Cramping and light brown/pink spotting

[SLord992]

We were overjoyed when we finally got our BFP last Tuesday, and I’m about 5 weeks now. However yesterday pm I had af type cramps and noticed at bedtime after going for a wee there was some brown mucus spotting when wiping. Last night I called IVF doc on call at local hospital, and he said to get a scan with my clinic this morning.

Rang my clinic and they said they don’t scan until 7 weeks, and the EPU will only see me at 6 weeks. They weren’t very reassuring either! I’m so nervous we are going to lose the baby. DH is away with work, and as it’s early days we haven’t told anyone yet, so I’m feeling really lonely and anxious.

Has anyone else experienced something similar, and still had a positive outcome? Can anyone put my mind at ease?

T I A

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi SLord. I realise how scary this is fr you, but hopefully the cramps you are feeling are just down to your womb starting to move a little, pulling on the tendons that support it. If you are using progesterone pessaries vaginally, they can sometimes irritate the cervix and also congeal a bit, resulting in the brownish discharge. You could try using them rectally for a change, to give your cervix a rest. They absorb just the same and you won't want to be going to the loo all the time! If a smell develops, then there could be a bit of infection, so speak to your GP should that happen. Hope all soon settles and that your scan does eventually reassure you. Diane

[SLord992 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you for your reply Diane, I’m not on any medication. I did another pregnancy test this morning, and the test line was strong but the control was faint, so not sure what that means. I’ve been poorly with a stomach bug the past few days, and am feeling really rotten. I think if spotting continues I will ask for a referral to EPU next week, as I should be 6 weeks then. I’m quite an anxious person anyway, and not having my husband here for support is very tough. I’m trying to stay rested today and keep my fluids up.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to SLord992]

Hi SLord. There you go! Probably just down to the nasty tummy upset you've got. I can fully understand your panic, as it's hard to stay sane during the first few weeks. Not long until your scan, and remember your test strip shows positive, that's all you need to know just now. Thinking of you. Diane

[Hollibob]

Every day is a worry!

I keep having dreams about bleeding while pregnant and it’s screwing with my head..

I was 5 weeks on Wednesday and started getting pains on my right side, which I hadn’t had before and made me worry about an ectopic. We really did think about going to A&E/EPU, but I decided to sleep on it and half way through the second day it (touch wood) wore off. My head then says well maybe that pain was for a reason and start to worry about not having the same pain..it’s a nightmare!!

You could always go to your GP and ask if they would do some HCG blood tests? I know it’s not a scan, but just maybe some extra reassurance?

I haven’t had any blood tests on this occasion, so am just going on the previous positive tests.

Have you got a scan date booked in with clinic already?

[SLord992 in reply to Hollibob]

I know! I’m scared about everything and I hate that I can google it all to! I can’t stop myself from looking online 😔

I doubt my GP will do any bloods they are pretty rubbish to be fair.

My clinic messed up my scan date, I thought I was going in this coming Tuesday. But when I rang clinic this morning they said whoever had booked it in was wrong with my dates, and we’ve had to change it to following week when I should be seven weeks. I have my midwife booking appointment about week 10, so fingers crossed I make it to that point.

When is your scan?

[Hollibob in reply to SLord992]

I’ve downloaded some apps to look at instead of googling which mention positive stages. I also look at the photo of the embryo to remember where we were weeks ago.

Our clinic originally wanted to scan on 6th March at 7 weeks, but we go on holiday on 3rd. They then said 18th which concerned me with my history, so they are doing it next Friday 6+2, but have said it might be too early to see everything...

[SLord992 in reply to Hollibob]

That’s a good idea, I’m trying so hard to stay positive.

Oh that’s good that they will do it earlier for you! Good luck 💓

[kirstyblue]

Are you currently using pessaries? I had my BFP then I had spotting on and off during the early stages whilst I was using pessaries. Must have been due to irritation of the cervix. Soon as I was able to stop the pessaries then the spotting stopped too. I’m now 18 weeks pregnant.

If your spotting is just a light brown/small amount of pink then your probably fine. I know how much of a worry it is though.

Wishing you the best of luck. Take care x

[SLord992 in reply to kirstyblue]

No not taking pessaries, on a unmedicated FET cycle. Yeah it’s not much but just worrying as I have been and still having cramping. Thank you, and congrats on your pregnancy 😊

[littlemisstired80]

Hoping I can reassure you a little. I got my bfp then within days awful period type pains. GP sent me for a scan as suspected ectopic but I was so early on nothing could be seen as only 4w6d so I was back at epu the following week and thankfully all in the right place. I had period pains all the way through my pregnancy on and off but worse those first couple of months and I had brown spotting some more than spotting up until 9w6d with 3 more epu scans. I now have a gorgeous 16 month old little boy.

Spotting especially brown can be very common first trimester. The pain I had felt like horrid period cramps and I was told at epu it's ligaments and womb starting to move and stretch now baby growing.

Try to relax, drink lots of water as dehydration can also cause cramps midwife told me so I made sure to get my 2l a day.

Oh and a test line darker than control line means you are very pregnant and a lot of HCG going on so why it's so much darker 😊

Congratulations on the bfp xx

[SLord992 in reply to littlemisstired80]

Thank you for this, it’s definitely helped. As you know Everything is such a worry in these early days, as been through such a tough journey to get here.

[littlemisstired80 in reply to SLord992]

It is for sure. I never stopped worrying the whole pregnancy and still haven't now he's here as took so long.

Wishing you a less stressful pregnancy you get to enjoy xx

[Hidden]

Brown discharge is old blood. I had some during the early days and called epu. They spoke to be very reassuringly and advised that whilst they cant be sure where it's from, as it is brown it is old and nothing to worry about. They explained that it is most likely to be implantation bleeding that has just taken a while to work out of the system. Apparently it can come up to 9 weeks or something. They put me so much at ease with the way they spoke.

They advised that I should get in touch if it turned red and there was enough blood to fill a pad in an hour. Or if I had extreme pain. Neither of that happened and I am now almost 21 weeks pregnant. I really hope that reassures you. Xxx

[SLord992 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for this, waiting for this first scan is going so slowly, just want some confirmation everything is good. & Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[Hidden in reply to SLord992]

The second 2ww for me felt much worse than the first. Good luck and I hope you find a way to relax (somehow)!?!? Xx