Is it Implantaion bleeding or my period? tmi

[hismommy2009]

My SO and I have been ttc I had a kidney infection last month and had my period right on time I called my doctor and he said it shouldn't effected my period nothing should of. This month I expected my period to come on the 20th but nothing so I was hoping that I was pregnant but than 5 days later I got something I think was my period but than again it was only 2 days and I last 5 days. When I got it it came out light than got like a brick red with some clots and was gone 2 days later. I got some cramps the first day so I don't know. I've been pregnant before but never had problems with sickness or anything like that never had implantaion bleeding either. I'm hoping I'm pregnant so I can surprise my SO for our 4 year ann this sunday.

[Jaimee]

Welcome to MDC!! 

It is difficult to tell what is happening without more information about when you ovulated, how long your cycles typically are, how long your average luteal phase is (the time between O and AF), etc.  Do you recall when you had fertile cervical fluid this last cycle?  Creamy or eggwhite in consistency?  That could help pinpoint O a bit better.  Many common things can affect when you ovulate such as injury, stress, diet changes, travel, and yes, illness.  I would not at all be surprised if your kidney infection from last month affected your ovulation this month.  The body needs time to recover and a kidney infection is no small matter.  What does not vary much is the length of your luteal phase (LP), so if you generally know how long yours is and can think back to when you saw fertile cervical fluid, you can do the math and predict when AF should arrive instead of basing it on the calendar.  The bleeding you experienced could be any number of things.  It could be a very light period (again, AF duration and heaviness can vary cycle to cycle), it could be bleeding associated with pregnancy, or it could be bleeding caused by hormonal fluctuations not associated with pregnancy (such as breakthrough bleeding).  Implantation bleeding is not common and it is highly unlikely that you would see clotting with implantation.  Plus, implantation occurs between 8 and 10 days past ovulation 84% of the time (though can be as early as 6 and as late as 12 DPO).  If you are 5 days past your expected AF, then you are well beyond the implantation period... unless O was quite delayed.  It is my best guess- without more information- that you had a light period or breakthrough bleeding.  But it is likely that an HPT would be accurate by now unless O was very delayed.  Pick up a test that only requires an hCG level of 25 like a First Response Early Response and test with first of the morning urine tomorrow.  If it's negative, I really think that you had a period, but if you continue to have intuition that you're pregnant, wait a few days and test again.  

If it turns out you're not pregnant you might consider starting to chart your basal body temperature and cervical fluid to better pinpoint ovulation.  Then you will know when you are fertile, when you ovulated, how long your luteal phase is, when to expect AF, when to test, if you're pregnant, and if there is anything of concern happening with your cycle.   If you are interested in charting and need help getting started, just post!  Good luck and keep us updated!