Heavy Bleeding in Early Pregnancy

Updated on January 15, 2010
A.B. asks from Chicago, IL
18 answers

I am 7 weeks and 3 days pregnant. About a week ago I experienced very heavy bleeding with no pain. I went to the doctor, sure that I had miscarried. To my and my husband's shock, the ultrasound revealed the baby, heart beating and developing normally. My doctor said it was a blood clot, but could not give a reason why it had happened. Yesterday, I began bleeding again - it was not as heavy, but alarming nonetheless. After another visit to my doctor, he informed us that the placenta was bleeding, and that there is nothing I have done wrong, and nothing I can do. He said my chances of miscarriage are slim, but a possible result. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Or does anyone have any advice?

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So What Happened?

I am now officially 11 weeks along, with no complications since my last post. The doctor says that he expects a normal pregnancy! Hooray!
Thank you all for the replies. It really eased my mind to read your stories and to know that this has happened to so many other moms. Thanks!

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G.P.

answers from Chicago on

Did the Dr. mention anything about a Subhebtonic hemmorrage? (Spelling) That's what I had, but I did not bleed, but usually you do! Good luck, hope everything is okay!

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

I had the same thing, around 11-12 weeks. Very heavy bleeding, and it lasted several days. The doctor said it was a placenta tear.

That was in 2006. My baby was fat, happy, and very healthy when she was born full term. :)

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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

I am 26 weeks pregnant and had heavy bleeding in my 5th week which was a subcutonic hemorrage(spelling). I then continued to bleed until my 15th week and i have had ultrasounds every month because of this to check the development. I also have a low lying placenta and he thinks that is where my most recent bleeding last month came from. So far so good, the baby is doing just fine and very active.

I will tell you i still worry about having the baby early and i make sure to do no lifting, no excercise, and no sex. My husband wasn't too happy about that, but he will live.

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

A friend of mine had the exact problem. She is now almost 9 months pregnant, due in mid Feb. After the early blood clot issue, everything went to normal. I think she had the bleeding around 8 weeks, off and on for a week or so, and then again around 12 weeks. Then it just stopped and everything looked normal on her 20 week ultrasound.

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E.L.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.,

I experienced the same probleem with my 1st child. I started having bleeding when I was 8 weeks pregnant. I went to the ER and after several tests everything turned out fine. They sent me home and it started again. If my memory serves me right, I believe it was due to me having a low placenta. Needless to say they put me on bedrest for the duration of my pregancey, (which lasted about 7 and a half months because he was born premature) Long story short, he came out fine and is now a 16 year old very active young man....
I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Yes its scary, but from what I hear its completly normal.
Congrat to you and your Hubby:-)

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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

Same thing happened to me with our first sone, I was put on bed rest for 2 weeks and everything was fine, he was born 3 weeks early but he was healthy and I am happy to say almost 30 years later still doing fine. Just rest!

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N.S.

answers from Chicago on

I had some bleeding early in my first pregnancy and I also thought the worst. After a visit to my doctor, she said that the placenta was lower than it should be which was causing the bleeding. I was told not to lift anything over 5 lbs., no squatting and absolutely no sex! Just had to take it easy for the next 3 months and hopefully the placenta should return to its normal position. Sure enough, it did and everything else was fine and so is my daughter who is now 7. I would just do those things that my doc told me to do (or not to do) just take it easy and rest as much as you can. I wouldn't vacuum or anything either since I was not allowed to do that. Hope everything turns out ok for you!

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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

I think I had something similar. My doctor sent me for an ultrasound at 7 weeks with my first son (I'm not sure why so early) and the scan revealed a pretty large placental bleed. There was a tear, but they could not tell me what would happen. I had to wait and see. I never had any vaginal bleeding, but the doctor said that had to do with the position of the tear in the womb. She sent me to an OB at that point, and the OB said the same thing - basically, just wait and see.

Anyway, the baby seemed to develop at the normal rate. The tear did not get worse and eventually the blood absorbed back into my body (I guess). The rest of the pregnancy was normal. That was my older son and I had nothing unusual at all in my second pregnancy.

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L.W.

answers from Chicago on

I experienced this with my second pregnancy and everything turned out fine! I know its nerve racking but hang in there and relax as much as possible. I believe the formal term this was given to me was subchorinic hematoma. Scary, but for the most part harmless!

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I had the same thing early in both my pregnancies. It was heavier in my second and I thought I lost the baby. The doctor did an ultrasound, all was well with the baby. If I remember correctly it was the placenta attaching and that's what caused the bleeding. Everything was fine - the bleeding stopped and I had no other problems with either pregnancy. Congratulations to you on the pregnancy!

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M.P.

answers from Chicago on

Bleeding is common so don't worry. Lots of women bleed and have very healthy babies. I forgot the percentage but it's like 1/4 of all women or something. If you do miscarry though, know that 1/3 of women also miscarry, it's not their fault, and it usually happens with the first pregnancy so it's not like... gonna veto your chances of having a healthy pregnancy after that. I bled both times I was pregnant and one was fine and one was a miscarriage. My only advice is to tryyyy not to stress about it because there's nothin you can do but pray.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

I understand your worries. I bled a little with my second pregnancy, but it stopped after 6 weeks. However, a friend of mine bled throughout her first pregnancy, as heavy as a period while she was in her OB/Gyn residency (so while she is now a seasoned doc, she still doesn't know why she bled so much). Anyway, that pregnancy turned out to be fine and that baby is now 15 years old! You know that whatever happens, it's beyond your control. Just try to relax (easier said than done) and take it easy. Good luck!

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T.B.

answers from Chicago on

I had bleeding between 12 and 14 weeks for my second child, who thankfully was born healthy and full-term. I was also shocked and had trouble finding information. I guess books don't want to offer false hope or discourage people from talking to their doctor. I took it easy for a couple of weeks, and after the bleeding passed, the rest of the pregnancy was fine. The doctor also had no idea why it happened (also mentioned a clot) and no specific recommendations to avoid further bleeding, other than to take it easy. I hope for the best for you!

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M.B.

answers from Champaign on

hey theremy sister just went though the same thing. she miscarried about a year ago and is now prenate again this will be number 3 for her. at fist she was bleeding alot and thought for sure she was misscarring again. then when she went to the doc they told her the unbilicord was bleeding and some other stuff. her doc put her on limited lifting and then when it didnt stop bed rest for a few weeks tell the bleeding stoped. now she is 9 weeks along things are going much better and she is back to lifting and doing reg stuff. i would take thing easy bleeding while pregnat is never good so limit your lifting and rest as much as you can so your body and baby can heal them self hope all works out

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L.A.

answers from Chicago on

When I was pregnant with my twins, I bled a few times during my pregnancy. One time I even had a huge clot, and I was sure I had miscarried. The doctors told me it could be a threatened misscarriage, and one doc explained that the placenta walls are like thin wallpaper, and it is not unusual for some bleeding to occur. I want on to have 2 healthly little girls.

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D.F.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.,
Having experienced pre-term labor with both of my children, I learned that bleeding can mean two things. It can mean a miscarriage or normal pregnancy. Yep, a nurse told me that for some women bleeding during pregnancy or pre-term labor is normal for some women. Basically, it is normal for their bodies. As long as the doctor says you are okay, then you are fine. Just make sure you go to the doctor if there is any severe pain accompanied with the blood.

Happy New Year!

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K.P.

answers from Chicago on

I had similar problems during my first pregnancy. However I was never told that my placenta was bleeding so it could be different than mine. It was not until my second pregnancy that they did a simple blood test and determined that I have a blood disorder called MTHFR--I am not sure what that stands for but you can google it and it will give you answers. It is a blood disorder that causes your blood to clot. During this pregnancy now I am giving myself shots of blood thinner and so far I have had no bleeding. You should just ask your doctor about it just to rule it out. I hope all goes well for you from here on out!

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B.A.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A. - Congrats on your pregnancy. At 8 weeks pregnant I experienced the same thing. Very heavy bleeding but baby showed up on the ultrasound. I was really nervous as a had a miscarriage just before this pregnancy. Long story short I ended up on bedrest (fun when you have a toddler running around)until about 17 weeks. The bleeding subsided and I went on to have a relativly normal pregnancy. He's now 8 years old and was my biggest baby. I know its hard but know that once the baby starts moving and you keep growing you'll be reassured. Take care and enjoy any rest you can get! (They called mine a "tear" or thought it was my fibriods acting up)

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