is this pregnancy? unsure about implantation bleeding timeframe

[love-on]

hi everyone, i just have a few questions because im feeling like i could be preggo. ive had a chemical preg before so im aware of the symptoms, at least from last time.

my bf is overseas at the moment. i went to visit him 7/18-7/29. i got terrible jet-lag due to the 12-hour time difference. i thought that may have thrown my ov/menses off. we had sex pretty regularly up until i got my period on the 26th.

i havent thought anything of it until this last week. my breasts have been sore and tender and ive been having cramps for almost a week now (not at all normal for PMS for me). ive felt mild lower back pains and mini-hot falshes (if that makes sense). and just had a funny feeling aunt flow wouldnt be coming.

i took a cheap preg test yesterday that was negative. today (around when i should be getting my period) when i woke up the cramps were more intense and when i wiped in the restroom there was kind of a mixture of blood and vag fluids. it didnt look bright red and it wasnt dripping out (sorry if its graphic!). ive put on a maxi pad but its remaining totally clean. my periods are usually pretty heavy, esp. on the first two days. so im wondering if this is implantation bleeding (a month later??) or pregnancy spotting since its more of a pinkish color and thick, not like menstrual blood.

any thoughts or experiences are greatly appreciated! :)

[mamaforever]

Hi love-on.  I would guess that this is the start of your period.  I usually just start with a heavy flow too, but this last period, I had some pink mixed with a bunch of eggwhite cervical mucus for 3 days before my period started!  This was a bit of a pregnancy scare for me (I really want to get pregnant, but I didn't have maternity coverage on my health insurance at the time!).  And I only saw this when I went to the bathroom- like you, my maxi pad stayed clean.

So that is my guess, but you know you body better than anyone else.  I would wait a few days and if your period still hasn't started, take another pregnancy test.

[Jaimee]

Welcome to MDC!! 

So you got a regular period on July 26th, continued to have sex through the 29th and now it's almost a month later?  You had sex on CD 1-4?  Is that the right timing?  I would seriously doubt that you're pregnant if you had a period on the 26th of July and are now getting some spotting on the 26th of August.  If you had a true period on the 26th then you were not pregnant from last cycle's ovulation and you likely would not have ovulated again until around August 12-14.  Sex on CD 1-4 would not catch an egg over 2 weeks later.  So it would not be possible to be pregnant from this cycle now.  This would mean the spotting you're seeing is likely preceding your period, which will show in a few days.  It is not at all uncommon to have slightly delayed O from travel and it could also disrupt other hormones, which could cause some spotting prior to full red flow as well as other unusual PMS symptoms for you.

If the period you had on July 26th was not a true period and was actually bleeding with pregnancy then you would be about 8 weeks pregnant by now and definitely testing positive on an HPT.  There are some women that "fail" HPT's but that is not at all common.  If you really suspect pregnancy, try a digital test with first of the morning urine or get a blood test from your doctor.  Otherwise I would bet AF is on her way in a matter of days.  Keep us updated!