subchorionic hemorrhage

[rareimer]

Almost 3 weeks ago, I started bleeding very heavily, was sure I was miscarrying (was about 11 weeks at the time.)  Although I have yet to hear if it was confirmed by the ultrasound I had, they suspect it was a subchorionic hemorrhage.  The bleeding lasted for a few days, and then I had nothing for several days after that.  Then a little bit of brown spotting, and the past week or so, I've had A LOT of the brown spotting, sometimes rust-coloured, but not red.  I know brown is supposed to be okay--the hematoma draining--so I've tried not to worry, but am wondering how much is "normal", and how long can I expect it to last?  Even though I know it's supposed to be "okay" if it's brown, it still makes me nervous.  I just want it to stop!  The placenta can't be very big at this stage, so how much more blood can there be to drain?  Sometimes there is so much!

Also, my doc suggested refraining from sex for about a week after the bleeding stops...does this go for the brown spotting too?  How long did your care provider suggest going before resuming sex again? 

[jennyfah]

Hi there-

I have had 2 SCHs in two different pregnancies and your symptoms sound exactly like mine.  The brown bleeding is very normal after a SCH incident---from what I understand, as the hematoma decreases in size, it often sheds a little.  I was advised to be on pelvic rest (no sex, no vigorous activity, no heavy lifting) for a few weeks after each incident.  The concern is that if the SCH is near the placenta, it could theoretically cause a placental abruption, but that is exceedingly rare.  The vast majority of the time everything is just fine after a bleeding incident.  Also, once the baby is larger than the hematoma, the risks of miscarriage drop dramatically.  After my most recent SCH and the ending of brown bleeding I did have a follow-up ultrasound just to confirm that the hematoma was decreasing in size---which it was----and I felt okay about going off pelvic rest at that point. 

HTH!

[frugalmum]

I lost a baby at 17 weeks due to SH.  I had a big gush of red blood around 9 weeks then spotted brown off and on until I lost her.  I'm not sure if rest or avoiding sex makes a lot of difference but it wouldn't hurt to avoid exertion or penetration/ orgasm.  I am now taking baby aspirin and am pregnant again, I have not formed another clot.  Perhaps ask your OB or MW if you could start low dose aspirin therapy.

I had another SH with a previous pregnancy 10 years ago and carried that one to term.

[2moms3kids]

I had a Subchorionic Hematoma at 17 weeks with DD1. I bled for about 2 days, bright red and then it stopped. No other complications but put myself on pelvic rest for the rest of the pregnancy just to be safe. The OB said I was fine to resume normal activies after about 3 days.

Good luck!

Sarah

[rareimer]

Originally Posted by frugalmum 

  I am now taking baby aspirin and am pregnant again, I have not formed another clot.  Perhaps ask your OB or MW if you could start low dose aspirin therapy.

I am on an anti-coagulant for the pregnancy, as I had a DVT (blood clot) in my leg during my first pregnancy.  So I am not allowed to take aspirin, BUT...i'm guessing the anti-coagulant could only be a benefit in this scenario then?

[Maurine]

I had one from 6 weeks to 12 weeks or so, detected on ultrasound only.  My doc recommended pelvic rest until we had the followup ultrasound to confirm that it was shrinking.  I did end up with brown/maroon spotting and a little clottiness around 12 weeks, and that was that.  At my 18 week u/s it was gone.