5 weeks pregnant, light bleeding but line getting darker - chemical?

[MWC30]

Hi lovely people ❤️

I had my (first ever) BFP after ICSI two days ago at 13dp3dt, tested again yesterday which was positive as well. Me and my husband were over the moon, immediately started dreaming and planning for our future like two morons.. even told his mum who knew we were waiting for results after IVF.

However, the happiness didn’t last long as I noticed some pink/light red blood (no clots) last night before going to bed. Of course I’m devastated and trying to find any possible sign that this is not a chemical.. the bleeding hasn’t continued though and this morning I took another test where the line had actually gotten darker. Mild cramping in my lower belly though, but still no blood. My hubby says it maybe takes a while for the hcg to lower, so will test again in the next couple of days to see if it gets fainter..

But, when you have a chemical, has anyone had bleeding that “paused” and then continued to get darker after a day or a few days? Or is the bleeding more “constant” like with a period, did you have to keep changing pads from the beginning? Weird question I know, but I can’t find any answers to this on Dr Google..

Grateful for any input or experiences!

Xo

[MofM]

On my CP, I started bleeding 3-5 days after I stopped the medication (beta were not raising quick enough and then dropped). However, this time (BFP) I had some pink/light red spotting on two occasions and the nurse explained to us it could be up to the Crinone irritating the cervix, and to do a good "cleaning" (TMI, sorry) every three days (but not more often than that).

When will you have your beta measured?

Sending love xxx

[MWC30 in reply to MofM]

Ok, I see.. I’m taking progesterone vaginally too, how do you do a “cleaning”? Do you mean, to reach in and wipe out the blood?

My clinic doesn’t do beta tests until earliest at week 7 when I go in for a vaginal ultrasound, so I feel like we’re on our own until then..

Sorry about your chemical, but glad to hear you have another BFP now ☺️ How far along are you?

Thanks, you too xx

[MofM in reply to MWC30]

The gel creates a kind of paste, which you remove using your fingers (TMI). I do it squatting under the shower. If you are bleeding it can be soaked in blood, usually old (or so I have been told), so don't worry if it doesn't look white! The pessaries do not need cleaning, but I read here they can also irritate the cervix and some people prefer to use the back passage (I didn't in the cycles I used them, so no suggestions regarding this).

Have you spoken to your clinic about the bleeding? Perhaps they can let you have your blood earlier than 7 weeks? If the bleeding continues, you could also contact your local EPU. When it happened to us with our first IVF pregnancy (which ended in a 6w+5d miscarriage) they were very nice and offered an (inconclusive, unfortunately) scan and blood. We were 5w6d. There are also services that do bHCG privately, but I never used them and I would not know what to suggest.

I am now 10w4d, and still very stressed about everything: spotting, cramping, sudden disappearance of symptoms... you name it!

Keeping everything crossed for you, let us know how it goes in the next few days! 🤞🤞🤞

[MWC30 in reply to MofM]

I haven’t spoken to my clinic yet, they’re closed on weekends so I’ll try to talk to them tomorrow and ask if they’ll see me earlier.

It sounds like the worrying never really goes away, I can imagine especially after experiencing CP or miscarriage in general, and the combination with infertility and IVF just makes this so much worse. Hope you’re all right, congratulations on making it this far 🥰

Thanks, I’ll keep you posted 🤞

[MrsOrangejuice]

I had two and on one I didn't get any spotting or bleeding and it was only when the HCG stopped rising that we found out it had stopped developing - I didn't bleed until I had come off all the meds and had got a not pregnant on CBD. The other one I spotted throughout but HCG took a long time to get to zero and I was told not to come off meds until it had - I guess because they have to be sure. So you can spot/bleed and not and it wasn't an indicator for me. On my FET I was on loads of progesterone because of what happened previously and didn't spot until I tapered off it at 10-12 weeks - then I spotted/had bleeding every day that's all been ok too. So it's very worrying and I would get it checked (especially whether you're on enough progesterone) but don't rule this one out just because of it. I also second getting HCG done a couple/three days apart - it was the only way reliable way for us to know what was going on - my clinic don't do them but my GP did and I also used an online company.

[MWC30 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Seems like the bleeding in CP can vary a lot, even in the same person..The clinic actually told me to stop progesterone when I got my BFP two days ago, but since I was worried that could be harmful they said I could continue with a lower dose for a few days before stopping the meds completely. The bleed actually came the evening of the first day I started to taper off, so now I’m terrified it caused the bleed and started taking my original dose again, but I have no idea if this is even logical.

Good idea about using a private company, I think I could go for that if my clinics says no. Was it expensive?

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to MWC30]

Normally after a BFP they said to continue meds for 12 weeks, but there would probably be a reason they said stop so maybe double check. But unless your clinic have a reason to tell you to come off, I think you did the right thing going back on - that's what I did when I got the bleeding and doctors said afterwards that it can't do any harm (and even that you can't have too much progesterone) and I could stay on it the whole pregnancy if I wanted. Also, I missed more than a day's worth of meds early in my 2ww because the delivery company didn't turn up - I panicked but my clinic said progesterone fluctuates a lot naturally and a day or so wouldn't make any difference, you just want a good level on average. Plus your body should make it, even in small amounts, so it shouldn't be at nothing if you've missed a few doses. On HCG, try your GP as mine was happy to test several times and that may be quickest (and free) but I also went with Medichecks (online) after recommendations on here - I got a combined HCG and progesterone test and it was around £70 - took a day or two to arrive, and then you have at least a day for it to get back to the lab but they email you the results. Other option is a private walk-in clinic but I haven't used them. I'm sorry though for what you're going through as I've been there and the anxiety alone is awful - I really hope it is all ok. Keep asking questions on here as you need to as there is so much knowledge and support x

[Rain415]

Hi MWC, I'm sorry to hear about the spotting it's so stressful whem it should be such a happy time. With my CP I spotted few days after OTD and it didn't stop it just got gradually worse then with clots. With my current pregnancy I spotted wk5 and wk7 but it faded away clinic put it down to implantation bleed on wk5 and pessary irriataion on WK7. I really hope the bleeding stays away for you! X

[MWC30 in reply to Rain415]

Thank you, this situation is so heartbreaking. So glad to hear your current pregnancy has continued despite some bleeding, it gives me hope! Could it be implantation bleeding this late? Always thought that would be earlier on, but I’m really clueless as to how all this works. First time in IVF and really learning a lot as I go.Thanks 🤞💕

[Rain415 in reply to MWC30]

I also thought it was too late I think I got it 2 days past OTD but nurse said it was more than likely implantation and the other irritation. Ita awful! I thought it was just happening the same again another CP but it tailed off and I'm currently 35 weeks. If it has stopped that's a good sign. You could always book a private scan from 6 weeks. But sometimes that can't tell you much x

[MamaWeez]

Hello! I’ve been through both, chemical pregnancies and spontaneous bleeding during pregnancy. During chemical, I bled non stop. It was bright red and had clots, very close to a period. Didn’t always have cramps but I had white substance come out, I was told this was my uterus lining shedding. I noticed the pregnancy test get fainter. It is also important to note that I only bled when my doctor told me to stop progesterone as my chemical was confirmed.

However during my spontaneous bleed (week 5 & 6), i had a dash of red blood. A clot or two. I bled twice that day and for the rest of the weeks I had dark red spotting and brown spotting for 3 weeks. It turned out it was a hematoma and I am now 30 weeks pregnant.

Hope the above was helpful to distinguish between both. Please ask me if you want specific details. I know how it feels to be totally confused in lost in this. I hope it is just a spontaneous bleed and you get to enjoy pregnancy with no scares

[MWC30 in reply to MamaWeez]

Sorry for the late reply, and thank you so much for sharing your experience! My bleeding stopped after that first time, and I’m hoping it stays that way.. so relieving to hear that you’re 30 weeks, it gives me some hope that this will all be OK ✊

[MWC30]

So a little update from last time.. the bleeding thankfully stopped. And the symptoms are absolutely increasing again. Mostly feeling horribly tired and needing to nap during the day, but also some nausea. So my clinic won’t see me until the 28th of February, so I took your advice and went to get a hcg blood test at a private clinic. The results came back yesterday that my levels are right where they should be at this point (6 weeks + 2 days), which makes me so much more calm!!! Now I’m hoping everything keeps progressing and that we get to hear a heartbeat next Monday 🤞🤞🤞

Thank you so much for your support ❤️