some spotting - 23-24 weeks

[rubyinparadise]

Earlier this evening I noticed a little bit of bright red spotting after I urinated, and a bit of pain during/after urination. I didn't want to get too worked up so I decided to just pay very close attention for the rest of the evening. I told DH about it and he said (of course) not to worry. I'm not having any cramping, other than what I think is some round ligament pain on the right (which I've had off and on for a week or two now.) But no back pain or menstrual cramp-like pain.

I was going to just got ot he ER but decided to page my midwife first. She was great and talked with me for about 20 minutes, asking lots of questions and staying very calm. She said to page her again if the spotting increases in volume or I start having cramps. If so, she'll arrange for one of the MDs she collaborates with to meet me at the hospital for an exam. Otherwise she wants me to go in to the office tomorrow morning. (They don't open til 9.)

This afternoon I did go for a 45 minute walk, fairly mellow but there was some uphill during the first half. I have been very inactive during my pregnancy so far, so I'm hoping maybe the walk just irritated my cervix or something. The other possibility I'm thinking is that it could be a UTI-- since I'm having some pain with urination.

Actually I am REALLY hoping it's one of those two causes, because any other cause would be very concerning.
For tonight, I'm just trying my best to stay calm and keep my feet up. I do feel the baby kicking, and I did even check with my fetal doppler, and DH and I heard his heartbeat.

Once again, thank god for the fetal doppler.

I guess I'm just looking for any words of comfort or encouragement. Hoping for sleep and calm tonight, and that symptoms resolve or at least stay as they are... I am about 23.5 weeks.

I am already so in love with my little boy, I just really need everything to be ok.

[rubyinparadise]

That's great. I understand being scared despite being told that there's really nothing wrong. It's very disconcerting to see even a tiny amount of spotting on the tissue. Are you still seeing any?

I am sure that we will both be fine! Today I feel confident and peaceful so it's easy for me to say that. ;) I hope you are feeling more at ease soon too. Deep breaths.

[selenhep]

The doctors found nothing wrong with the placenta. Which was s relief. But I am scared anyway.

They told me sometimes the edges of the placenta can cause some small bleeding esp. when it is closer to cervix. But as pregnancy progresses the placenta  moves upwards due to uterus expansion.

Take care. XOXO

[rubyinparadise]

How is it going? I hope that everything checked out fine with you yesterday at your doc's.

My midwife phoned last night just to check in on me. WOW! My previous midwife would have never done that-- too disorganized to do any follow-up. I'm just so glad I switched over.

I haven't seen any spotting now that I've been on the antibiotics for a few days. I don't love taking them but I'm thrilled that my symptoms seem to be improving.

[selenhep]

Dear Ruby;

I wasn't exercising but I was out all day and very tired the day before my spotting. Also I was upset and very stressed the day before.

My placenta does not seem low lying. Tomorrow I will go to my doctor again.
Take care. xoxo

[rubyinparadise]

Hi ladies,

Thanks for your support, all of you. I so appreciate it. I don't know what I would do without this forum! DH just doesn't get worked up to the same degree that I do. (And thank goodness he is so mellow-- two crazies would be a disaster!)

There is just a special kind of empathy that only other women who have been there can give.

selenhep- I'm so glad everything is ok with you too. Was your spotting associated with any exercise or activity? Just curious.

I'm going in today for an ultrasound to have the placenta checked since mine is low-lying. Excited for another, unexpected peek at the little man.

And I love my midwives! They don't mess around, and they don't make light of things that are serious to me. I love the feeling of being in competent hands.

[selenhep]

I also had the same problem at the weekend. I was scared to death. I had some spotting went to the ER. They looked at my cervix it was closed. The placenta looked fine, and the baby looks OK. This is very nerve cracking. The spotting has stopped I hope it is a good sign..
After reading Amanda's story it gives me hope. I too read about placental abruption and all the bad stuff in the internet. It is really scary

[adgal]

I'm so glad to hear your appointment went well.  I was hoping for an update from you today.  I'm also glad to hear it's most likely just a UTI, they are so easy to treat and non threatening to the little one.  It's so much easier at this stage of pregnancy.  If the cervix is closed nice and tight and you have a good fetal heartbeat you know things are ok.  So different from the first trimester when so much is "wait and see".  You must be so relieved, I am soooo happy for you!!!!  

[rubyinparadise]

thanks Pum.

meli - no, I'm not, so at least that's not a concern.

i went in today and got checked and they said my cervix is closed, no blood there. so we're assuming it's a UTI. the culture will be back in a few days but she started me on 10 days of antibiotics anyway.

i'm just glad it's something easily fixable and i'm happy to do whatever it takes to keep it from turning into something worse. she said i'd probably also get a yeast infection from the meds-- good times! but again, it's all fixable so i don't care. just relieved.

[melimeli]

your not rh- are you??  hope all is well

[Pum]

I can't offer anything other than saying my thoughts are with you and hope everything turns out ok.

[rubyinparadise]

Amanda, thank you so much for your post. I'm on the edge of my seat here, reading and re-reading it. It's so reassuring to know that your spotting was never anything very serious. I knew a woman who had a placental abruption *and* placenta previa, and although she delivered early, her baby is now a happy and healthy 2 year old. So I'll just keep that in mind for now!

After passing the night, I feel pretty confident that it's a UTI. It definitely hurts when I pee and I only spot after peeing, not before. The only bad thing about last night turned out to be some awful nightmares, but no worsening of symptoms.

My midwife definitely wants to check me today for UTI and to make sure my cervix is ok. She did not mention an ultrasound but I may ask for one anyway, even if it means paying out of pocket.

I'm bummed I may have to go on antibiotics if it's a UTI but hey-- anything that is non-threatening to my little man is ok with me. I would pretty much do anything to keep him safe.

Thanks again for your very reassuring post!

[adgal]

Hey Ruby,  I'm up too with a horrid case of insomnia.  I have had spotting off and on my whole pregnancy.  A few times out and out bleeding. With the exception of a few incidents of brown, most of it has been bright red.  I know how scary this is.  It could very well be cervix irritation. It could be you ruptured a small blood vessel in the cervix as well.  Urinary tract infection is not uncommon, and can cause some bleeding. You could also have a small (and harmless hematoma).  I had one in first trimester that easily resolved itself.  The cause for me now seems to be a small placenta tear.  I know when you look that up you'll read all kinds of scary stories.  However, after a few trips to labour and delivery (cause it scared me half to death) and many conversations with my OB about it, I have come to discover it is not uncommon at all.  It bears keeping an eye on, and they have really limited my activity, but it honestly hasn't been a huge issue. It hasn't gotten any worse either.  Both the OB's at L&D and my own told me it's also not uncommon to have a bit of tearing along the edge of the placenta, and that too can cause some bleeding and rarely becomes a big problem.  If your anything like me you start googling and come upon placental abrubtion.  That is a worse case scenario and when a tear is caught early, steps can be taken to prevent it from getting worse. Of course our minds jump to worse case, but honestly, it's rarely the situation. You should definately have an ultrasound to check things out, but at this stage it's unlikely there is a major problem.  Remember that only 1% of losses occur in later pregnancy, the vast majority are prior to 20 weeks.  You heard his heartbeat and its strong.  You are right to get it checked out, absolutely, but it is far more likely it's something minor that it is something major..know what I mean?  Take it really really easy, get it checked..in fact I would want an ultrasound for sure.  And try not to let it get the best of you (again, I know, much easier said then done).  It's going to be ok.  (((Hugs)))