spotting

**belfie** · February 4th, 2008, 01:32 PM

I've been spotting with mild cramping since yesterday.

Half the things I read say not to worry at all, and the other half say yeah that isn't great. Obviously being me, I'm busy worrying and trying to tell myself I'm not worrying. I'm going to my GP tonight anyway (I was going to get my referral), and had planned to organise a scan for 8 weeks.

Any wise words of advice?

**rosehannah** · February 4th, 2008, 01:54 PM

Big hug to you, it is hard for me to say how things will go for you, but I did want to say that I had spotting with two of my children. I hope things work out for you, best wishes.

**diannescruffy** · February 4th, 2008, 03:44 PM

Hi Belfie, I know how scary it is when you start to spot, we go into panic mode. I just want to let you know I had spotting also with two of my pregnancies and have gone on to have healthy children. It's good that your going to your doctors he might send you for a scan. I really hope everythings turns out well for you. Let us know how you do.

**satya** · February 4th, 2008, 06:03 PM

It's so hard to tell with spotting. My last two m/c's started with light red spotting and no pain at all throughout the whole thing so pain is not necessarily an indicator - it could be that bubs is settling in which can cause cramping. I've also had two episodes of scanty brown spotting with this pregnancy but all is well. Sending sticky vibes in your direction.

**belfie** · February 5th, 2008, 06:20 AM

Thank you for the messages & sticky vibes.

I've seen my GP (her baby is due in April!) and she suggested doing the serial hormone blood tests. So I'll do one today and the other on Thursday, so hopefully that will give me some reassurance. Then we're still going to do the 8 week scan as planned.

**belfie** · February 5th, 2008, 06:22 AM

Oh and i forgot to say still spotting (but quite lightly) and cramping on & off.

**rosehannah** · February 5th, 2008, 06:23 AM

Thanks for keeping us posted, I wish you all the best.

**DANNIIM** · February 5th, 2008, 06:44 AM

I'm hoping everything works out for you!! Good luck with the BT!!

**munchy** · February 6th, 2008, 06:20 AM

Hi Belfie

just wanted to wish you good luck with everything your head must be all over the place i have know for 2 weeks now that i am pregnant and the whole time i have just worried i have had no bleeding but some little niggly pains and even that made me panick sending you

honey and let us no how you get on i really hope it all works out for the best.

Munchy xxx

**belfie** · February 6th, 2008, 06:18 PM

Thanks so much for the messages and support - update is that the spotting & cramping have settled down (phew!) and my headspace is... better. Had a good chat with DH last night and finally managed to achieve actually feeling positive (as opposed to TRYING to feel positive). Funnily enough Biggest Loser was on at the time, and it struck me that this is the Pregnancy Challenge. It's funny - it's so thrilling when you first get those two little lines, but then beating the fear and the stress is such a challenge... and all the while it's running through your head...stress doesn't help, stress isn't good for me.

So I don't know precisely how I got to a better state of mind, I don't know for sure how long it will last, but right here right now - I'm like a sprinter preparing for the Olympics, and I'm going to visualise the finish line as many times as i want to. And I'm going to visualise successful scans... and the feeling of my baby kicking, and a beautiful baby bump. I believe my baby will grow & will live and I'm so excited to think of the wonderful journey ahead. I think this little scare really made me look at my fear and realise that I can spend this journey expecting it to fail, or I can believe in it. It's my choice.

And thank you all for sharing the journey so far with me. Hugs to all of you

**bettyboop** · February 6th, 2008, 06:29 PM

Glad you are felling more positive,sending you a big hug and i will say a prayer for you

**DANNIIM** · February 6th, 2008, 06:38 PM

Wow....that is really empowering what you just said, i think we all need to sit back every now and than and think like that!

**belfie** · February 7th, 2008, 06:03 PM

ok update on the serial HCG - my doc (GP) said it should double. My results: 9413 (at 5wks 6days) to 14832 (at 6 wks 1day)... so I promptly thought huh, that's not doubling & gave her a call. She said it was still good, but now has written out forms for FOUR more serial HCG's ("just so we can keep an eye on it), as well saying she'd talk to my obs.

So... I kinda hoped I'd get a "that's great, don't worry & wait for your scan". I'm not sure whether she's doing this many more tests because I've had a previous m/c and she's being extra careful, or because it isn't quite doubling (it's 63% increase). But then I've also just read (Google is my frieeeeend!

) that through till 9 weeks, 85% of PG's will double in 2-3 days (or be more than 66%) and 15% will be less than 66% but still will proceed ok.

So I'm running with a take-home message of "it will be fine, and there's definitely nothing wrong" (which my GP actually didn't say!)... and I guess the fact she's doing more rather than less is good... just made me a teensy bit nervous I guess. Hmm the pregnancy challenge continues, fingers crossed I won't get kicked out of the house!!

Anyone else had any experience with the serial HCG's?

**rosehannah** · February 7th, 2008, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the update Belfie, Best wishes for good results. Hang in there.

**Leigh26** · February 7th, 2008, 07:46 PM

Best wishes Belfie, please keep us posted on how you get on. Ive been in the same boat as you before so I really hope everything works out fine.

**Cuddlepie** · February 7th, 2008, 07:58 PM

Hi Belfie, just want to wish you the very best and the next HCG test will be doubling big time!

X

**Gabi** · February 8th, 2008, 07:14 AM

Those hcg levels are great levels!

I've had three pregnancies: 1) no spotting or bleeding but I lost the baby 2) spotting, turned into bleeding and I eventually lost the baby 3) spotting which then settled down and I am now 20 weeks along.

So in my experience, spotting tells you just as much as no spotting tells you about how baby's doing.

With my second and third we monitored hcg levels. In my second (when I lost the baby) I was 844 at five weeks, then at seven weeks 2361, 7w2d 2500, 7w4d 3144. Even with these levels my doctors said it was 'wait and see' because they were still rising.
In my third pregnancy my levels were 6000 at 5 weeks and 24000 at six weeks...when I got my levels back at 6000 my doctor was stoked and said that was an awesome level. When I got my levels back at 24000 my doctor said that was too high and suspected twins. I think he expected in a normal pregnancy they would be more like your levels.

It's important to note that your levels won't double forever. Check out the levels explained in this site. Also, levels double every 30 hours until they reach 6500, then they double more slowly.