Why would I continue to bleed?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
Hi. I am thirty-four years old (35 at delivery) and in my first pregnancy. At about 8 weeks, I experienced brown discharge. I had an ultrasound and everything appeared to be fine, although it showed the existence of two fibroid tumors.
Exactly four weeks later, I once again had brown discharge which then turned into an outright bleed of fresh blood. I again had an ultrasound and it appeared everything was fine. Since then, I have been having constant brown discharge (2 weeks now). My doctor says that he doesn't notice anything in the ultrasound report, but he doesn't have the actual photos. He says. . .we'll just follow it.
What does that mean? I am scheduled to do an amnio in 2 weeks which I am fearful of at this point, but even more fearful of not doing it. Also, I had a LEEP two years ago. Why do I continue to bleed? It is so unnerving and I feel like my doctor is sort of nonchalant about the whole thing. He says it doesn't appear like I had a placental abruption or previa, but is it possible that there is something going on that the ultrasound does not disclose?
Please help. I am at my wit's end!
ANSWER
If you had an active bleed, it's to be expected that you would have brown discharge (the residue) for some time afterwards. I don't know why you are bleeding from what you say, but as long as the baby and the placenta look ok, I'd agree that the best thing to do is to relax and enjoy your pregnancy.
With two fibroids and this history, I'm wondering about the amnio. There is a lot that can be seen on the newer ultrasounds about the health of the baby, once it is big enough. Maybe this is one of those times to trust that a good ultrasound would tell you enough to set your mind at rest. I don't know you, so this might not be good advice, but it's just a thought.
I wish you the very best!
-- Cynthia, CNM
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Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, teaches in the College of Nursing at Seattle University and is President of the American Association of Birth Centers. She also practices midwifery at Valley Medical Center where she cares for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
Cynthia hosts a monthly "Ask the midwife" chat as well as answers questions via our expert section.
Listen to Cynthia live on Pregnancy.org Live: Before, During and After.
