Light to Medium Bleeding in First Trimester of Pregnancy

Updated on June 21, 2010
C.O. asks from Holdenville, OK
15 answers

I noticed I was spotting a little bit on Wednesday night and it was real dark. Look like old blood. Next morning I called the Dr. they said it was probably caused from intercourse, but I haven't had sex in over a week. By the end of the day the bleeding was a little heavier and changing to a lighter color of red. I called Dr. again and they told me to come in. He did an ultra sound and I wasn't as far along as I thought I was he said I was between 5 to 6 weeks and according to my LMP I should be 7 to 8 weeks. But the good news was is baby did have a slow heart beat but he said the heart beat was normal in a embryo of 6 weeks. Well now it's Saturday and the bleeding is bright red now and it keeps getting heavier and slight back pain. I have another appointment on Tuesday, but I'm scared and I don't know if I should go to the ER now, or just wait it out.

What can I do next?

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So What Happened?

Well unfortunately I ended up loosing the baby. I was early enough in the pregnancy that my body naturally passed everything and I didn't need a D & C. And the Dr. said I could start trying to get pregnant again as soon as i start my next period. He gave me his "Family Recipe". Thanks for all your comments and advice!

More Answers

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

you should get to the doc immediately

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M.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

The bleeding makes me nervous because I had an ectopic pregnancy in November last year and did not even know it was an ectopic because when I went to the doctor because I too was bleeding he told me not to worry the baby was in the uterus and everything was fine (he did also do an ultrasound at this time). Unfortunately the baby was not in the uterus it was in my tube and when my tube finally ruptured at 9 weeks I nearly lost my life from the internal bleeding. Believe me I pray everything is ok and I am sure that sometimes bleeding happens an it's normal but for piece of mind and just to be safe go get an ultra sound and tell them to be a Thousand % sure the baby is where it should be.

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C.H.

answers from Dallas on

Call the doctor's office and let the doctor on duty call you back and ask that question. I feel that back pain not a good sign together with bleeding increasing.

Follow doctor's orders. Hope he's a gynecologist.

My sister bled out a lot during early pregnancy. Even had an amount of tissue like a blood clot come out. She feared the worst. Don't know all details but she was told not to move, stay laying down. Doctor said the clot wasn't anything (but would she have told her if it was indeed like a twin?) and she stayed down for weeks and had a healthy baby girl.

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N.M.

answers from San Diego on

I'm sorry you are going through this time of worry-I've been there and it's very stressful. I say to wait it out and wait to see your doctor. The ER is full of sick people and you shouldn't be around all those germs if you are pregnant. I know it's so hard not knowing what is going on!
There are a couple things you should do: rest, lay down on your left side and take it easy until your appointment Tuesday. There are some herbs you can take for preventing miscarriage-you'd have to do a little research online. Try and think positively and try your best not to stress.
Question: did your doctor take blood while you were there? If he did, he can take blood again on Tuesday and if your hormone level increased, it's all good-baby is growing. If level drops, you know you're having or did have a miscarriage.
Seeing the heartbeat so early is a great sign. I wish you the best. Remember, if you have a miscarriage it will be very sad but you will know there was something wrong with that fetus. Lots of love to you and your baby-you will get through this!

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K.J.

answers from Kansas City on

Call your doctor or whoever's on call and ask the question. That's why they're there. It could be serious, or it could be nothing. But, in case it's serious, you don't want to put it off.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

My first pregnancy ending in miscarriage. Call your doc, but if it is, there is not much they can do. I was out of town, so by the time I got into see the doc it was all over. My body naturally removed everything, no D & C.

I hope all works out for you. Take it easy and good luck.

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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

you are more likely to get better more promt care if you call your doc or even labor and delivery rather than just going to the ER. there is very little the ER can do. I suffered two losses this year, the ER was useless.

The difference of your LMP and the gestational age your doc mentioned is normal, you ovulate about two weeks after your period starts, so the baby is actually going to be a couple week younger than what you LMP makes you think.

Good luck, and i do hope that everything is alright with both you and the baby.

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J.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Yup. Call doc. Had dark spotting during first trimester of second & third trimester and then bright red heavy bleeding & huge clots just after 12 weeks w/ third pgn. Second pgn is now a healthy and bright 2 yr old. Third pgn is still hanging in there with good heartbeat 3 weeks after the bleeding. As one of the other posters said, if it is a miscarriage, there is not much that will change the outcome. However, a little extra rest and some reassurance from your doc may be in order and certainly can't hurt!
(Also they may have said that it was "implantation bleeding" which many women have and is harmless.)
Best of luck!
:-)
jen

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

for this or any other pregnancy worry you can always call the ER and talk to a nurse and they will let you know if the problem can wait or if it needs to be adressed now

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S.B.

answers from San Diego on

Hi C.-

I'm sorry you are going through this, it sucks! I would call your OB and see what they recommend, they usually have someone of call who can help you. My OB is affiliated w/ a Woman's hospital so when I had issues I just went to the triage of that hospital, and not to the regular ER. Sadly I have had a few miscarriages so I know how it works. The regular ER is full of sickness & germs, all of which you don't need to be exposed to if possible. If you are bleeding a pad an hour then you need to go into whereever your OB tells you to.

When I was pregnant with my son, which was my last pregnancy, I bled throughout the entire pregnancy, and he turned out fine. Hopefully you can hold that with you and not be as worried.

Good luck and please update us when you know what is going on.
Stephanie

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I would call the Doctor ASAP. Better safe than sorry, and I'm sure the doctor would agree.

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N.D.

answers from Toledo on

If you want to find out if everything is ok ask them to monitor your HCG level.You can go to the ER or your DR and ask if they can check it . It is the hormone that is produced during the first 3 months of pregnancy after that the placenta takes over,but yours should be rising and be in a specific area or lab number if everything is maturing along as it should. It's a blood draw and can be monitored while your beeding to see if it is from a miscarriage. Some women bleed during pregnancy ,I had spotting with most of my kids but one of my 5 kids I had severe bleeding in fact they couldnt believe I didnt loose him. I also had a miscarriage and I had to watch those HCG nunbers go down and that was hard but just to be sure you want to make sure they're rising and if they are and the pregnancy is ok, find out why your bleeding. If it was from sex it should have stopped by now, Just make sure you and your baby are doing okay.before they made pregnancy test so sensitive, where pregnancy could be detected so early, women had a miscarriage and most didnt even know it ,they just thought their periods were late. So unfortunatly new technology is good but can also bring some heartache to those who wouldn't of known they where even pregnant. Bottom line get yourself checked,Ill keep you in my prayers. N. (License Birth Assistant)

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

You need to get checked by a Doctor, or go to the ER.

When I was 6 weeks pregnant once, the vaginal sonogram showed that the fetus was only 5 weeks. There was a heartbeat, which I saw. I continued to bleed, it turned bright red as well. This happened from start to finish, within 5 days.
Mine, ended up in a miscarriage.

But, not all pregnancies end up in miscarriage.
So, go to the ER. Or call/page your Doctor.
And see a Doctor before Tuesday.

I did not have any pain whatsoever, during the whole thing, with my miscarriage.
But when I went for a follow-up like 2 days after my initial exam... i was still bleeding red, and at that time, there was no heartbeat, and the sac was empty. I then had, a D & C.

I wish you the best... and I will hope for you that your pregnancy is not compromised.
Many women as well, continue to have "periods" during pregnancy... so, bleeding can mean anything. Not necessarily miscarriage.

Just rest. Don't exert yourself. Take it easy. Stay hydrated.

all the best,
Susan

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M.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have read that light spotting or bleeding can be due to placenta previa? I know someone who had that who did have some bleeding but could happen to someone with no bleeding or spotting as well.

I don't think I would wait it out on this one especially if the bleeding is getting heavier.

I have a friend who told me that she had her period the whole time during her pregnancy. I wonder if you are just having a regular period but yet pregnant? I am not sure how often that happens as only one person told me this has happened to them while she was pregnant.

I wish you the best of luck and that everything is okay.

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K.H.

answers from San Diego on

Call the doctor ASAP! I would even go to the ER if you are filling a pad in an hour.

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