Minor spotting...if you could even call it that?

[worried1216]

Hi Doc,

I would say this is my last question, but you and I both know that would be a lie.  

I have had minor light pink/brown mucous.   When I wipe, most of it is clear and white but there will always be a tiny amount tinged with blood.  It is never on my underwear, it's really only when I go digging to make sure I have wiped away all the mucous (gross...I know, but I'm sure you have heard worse)

I have no cramping, except for the occasional "twinge" like feeling. Nothing super uncomfortable, it's more like a stretching feeling.

I went for my appointment today.  I am 11 weeks and 0 days and the nurse couldn't find the heart beat with the Doppler (talk about an anxiety attack) so we did an abdominal ultrasound and my little nugget was moving like crazy and had a heart beat of 180 bpm measuring 10 weeks and 4 days.

My question is 2 part.
Is this occasional blood tinged mucous normal?  It maybe happens once per day.  And what could be causing it ? My doctor just waived it off.

Secondly is it normal for the baby to be only measuring 10 weeks and 4 days at 11 weeks?   I started having this tinged mucous right around then which is why I am concerned.

Thank you,

Worried

[angelarice_07]

I'm was on the depo shot for 6 months . I have no longer been on it for a month now. I have not got a.regular period I just spot everyday since being off. I had unprotected sex 12 days ago and the last two days I been getting dizzy and wanting to eat and then cant. Been really drained and lazy also. Anyway I can be pregnant. I know after the depo it can become very hard to have a.child until body becomes normal.

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Good to hear from you!
It isn't necessarily "normal" to have some spotting, but it is common.  There can be a variety of causes--sometimes it is caused by irritation of the cervix from intercourse (that is probably most common) other times it can be caused by bleeding from a loose or torn edge of the placenta which tends to be down fairly low in the uterus early on.  Because you have already had an ultrasound, I would tell you not to worry if I thought that would do any good. ;)  It will probably clear up on its own, but if it worsens or persists, you should bring it to your doctor's attention again.  As for the other question-- the variation between the dates and the gestational age is completely normal.  It has to do with the error built into the ultrasound measurement.  If you have 3 ultrasounds, you will very likely get three different due dates.  One big reason for this is simple, the baby moves so much that it is hard to get a perfect measurement.
Sounds like (overall) things are going well for you -- Good luck!
Dr B