This morning, I had quite a scare when I went to the toilet to empty my bladder and noticed blood. There were no clots, but it was red, and I also saw some spotting when I wiped. I’m currently on holiday in Europe and contacted my hospital back in the UK. They suggested getting an ultrasound for peace of mind. I’m 45 years old and 13 weeks pregnant. We had our 12-week scan on December 20th, and everything seemed fine then.
I went to A&E here, where they performed an ultrasound and found the baby’s heartbeat. Since I don’t have any abdominal pain or ongoing bleeding, they sent me home and advised me to monitor the situation. I’m trying not to worry, but it’s hard not to, especially as this is my first baby and our second and final IVF attempt.
Has anyone experienced something similar and could help reassure me? I know the body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy, and light bleeding can sometimes happen, but any advice would be appreciated.
For context, I’m staying with my mother, who has become very overprotective. She won’t let me help in the kitchen and keeps urging me to rest. At the moment, I’m wearing a pantyliner, and apart from 2-3 spots of blood about 4 hours ago, there hasn’t been any further bleeding.
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Hi lovely I no it’s scary but some times it’s just a blood vessel or something it’s good it’s stopped and you have been checked if it starts again fingers crossed it does not and just a one off maybe you could speak with a nurse at your ivf clinic and tell them and ask would it be worth going back on low dose pessaries till 16 weeks and I think your mother is right you should just rest up and relax and let her take care of you for while xxx
Your welcome lovely and it’s good just to give them a little call just to put your mind at rest you relax now get your feet up and let your mum take care of you
I’m so sorry you had such a scare—it’s completely understandable to feel worried, especially with everything you’ve gone through to get here. It sounds like you’re in good hands with the hospital and A&E, and it’s great they found the baby’s heartbeat.
I had some spotting during my pregnancy as well, and it turned out to be fine, but I know how hard it is to stay calm in the moment. Resting sounds like a good idea right now, and it’s sweet that your mum is looking out for you, even if it can feel a bit much at times.
Take it easy, and try to focus on little things that help you relax—it really makes a difference. Sending you positive thoughts for a smooth and healthy pregnancy. x
Hi there, I had bleeding at 13 weeks which was exactly like you described it. I freaked out and phoned the triage. They offered a scan and an internal examination. They were able to find heartbeats (twins) and the examination didn't show anything that raised concerns.
Some light bleeding/spotting carried on for a few days but it has now stopped. I did another scan yesterday (15 weeks) and babies looked okay.
Hope this helps. I totally understand how you feel.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Yay on your pregnancy and twins! It seems every step of the way is scary but so exciting and amazing when you see that heart beat. Puts your mind at ease. Xx
I spotted from week 7 to about week 10 then had a massive bleed at 18 weeks
Woke up and went to the toilet and there were some spots on my undies. When I wiped it was red and it started to get heavier. I put a pad on and went to the hospital.
They booked me in for a scan and after and hour or so the bleeding started to ease off.
After my scan, which showed baby was perfectly fine, they sent me back to a bed and then I started bleeding so heavily with big clots and everything, I really thought it was over
The scan must have disturbed a hematoma which caused all the bleeding
Because I had no pain or cramping they didn’t think I was miscarrying but they had to check my cervix was closed just to be sure.
It was awful but after the bleeding stopped (after an hour or so) I had spotting for a week and I’ve had nothing since and now 28 weeks. I had a follow up scan a week later which showed no hematoma so it must have resolved.
I did feel some discomfort it my womb for a few days but it wasn’t cramping as such. Just a full sensation. I guess my body was trying to heal the bleed
Being 44 and my last embryo I know how you feel.
Hematomas are more common in ivf pregnancies for some reason.
I’m no expert but I feel if the bleeding is settling and there’s no cramping then fingers crossed it was just a little clot in there.
No I wasn’t given anything. The hospital monitored me for a couple of hours after and once they were confident the bleeding was stopping they sent me home with a referral to have a scan in a weeks time
Hope your feeling better and every is settling down. 🙌🙌 try take it easy xx
I think that it shouldn’t be too worrying if they did an ultrasound and baby is fine, and you’re not experiencing cramping yourself. Plus it sounds like it’s starting to ease off.
Have you stopped your progesterone recently?
I went in for the viability scan at 6 weeks, all looked good, and then 2 days later I had lots of bleeding and huge clots due to a haematoma. Zero clue how they missed that! I also had another small bleeding at 9 weeks and it was discovered that the placenta was growing over my cervix. So indeed, there could be lots of reasons, including a leaky vessel that my consultant thought I had before discovering it was a haematoma.
The advice I was given was to avoid activities (including intercourse) that elevate my heart rate, I suppose that from both stress and workouts. By contrast the EPU said to just live as normal and not overdo it. If you still use progesterone, try the back passage instead. And I should let you know that I had an interdiction on flying when I had the haematoma, so maybe take a look at that for when you get back to the UK, and try to take some precautions (DVT socks maybe?).
When you’re back, go for a follow up at the EPU and they will make a call whether to give you progesterone until 16 weeks.
Our midwife replied to me this morning and we will meet her soon after arriving back home in the UK. She didn’t seem concerNed but has asked me to keep an eye out for cramping.
As my flight was only 50 mins I didn’t think DVT socks were required, but I could be wrong.
Our clinic stopped progesterone about a week ago and I have upped my dosage of Aspirin to avoid things like nose bleeds (as per the advice of our midwife). Just hoping it was a one off, as feel way better today after a full day’s rest yesterday xx
I’m 31 weeks now and after that eventful first trimester, it’s been a fairly smooth ride, thank you for asking.
If the midwife knows you’re flying back and she had no concerns, maybe don’t worry too much about it. It’s a short flight anyway. Generally if you have any sort of active bleeding, I think that they say that flying can make it worse? But if you’re just at brown discharge level and going away, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. That’s just old blood.
You’re right that the DVT socks are more for sitting in one place for too long and preventing you from getting blood clots in the legs, probably not related to the other type of bleeding at all.
Maybe it was the stopping of the progesterone or the aspirin that did it, or a million of other reasons in pregnancy, but it sounds like you’re under great care and if they are not overly concerned, you shouldn’t be either. Enjoy your time at home!
I had spotting the first and second time which I put down to implantation…I also had bleeding after this time until 13 weeks, never loads, just when I wiped you could see colour. It stopped after I stopped cyclogest at just over 12/14 weeks xx
I’ve had spotting and red blood throughout my pregnancy and it can be quite common. I’m now 29+3 and the baby is (touch wood) completely fine.
If you get more just go back again for another check up and when you get back to UK see if you can get checked out.
It’s sooo frightening so I really feel for you, but it can be absolutely harmless.
Rest as best you can and just monitor. I also always take photos of my pad and the tissue to keep a record and to show whomever I see so they completely know what I’ve seen.
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