“Bleeding in early pregnancy?”
I am a 32 year old pregnant female Based on my last menstrual cycle should be 6 weeks gestation. I have had bleeding for 3 days, lighter than normal period but heavy enough to soak several light tampons per day. The ultrasound revealed embryonic sac measuring 5 weeks gestation, revealed no signs of trauma or hemorrhage to uterus. I was advised by the ultrasound tech, nurse, and OB-GYN that the ovulation date must've been off and bleeding was due to implantation. Future ultrasound set for 2 1/2 weeks to determine the due date. Bleeding has persisted and is bright red with small clots. Searches have revealed no potential medical cause besides miscarriage but was advised today miscarriage is not likely due to the condition of the uterus. Is there any possible explanation?
32 years old
Complaint duration: 3 days
Medications: night.roane@gmail.com
Conditions: Pregnant
4 Answers
Sometimes there is unexplained bleeding in the presence of a normal viable pregnancy. There is no cervical trauma, there is no bleeding behind the placenta. However you are early in pregnancy and if your subsequent ultrasound shows that there is a sac but there is no fetal pole, there is no heartbeat and you are still bleeding then most likely it is a miscarriage.Another way to figure out whether it is a miscarriage or not is to test serum hCG values, if they are declining then it is a miscarriage.
I think we’ve seen these situations turn out to be implantation bleeding and a menstrual dating that was somehow unreliable. Inevitable miscarriage is more often the cause of the bleeding. Just have to wait and repeat the ultrasound in 7-10 days. You may miscarry in the meantime.
20% of patients can have some type of bleeding in pregnancy. It does not mean miscarriage. You have a baseline sonogram & the gestational sac usually doubles in size in 3 days. You can also check the hcg & progesterone levels to see if they are in a normal range. I sometimes will give a safe progesterone like promethium to support the pregnancy during this time. I know the. bleeding concerns you maybe the things I mentioned above will help clarify things for you.
Dr. Jessica Scotchie
OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) | Reproductive Endocrinology
Chattanooga, TN
You have what is called a threatened miscarriage and there is no way to know why women have bleeding in early pregnancy. It is important to follow the pregnancy and if the embryo grows and the bleeding resolves then typically the pregnancy will continue without complication. Sometimes the bleeding is a sign that the pregnancy is not developing well and may be trying to miscarry, the only way to tell which situation you have is to monitor and see what changes in future ultrasounds. I’m sorry you’ve having a hard time and hope everything works out for you.
