Brown spotting at 5 weeks - trying to stay calm

[orangecatmum]

Hi all,

I know it can be so common and normal but this morning I've had a fair bit of brown when I wipe. I had a tiny bit last week around implantation (this is an IVF pregnancy) so I was surprised to see more today. I don't think it could still be implantation now? Today I am literally bang on 5 weeks (or 16dp5dt) so it's very, very early days.

I've also had some light cramping - not as bad as last week during implantation, but lots of twinges across my whole pelvic region and lower back, sort of how I feel when my period is ending and my uterus is trying to 'clear out', as it were. Yesterday I had a lot of tightness in my uterus area after coughing a lot (I've caught a cold, classic!) which made me worry a bit.

I'm trying to stay as calm as possible but my miscarriage last year started with a pink gush of fluid, so my awareness is impossibly high! Every sensation in my body I am second guessing and wondering if it's the beginning of the end.

Going to the toilet and seeing blood is incredibly triggering and I just can't help but worry, but then also this voice in my head is like 'stop being so ridiculous!' Just dreading seeing it turn into fresh blood.

Have many people had this at such an early stage and did it work out OK?

[NemoFish]

I had bright red and brown bleeding every day from weeks 5 to 8, that pregnancy is now an almost 9 week old baby girl. It is terrifying and I was in a right state when it happened, but it’s more common than we realise and absolutely doesn’t have to mean anything sinister. If it’s still happening you should be able to get a scan with your EPU from next week. Appreciate that feels like an eternity to wait but it’s worth getting in touch x

[orangecatmum in reply to NemoFish]

Thank you - I'm so so glad it worked out for you! It is really alarming isn't it. I can't help but think this is the beginning of the end for me but I know that's the wrong thing to assume, too.

[NemoFish in reply to orangecatmum]

I had an early loss at 5 weeks that started with bright red blood so I was definitely assuming the worst when it happened again. There’s no easy way to get through it, just have to take it day by day until you can get some reassurance. Fingers crossed for you xx

[orangecatmum in reply to NemoFish]

This is the thing, there really is no easy way to get through it. Every minute, every second is agonising! Ha. And thank you <3 xxx

[Kitkat10]

I did between 4- 5 eeeks, I had spotting pink and red blood. I was terrified but it turned out to be little haematomas in the lining which they saw at 7 weeks. They said sometimes the blood is seen red or you resorb it and don’t see blood, or you pass older blood which is brown.

After 6 weeks the spotting stopped and never came back and my little girl is now 4 weeks old. The nurse at the EPAU said that spotting of any colour was very common at this stage. I was distraught so I understand how you feel and I hope it resolves and you have a smooth ride from now on 🍀🍀

[orangecatmum]

Thank you for sharing your experience - I'm so so glad it worked out for you. And that bit of explanation is really interesting - it's mad how the body works isn't it!

I'm so glad it all worked out for you, it must have been terrifying at first but you got through it... and hopefully I can do the same!

[Millbanks]

Hello sweets,

This is really common - try not to worry too much.

I think if you got implantation bleeding last week then it could very likely be the embryo embedding deeper in - they do continue to do this for a few weeks.

Otherwise it could be a haematoma which are annoyingly common in IVF pregnancies.

Neither will harm your baby but I know how stressful it is seeing blood. When is your scan booked for? Can you book an early one just to see that there is a sac (as you likely won't see anything else). Although in my experience the early scan made me far more anxious than just waiting for when you would be able to see a heartbeat xxx

[orangecatmum]

It's mad - even though you can be really logical and know that things can be common, it can still send you spiralling! Or, well, me. Ha. It's in my nature to overthink and overanalyse (it's so deeply annoying...)

I spoke to my clinic and they said it wouldn't be implantation bleeding at this stage but that it is 'very common'.

The haematoma thing is interesting, I'd not heard that re: IVF.

My 7 week scan is 2 weeks today, Aug 8. At first I felt like that was really soon but now it feels aaaages away, especially as my last pregnancy started going wrong before then and I MC at 7 weeks on the dot. I don't think I'd book an earlier one but tnh it depends how the next few days go! Ha.

[Twiglet2]

hey lovely I’m 7 weeks now and had it since 5 weeks and I’m hanging in there (had 2 scans all okay so far) but it’s still terrifying every time I see it and when it’s a bit heavier. I would call your clinic ask them to do bloods and take it from there 🤗 thinking of you xx

[orangecatmum in reply to Twiglet2]

Thanks love! My clinic doesn't do bloods (lol, literally I haven't even tried asking because I know it'll be a no!) but they have assured me it's 'very common' and only to be worried if it gets heavier. It's suchhh a mind-F isn't it! Especially for those of us who have had miscarriages, your brain instantly triggers to panic mode! Hope your pregnancy is all going well, glad to hear your scans have been fine! xx

[Twiglet2 in reply to orangecatmum]

My clinic ‘don’t do bloods’ either (I’m self funding at an nhs clinic) but they do make an exception with bleeding if pregnancy tests still strong as they need to check it’s not eptopic etc so I would push for the bloods if it does continue 🤗 xx

[orangecatmum in reply to Twiglet2]

Oooh ok - maybe I'll push if I need to! Mine is my free NHS round, which is probably why they're less forthcoming with betas. For now the spotting has gone but I do fully expect to see it again soon, it was very on and off yesterday. Cannot rest for a moment 😅 xx

[Twiglet2 in reply to orangecatmum]

Aww that’s good it’s stopped, mine is on and off too! Keep thinking that’s it stopped and then a few days later back again 😫 so worrying isn’t it! Xx

[Beclp]

Hi lovely

I’m 6 weeks yesterday and started spotting a couple of days ago and it freaked me out

I’ve had some slight cramping and twinges on and off but it seemed the cramps were stronger and then with the spotting I was terrified

But it has stopped

It’s just that feeling that it might get worse or something!

It’s such a nerve wracking time and I have a week and bit for my first scan

I think I’ve come to the realisation that’s it’s all out of my control so stressing isn’t going to help.

All the best with your pregnancy 💕

[orangecatmum in reply to Beclp]

Same with me! The spotting comes around the time I'm having more cramps/twinges. How strange? They aren't really painful but it's like a load of sparks across my entire pelvic region and lower back - I had worse, more painful cramps during implantation, but these are different.

Completely know how you feel! Hope yours stay away or stay at the lower level - it does seem to be so normal and even though I've read 100+ stories from women who have had this and been fine, when it's you, you're like 'oh nooo but I'll be different', ha. Or is that just me?

Hope yours goes OK and wishing all the best for your scan! It'll come round faster then you think xx

[Beclp in reply to orangecatmum]

No it’s totally different when it’s happening to you ! You can read a million forums and feel comforted for a bit but then the mind takes over again with the what ifs .

I just feel if I start panicking about everything now, I will do I about everything and I’ll never actually enjoy this time I’ve waited so long for ❤️

[WillowPark]

Hi orangecatmum, I had some spotting at 7 weeks and again at 10 weeks. Both absolutely fine. I was told the bleeding was coming from my cervix rather than my uterus and was just irritation/friable cervix from the pessaries/IVF drugs and would settle down. There is a sister forum on here for IVF pregnancies and you will see alot of similar posts on there. It is normal, although terrifying. Fingers crossed you and embryo will be fine! xx

[orangecatmum in reply to WillowPark]

Thanks WillowPark - I didn't know there was an IVF preg forum, I'll go and check it out! Glad to hear that yours was all fine xx

[Wishinandahopin]

hi lovely I’m so sorry I imagine this is so triggering for you. I had bleeding every day from weeks 5-8 sometimes spotting (brown/pink/red) sometimes heavy fresh red bleeding. Turned out it was a hematoma which is more common in ivf pregnancies. My baby is now 5 months so it turned out ok.

Will keep everything crossed for you xxx