Flying with subchorionic Hematoma?

[Riri88]

Helllo ladies. So I figured to post this here instead of the other fertility forum to not upset anyone.

I have been discharged from my IVF clinic 2 days ago, I am currently 7+4 but they did see a 2x1x0.7cm bleed (SCH) on the scan 2 days ago. I had bleeding in week 5 that scared the hell out of me but been fine last 2 weeks and those times the scans were clear of anything but now a bleed is seen yet no signs of bleeding. But I am due to visit my family in the Netherlands over Easter and my Nan is in hospital and already not seen them for so long it really is for me an important trip.

But info online is contradicting about flying with a SCH and even my doctors are contradicting each other. The GP said she don’t know for sure but you likely won’t get a fit to fly note out of safety reasons so insurance would not cover you yet the IVF clinic thought not too much of it as it is such a short flight and A&E care there is good in case I need support while over there…

It has been so stressful already to get to this point and just wondering if anyone else had this dilemma and what did you do? I am tempted to still go but the GP really scared me into re thinking this…

[Hoop123]

Congratulations on being discharged!! I'm not sure what the answer is on this but I'd also be really interested to know.

I would slightly lean towards the IVF clinic's view but that's assuming they've seen this a lot before. Which maybe they don't as people are discharged into maternity care? Maybe someone is aware of a general NHS midwife number you could call for advice to double check?

[Riri88 in reply to Hoop123]

I did wonder to maybe call the midwife advisory line but too many opinions might cloud it even more?

From what I gather from the IVF clinical director was her advice to wear flight socks, I am already on aspirin and to keep moving even if a short flight. Which makes me think it is more a blood clot problem they worry about for me than risk to the little bean. And in that case, with such a short flight it would be really unlikely anyway. And long flights in pregnancy are always more risky due to that which is nothing new. Plus how many ladies don’t have a 7 week scan and probably won’t know till their 12 week scan anyway they have a SCH?

And no one has actually explained the risk and why it is a risk. I think they are just on the side of caution? I could be driving to my husbands Nan for 3 hrs in the car yet no one would have questioned it? And no one actually gave me instructions about the bleed seen on the scan. If I hadn’t asked I wouldn’t have known and would have gone anyway. So… if it was that dangerous they would have given me better instructions no?

Ooh boy, I think there won’t be an easy answer here…

[KiboXX]

I don’t have any experience with the travel side but I did have a SCH early on in my current pregnancy which was very similar in size to yours (1.9 x 0.7 x 1.5). Mine was picked up at my scan and then it bled out at 9 weeks. It was quite frightening as it was a lot of blood, went through my clothes and everything but was completely painless, just like a big gush when I stood up from a chair. I had a scan the following day which showed the baby was fine and the SCH was now 1.5 x 0.4 x 0.4. I had a few days of spotting and then no more bleeding since. It was completely gone at my 12 week scan.

I wouldn’t imagine a flight as short as the Netherlands would have any impact on it to be honest so I would also lean towards the opinion of the clinic. I think they are fairly common in IVF pregnancies and unless they’ve said it’s too close to the baby then it’s likely to resolve itself in time. The only thing to consider is it may bleed out at some point and you’re going to want a reassurance scan if that happens for peace of mind so I’d probably check for the nearest private scan place before you go so you can do that if necessary xxx

[Riri88 in reply to KiboXX]

Thank you for telling me your experience with your SCH and bleed. I literally think one thing 1 moment and the opposite the next. I think I am going to stalk a few more midwives for their advice.

Problem is that this is our 6th pregnancy and no live births so obviously extra anxious and hubbie also thinking not to risk it as I will never forgive myself… in which he is probably right.

Might over think it over the weekend and maybe decide to go for a private scan to see what is going on before making the final decision…

Pfff the mind f*** continues 🙄🤦‍♀️

[KiboXX in reply to Riri88]

Oh lovely, I’m so sorry you’ve been through so many losses. There is definitely a balance between getting on with life but also minimising the risk on your own head and heart. Can you postpone the trip until after 12 weeks and then hopefully the SCH will be gone and/or you will feel a bit more comfortable with the idea of going? X

[Riri88 in reply to KiboXX]

I think that will be the way forward indeed… just a bit safer for my own mental health just in case something happened…

[sun-and-rain in reply to Riri88]

You know, I think the risk is more that you have that bleed at that very moment, and that both you and the flight attendants will get preoccupied and stuff. And that you'll have to wait a bit longer to have a scan because you first have to land safely, and then you have to call a clinic in a foreign country to get that appointment. But apart from that I can't see either why it should be more risky in itself to fly with it. As if the eventual bleed would do more harm up in the air???

Now I don't know anything about SCHs in my pregnancy (8w2d today), but I know that we're leaving Europe for South America to see my husband's family in less than four weeks, and that's for sure a long trip by plane! But I haven't even thought of worrying about other things than clots, but I do have some dalteparin injections in the house (they prescribed it to me when I started with symptoms of OHSS, but they went away so quickly - and I started that dreadful week of bleeding at 5dpt - so I just had that one injection, and nine was left for later. Now I'll talk to my doctor about precautions to take while travelling pregnant, but worried? No, I'm not ❤

[Riri88 in reply to sun-and-rain]

Hi hun, good to not worry and by the time you are flying you are around that week 12 so that is definitely good.

I did decide to cancel in the end. Really for my own piece of mind that ‘if’ something wouldn’t go as planned I wouldn’t blame myself. We just been through too much to risk literally anything so postponing till after 12weeks felt better….

[sun-and-rain in reply to Riri88]

Now I don't know why your Nan is in hospital, but let's hope your Nan will be OK till then anyway. Or you might regret having postponed your travel as well...

[Riri88 in reply to sun-and-rain]

Ooh I know, so hard😥 she needs a heart valve repair and they are currently testing different things to know if it is possible and how. But she is doing much better since on better meds and she is a tough one so we hope she will pull through. She actually told me herself she didn’t want me to risk it so listening to her advice!

[sun-and-rain in reply to Riri88]

That makes it a lot easier, doesn't it? One if the reasons we're going abroad now is that we wanted my husband's grandma to know her great grandson who was born on her 91st birthday 2 years ago. So we will celebrate their birthdays together, if she's still with us in month's time. We all thought she was going to die three months ago, but when she knew we were planning to come later this year, she decided she couldn't go with the Lord so soon 😆 So she went from being bedridden with a growing heart and pulmonar edema that was drained to agin walk on her feet, making herself a cup of tea and even visiting her children 😁😁😁 The power of the will 🤩🤩🤩

[Riri88 in reply to sun-and-rain]

Wauw! That is amazing to hear and I really hope she stays well for your visit! That would be so special!

Draining the pulmonary oedema definitely can make a difference! My nan meds didn’t work so they admitted her in hospital and put her on an IV with meds and she lost 8kg of fluid in only 2 days! Amazing and made her feel so much better! So I hope that will help to keep her going 🥰

[Lagoon]

Hi Riri88,

I had a heamatoma (still have I think) , fairly big 8x5x2 cm and I bled at 12 weeks. This has shrunk now, it’s much smaller. However, a couple of weeks ago I flew to London (from Edinburgh and back, approx 1 hour flight ) and when I asked the consultant he had no concerns about me flying. I did use my compression socks though to be on the safe side.

[Riri88 in reply to Lagoon]

Thank you for letting me know your experience! I hope all is going well with your pregnancy.

I think I generally think it is fine but what if something would go wrong as will only be 8,5 weeks and it is more my mental health and my relationship with my OH I am also worried about. What if in that 1% something happened that might also could have happened here yet will it become a bigger issue and maybe better to postpone till after 12 weeks? Wish there was a right answer

[Bozo_the_pumpkin]

sorry you’re in this position-it sounds very tricky Any chance you could take the Eurostar instead? The flight to Netherlands isn’t very far but if you take the train you can avoid the issue. IVF is such a difficult road and in this position I would probably err on the side of caution…

[Riri88 in reply to Bozo_the_pumpkin]

Hi hun, looked at trains and not available for the return dates and other days over £400 so bit much 🤦‍♀️ Can’t see myself driving either as maybe even more stressful.

I did speak to the midwife advice line and she said generally flying shouldn’t be higher risk yet indeed what if you do miscarry or bleed or feel unwell over there. And then indeed it is the whole road we have taken so far. You just don’t want to do anything wrong with this precious pregnancy that took so long to get to where we are.

So starting to think that even though my rational head says it will be fine, to be cautious and postpone till after 12 weeks… just when things will be a bit more settled…