uncooked rice. (I apologize for all the bad comparisons.) I am going to try and get an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, hopefully they can get me in that day. But until then, I am going crazy. Could this be a miscarriage? Does anyone know how long after a miscarriage that you will still get a positive pregnany test result? THank you in advance for any help you can offer me.

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So What Happened?

My ER visit let me know that my hCG level was at 155. They estimated me at being 5 weeks pregnant according to my LMP. I went in for a retest at my doctor's office, as they instructed me before I was discharged, and my doctor called me back this morning to let me know that my level was over 200 now. SHe wants me in tomorrow for another blood test. From there we will work on figuring out if there is a reason that my pregnancy is not prgressing as it should be, or if I am not as far along as they thought I was. I'm still trying not to get my hopes up, but with a glimpse at good news, it's hard not to. Thank you for all of the support, personal sharing, and honest facts. I have needed them all to keep some level of sanity.

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R.H.

answers from Springfield on

i had a miss carage and i think positive results are the same as if you had a kid about 8 weeks after. I bled for about a wek and had No medical attention,I WOULD NOT RECOMEND THIS, I felt like i was going to pass out and very weak. my kids are 3yr,2yr,miscarage and 5 months.

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D.T.

answers from Tulsa on

The red blood would send me scurrying to the ER right away. That is a bad sign. Not that you will miscarry just that something is bleeding and needs to be looked at.

Cramping isn't always a sure sign since it can come with shifting organs to make room for the baby.

You don't say how far along you are. If you're over 12- 20 weeks start doing kick counts. The baby should kick you at least 10 times in an hour and if you have something sugary it should be 20 or more kicks. At this stage, if you haven't felt the baby move in a while call the doctor.

Before 12 weeks I would ask for blood tests to make sure your hcg is up to the level it should be.

Take it easy and let us know what happens. I've lost 9 babies so I can pretty much help you through anything.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi Jenn, I had a healty pregnancy with no bleeding for my first child, then miscarried, then had a 2nd healthy pregnancy that was carried to term despite bleeding. After my miscarriage, it was determined that I had low progesterone and that had likely caused the miscarriage. When I got pregnant the 3rd time, my progesterone was checked but the results had not come back before I started bleeding. I called and immediately they put me on progesterone and that saved the pregnancy. If I were you I would demand that my progesterone levels were checked STAT today and that they start you on progesterone immediately while the results are pending. There are no adverse effects that I know of. I hope everything works out for you.

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M.L.

answers from Rockford on

I have never had any miscarriages but like everyone else has said I would go to the ER and have them look at you just in case hopefully everything will be Ok. Let me know what happens either way.

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L.D.

answers from Tulsa on

Jenn,

I wouldnt wait for the appt. Go to the ER. I started spotting on 10/5, which was unusual for the beginning of my cycle, so i went to the dr on tues 10/10, confirmed i was pregnant. on thurs 10/12 i started cramping and bleeding slightly heavier, and on fri 10/13, went to the er and confirmed i was miscarrying and my bleeding got heavier for a few days after that with larger clots....pls pls pls dont wait for the appt...go to the er...this would have been my 1st baby, but we are gonna continue trying...i lost my mom in aug so i had been really stressed out...but i know it can still happen again...take care jenn...shonda

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B.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I am sorry to hear of this and trust me when I say I understand 1st hand. It sounds like it could very well be a miscarriage. It is not unheard of to bleed as you have discribed and remain pregnant, but it is fairly unlikely. I have had most of my miscarriages show a disappering line (each time I took a home test the line was getting lighter) each day I bled. I did have one +urine test 4 days after my blood test said my hcg levels were 6 thus confirming a drop in my hcg level and miscarriage was in progress. 5 HCG is the minimum for getting a + pregnant blood test and most urine tests detect 15 at a minimum for real sensitive ones on up to 200+. I know it is rough having a miscarriage, dealing with the possibility, all the worry with the grim picture being painted by your symptoms. Hang in there. You are in my prayers!

B. :)

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M.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Jenn,
I have had 2 miscarriages and done as much reading & researching as I can on the subject. (And I am now having a healthy pregnancy). About 50% of women who have bleeding or spotting miscarry. How long a home pregnancy test will come up positive just depends on when you pass enough tissue to lower your hcg levels below the threshold. It could be days; it could be weeks. Hopefully you have already gotten in to see the doctor, and they can at least check your hormone levels (and do an ultrasound if you are/or make it to 6 weeks). I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know how scary it can be. HTH.

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J.S.

answers from Springfield on

Hi Jenn,
Bleeding doesn't necessarily mean you are losing your baby, but as any doctor will tell you..it's never a good thing during pregnancy and should be checked out. Even if you're not losing your baby, there are risks to YOU.

I've had friends tell me they've bled during pregnancies then ended up giving birth to a healthy baby. I myself never bled so much as a drop during my first 2 pregnancies and carried 2 healthy babies to term. Then...unfortunately, I miscarried my 3rd child 2 weeks ago, so it's fresh in my mind how it started. At what should have been 12.5 weeks into my pregnancy, I noticed a pink tinged discharge one night and went to the emergency room. When I had an ultrasound they saw the baby had stopped developing at 7.5 to 8 weeks along and there was no heartbeat. Over the next few days the bleeding went from that to small amounts of brown blood to outright red blood just like a period and I was losing "chunks" like you described. I started having cramps off and on, too. Four days after my ER visit (and the day before I was scheduled to have a D&C) I started bleeding so severely, I had to be taken to the hospital by an ambulance and ended up losing so much blood I had to have a transfusion and emergency D&C.

I hope you are able to get in to see your doctor. I'm not sure how long after a miscarriage you will still show a positive pregnancy test because I have been too heartbroken about my loss to even take a test to see, but I will tell you that I had TWO doctor appointments during the time I was unknowingly carrying a dead fetus, and they didn't catch it. I don't know if my pregnancy hormone levels had just not dropped yet, or my doctor's office just didn't CHECK them like they were supposed to. Believe me, I will have a LOT of questions at my post-D&C check-up!

Feel free to pm me if you like, and take care!

J.

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J.L.

answers from Wichita on

Unfortunately I don't want to sound like a downer; however to myself it sounds like you are miscarrying. I had a miscarriage between my 1st and 2nd child. That is probably why they are almost 7 years apart. If by chance you have miscarried they recommend that you wait 6 weeks to help let your body heal. However after a miscarriage most people start trying right afterwards. I did and still didn't get pregnant. That is ok though cuz my oldest was born with CP and I needed that time to get educated on it. Please e-mail me and let me know what the dr. says. ____@____.com, is my e-mail address. You will be in my prayers.

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M.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I hope by the time you read this you are already back from the hospital/Doctors. Bright red blood is usually from the placenta pulling away. I had this with my son. Any time your preg and see bright red blood, go straight to the ER. Chances are if you are misscarring, they can't stop you, but they can do an ultra sound to make sure things are okay with the baby. I had an 80% of misscarrying my son when I was 7 weeks preg. I was placed on STRICT bedrest (only getting up to go to the bathroom) and told to drink TONS of water. Now I have a wonderful almost 9 yr old. :) Update us when you can. Our prayers are with you!!!

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M.S.

answers from Wichita on

Jenn-
I think if I were you I would head into the dr.s office asap, and if they can't see you, go to thr ER. I bled a little in my pregnancy, but it stayed brownish, and my dr. said to keep an eye on it for change in color to bright red and call immediately if that happened. I'm not sure of the exact time for test results, but I know it is at least several days, because I have had this situation before. (Only mine turned out to be from a culposcopy.) Hope this helps!

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E.

answers from St. Louis on

Drive to the emergency room immediately. Call your doctor on the way. It sounds like you could be miscarrying.

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J.P.

answers from St. Louis on

Jenn,

It doesn't necessarily mean it's a miscarriage but at the very least it warrants an immediate trip to the OB or ER.

My OB does blood tests the moment I find out I'm prego because I had an ectopic pregnancy the first time so they always make sure the hCg levels and progesterone levels are good.

Someone here mentioned progesterone levels. That's why the blood test will be helpful for you. It might just be that you need to be put on progesterone right away to maintain the pregnancy.

I'll keep you in my prayers and I hope it all turns out OK for you.

Best Wishes,

J.

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