Light Bleeding During MC

[ameliabedelia]

I was about 6 1/.2 weeks pregnant when I started to miscarry (I think) . I first had a little bit of bright red blood on Christmas night and then yesterday morning I was passing lots of bright red clots and blood. In some ways like a period in some ways different. Very light cramping. Then yesterday afternoon until this morning I have only passed a tiny amount of blood and clots.

Is this normal? Is it normal for a mc to stop and start? What are the signs of of incomplete miscarraige? I know to look for high fever and flu-like symptoms and soaking a pad an hour, anything else?

I definitely want to avoid all medical procedures and such. I am terrified of having to go to the hospital and them having to do something like a D &C or scrape our the contents.. I don't want anyone messing with my uterus or cervix, I really want to keep it healthy and untouched for the next pregnancy. I am afraid any medical interventions done now will make it harder to conceive and keep the next baby.

Any advice?

[emmalala]

I'm so sorry for you... I've been there too, and it is such a hard time!

I had 3 and they were all at home with no medical intervention. My wonderful understanding OB encouraged me to stay away from her, and take Motrin if I wanted, although she was just a phone call away. Maybe you want to call yours and see if they have any advice, just to feel them out and let them know what's going on?

I would say (though I am not a doctor or qualified to say) that you don't have to see a doctor until you encounter problems. The usual thing is a peak in the bleeding rate and heavy cramps, followed by the tiny one and its placenta coming out, then everything calms down. I don't think there is a schedule to it - it happens when it needs to.

If yours doesn't follow that pattern, then you can wait until you think it is all done, and then have an ultrasound to make sure that everything is out. That might help in avoiding a D&C, if it looks like things are OK.

I have known people who just stayed away and waited a cycle - without bad effects. The only complication I know of is fever/infection. I think the D&C is done partly to resolve the situation, instead of waiting for it to resolve itself - it is partly an issue of patience. Also some people like to "get it over with" because it is such a sad and long process.

Good luck and healing wishes

[SamuraiEarthMama]

i'm so sorry, ameliabedelia!

be patient with your body, feed and hydrate it well, get a massage if you can afford it, treat yourself with loving kindness!

your body knows what to do. the miscarriage process sad but normal. stay in contact with your care provider and know that the sadness will ease. maybe not today or next week, but i promise that you will feel better someday.

take care and let us know how you are doing,

katje

[Jacque Savageau]

Amelia, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I know you must be feeling anxious right now.

I wish there were something I could tell you to make this easier, but every miscarriage is unique and the course it will take depends on so many factors.

I do think that in most cases the body can move through a miscarriage naturally. The syptoms you mentioned; feaver, flu-like symptoms, heavy bleeding (more than a pad an hour) and severe pain (that you cannot breath through) are all signs of infection.

Stay in-tune with your body right now and you should be able to catch any problums early. It is possible that you can have some very severe cramping as the body contracts to pass the baby. A warm bath can help ease the pain and relax you. Also, fill a sock with rice and warm in the microwave. It does WONDERS on lower back and abdominal pain. You can wad it up behind your back or roll it along the painful area.

Make sure you're drinking pleanty of water and eating healthy food on a regular bases.

I'll hold you in my thoughs.

[Peppermint]

Amelia

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I had 2 early miscarriages, and for me both were like a very heavy/clotty painful period for a couple of days, and then spotting for the rest of the week, they both started though, with light bleeding. I never had any interventions for either of them, and my OB's said that interventions are not usually necessary for babies lost so early (when I went in after the first time, I never went to the OB after the second time).

Praying for you.

[saturnine25]

ameliabedelia- I'm sorry for your loss- I just wanted to add my voice to everyone else's to tell you that the majority of miscarriages can be handled naturally by the body. Like emmalala said, you can have an ultrasound done just to be sure that the m/c is complete, or a blood test to check your hcg levels. I hope this process goes as smoothly and peacefully as possible for you, and will keep you in my thoughts.

[ameliabedelia]

Well the bleeding has almost completely stopped. I only bled for about 4 days and it really wasn't that heavy. Only the first 1/2 day was heavy and after that it was pretty light. Just a little bit of blood and small clots each day. I took a pregnancy test today and got only the faintest of faint lines, so I know the hormones are going down. A few days ago I got a dark positive.

Anyway it just seems weird to me. I always hear that miscarriages are heavier than a period. This one was almost lighter than a period. But, I feel fine, no cramps or pain anywhere. Maybe I was even earlier than I had thought.

Anyone else have a similar experience, with a miscarriage as being ligther than a period?

[Katana]

I'm so sorry for your loss, ameliabedelia.

I just wanted to pipe in that my second miscarriage was very light. I bled for four, maybe five days, but very lightly, and if I hadn't taken a pg test and seen a positive, I would have never been sure if I was pregnant or not.

There wasn't bad cramping, either.

I think that every miscarriage can be different, just like every labor can be different.

:hug

[SamuraiEarthMama]

Originally posted by Alison74
I think that every miscarriage can be different, just like every labor can be different.

I think Alison nailed it here. They're all different, just as all our babies and bodies are so different.

I had two heavy bleeds, but I think some of it might have been my deep reluctance to let the babies go, which might have drawn things out longer. Who knows?

Sending you warm and healing thoughts,

katje