Reasons for spotting and bleeding that aren’t to do with the baby’s health … thoughts please :-)

[Saskiahope]

Hi,

So I have been plagued with ongoing brown spotting throughout my pregnancy (I’m currently 25+3) and more recently I had a small amount of fresh red bleeding.

I got everything checked out and following each appointment, including after the red bleeding, I was told that the baby was fine (touch wood) and they don’t know why I have it…

I don’t have a low lying placenta. There is no subchorionic hematoma showing on the scans. I have an anterior placenta but it’s not in a complicated place. I don't have an infection or thrush. Baby is in fact measuring large (I had a diabetes test but it came back clear) and they said everything looks fine 🙏… the baby is kicking quite a bit as normal… scans don’t show any separation of the placenta and I’ve been taking it pretty easy. No strenuous activity.

So, I don’t want to hear horror stories as I’m trying to be peaceful about all of this, and realise that this may just be my bag and something I need to learn to calmly accept, and just act on accordingly by getting checked out each time it happens to be sure.

My question is however, has anyone experienced the same with no identifiable reason?

Also, has anyone found any reason for the bleeding that’s a bit obscure that has been explained to them which you could ?

What did people do in response to spotting or bleeding when the cause was unknown? Did you just accept in and learn to live with it!

Stories of healthy born babies following such matters very welcomed.

Were you recommended any tests, treatment or medication in the light of red bleeding? They just said pelvic rest for me.

The only suggestions I’ve had is that it could be a burst blood vessel or possibly some old blood (apparently even the fresh red was somewhat behaving like old blood- just there on wiping). Or also that it could be linked to the cervix and hormones (I can’t remember the details but the explanation was a bit confusing and wishy-washy 🙈).

They do also say that sometimes it just happens, but it’s not really written about online except for under the more upsetting and frightening circumstances, which is frustrating and scary and doesn’t provide insight into this situation.

Sorry this is so long and perhaps no one will have any thoughts or answers, but I tend to feel that I get the most sense from people on this group who are actually going through such matters.

And who knows, perhaps in the future this post may be useful to someone else, you never know.

I’m reassured that scans were all good and it was great to see the baby at 25 weeks and hear (again touch wood) that all looks normal and healthy. But I’m just wondering if there is anything I should be pushing or checking in the light of this madness.

Anyways,

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone is doing well. This group is great and I will always appreciate it.

Have a lovely week and I’m thinking of all you guys! Whatever the circumstances hang in there. We got this

xxxx

[Keggles36]

Hi there

I'm a midwife, and first off you're doing the right thing being seen each time it happens, just in case it's something different.

This said, I've cared for several women who have bled throughout pregnancy with no identifiable cause and have had lovely, healthy babies. The cervix is very vascular during pregnancy and sometimes these vessels burst causing fresh red blood, or old brown blood if it's sat there awhile.

Please, if you bleed, keep calling your maternity unit just to be sure. But I hope it's reassuring to know that this does happen, not as rarely as you might think, with good outcomes.

Sending you lots of love xxx

[Saskiahope in reply to Keggles36]

This is wonderful to hear thanks so much! I really really appreciate your response ! X

[Keggles36 in reply to Saskiahope]

That's not a problem. And congratulations on your pregnancy ❤️

[Saskiahope in reply to Keggles36]

Thank you! And right back at you! I hope to hear you’re in labour soon!!!!! 40 weeks, wow! A Christmas baby ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Keggles36 in reply to Saskiahope]

Thank you ❤️ yes, though right now it's really hard to imagine it being here!

Take care lovely x

[Twiglet2]

they found no cause for my bleeding this pregnancy either, last pregnancy it was a hematoma bit this one they just don’t know why it happened. It’s stopped now thankfully but I think it might just be my cervix being very sensitive or some old blood, they said it can happen where they never find a reason why.

On a private scan one time though she asked if I still lift my 3 year old (which of course I do on occasion it’s impossible to avoid) and she said ‘yeah I can see a very small old bruise shadow at the front of the placenta that I usually see when people have other kids to lift or deal with, it’s very very tiny and not an issue at all but might be why you has some bleeding. As it healed. ‘ I took this with a pinch of salt as nhs scans have never picked that up and anyways it’s healed now whatever it was 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think she was trying to give me an explanation to put my mind at ease as we sometimes need this but there sometimes just isn’t one my consultant said and baby is fine xx

[Saskiahope in reply to Twiglet2]

That’s so interesting. I’m so glad that yours stopped and it feels quite reassuring to hear that you have had something similar happen. The most important thing is that our babies are fine, and we may just have to live with some unknown regarding the bleeding.

Thanks so much for your reply x

[Tinkertinkerbell]

Hi, I had constant spotting and 3 episodes of fresh red blood between 4 and 10 weeks with this pregnancy. Not quite the same as mine suddenly stopped at just gone 10 weeks. But it made me worry through my whole first trimester. It even ruined my positive test for me because I was already spotting so I thought that was it. I went for scans at the EPU twice and they could see no reason and told me it’s very common. It randomly stopped one day and I’ve had a relatively smooth pregnancy ever since. She’s due any time soon x

[Saskiahope in reply to Tinkertinkerbell]

Awww that must have been so tough, but I’m so glad it stopped! And how exciting that she’s nearly here! Sending you lots of best wishes and do keep us posted ! A Christmas baby! 🎄 xxx

[JoyfulStar]

Hello,

I was plagued with brown spotting and on one occasion bright red bleeding during my pregnancy. I did get it checked out and after about the 3rd or 4th time, I was told it looked like my discharge was from cervical ectropion which is caused by high levels of hormones in the body which can irritate the cervix causing it to bleed but the blood turns brown by the time it exits the body.

It sounds like you were told the same thing. Either we went to the same hospital or it is given as a common explanation. Mine eventually stoped sometime in the second trimester.

Keep doing all you are doing and wishing you the best with the rest of your pregnancy x

[Saskiahope]

Thanks so much for your reply. Yes I think the possible explanation I was given was something like that. It’s reassuring to hear of others having the same thing so I really appreciate your comment. So glad yours stopped and I just can’t wait to have some relief from this (or I guess to just feel ok about it). As of today following my bleed last Friday it seems to be clearing up and I hardly have any residue old blood now (touch wood), so fingers crossed I can have a break from this for a bit now xxxx