Going to The ER?

neludelu

hey ladies! I've seen a few of y'all say that when you start to spot or cramp you go to the ER. What do they do when you're there? Does it pay to go? I've never heard of going this soon, I've been under the impression that it's too early to really do anything.

doodleoodle

I'm sorry if you're spotting

During my last pregnancy I started cramping and spotting just shy of 10 weeks. It was after business hours on a Friday so I called my OB's after hours line. They told me there was nothing that can be done, but told me what to watch for and to come in on Monday for an ultrasound. I've also had some light spotting (no cramping) one day during this pregnancy. I called my OB during business hours and they had me come in for blood work. I know that doesn't really answer your question, but in my experience, it seems to me that your OB could probably do everything the ER can. 

Assiram42

My experience has been the same as @doodleoodle, my OB is attached to a hospital, but they always prefer if I wait to see them directly, unless it were a true emergency (suspected ectopic, etc.).  

I'm sorry if you're still cramping and spotting and are still in limbo.  Hugs.

Mashunya425

Typically the ER says to go to them if you fill up a pad an hour. Although things like spotting and bleeding makes us pregnant women very nervous, it really isn't a medical emergency which is why the ER gives that recommendation. 

WorkingOnMyNightCheese

My OB said to go to the ER if you have severe cramping on one side, or bleeding that fills up had an hour, or some combination thereof. I went with my first pregnancy because they feared it affe my OB said to go to the ER if you have severe cramping on one side, or bleeding that fills up had an hour, or some combination thereof. I went with my first pregnancy because they feared ectopic. 

HookEmNelson

I am sorry you are going through this waiting period of not knowing.  Like others, my OB gave the same recommendations as above.  When I began to spot and bleed with my son and my 2nd pregnancy, they had me come into the office and preferred to check things out on their own.  Hang in there!

Elyse1384

Sorry you're going through that.  Ditto to everything above.  One question, are you taking any medications like progesterone?  Depending on application, some can irritate the cervix and cause a little bit of spotting, but shouldn't be anything major.

neludelu

So no I'm not taking any medicines right now except for the issues with my thyroid. They said there was an elevated risk to miscarry and told me the symptoms but didn't tell me what to do if it happened. last night I started feeling weird and had intense cramps and just wondered what I should be doing in the event it was happening. I didn't know if I had to go to the ER or if I should just wait it out. I also wondered if the ER visit would be to take care of me or more for taking care of the baby. It's something that's never crossed my mind. During that time I also realized how lucky I was to be as clueless as I am. I appreciate you ladies and you knowledge. But I'm also sorry that you have it. Not sure if that make sense.

Ashley.G

Im sorry to hear you're spotting! I went into the er (bright red bleeding and cramping), but that is because I don't have a obgyn and prenatal nurses at my doctors wouldn't refer me to anyone to get checked out before I was 10 weeks. it depends on the er you go to. the one I went to doesn't specialize in prenatal, or have resources to deliver a baby or anything baby related, so they didn't do too much for me except schedule an ultrasound for the next day. I was 6w 1d when I went for the u/s and measured too early to see anything but gestational and yolk sac. I did benefit from it in the sense they discovered the source of the bleeding (detached tissue from beside the implantation spot)....however er sucks for getting results!! if you have a obgyn, I'd def recommend going there before the er!! I am exactly 8 weeks today and I am still in limbo due to lack of resources and not wanting to wait over 9hrs to get the results (since I got a bad cold after the last time I waited). er u/s techs don't seem as personable and wouldn't even let me see the screen for my second u/s. obgyns from what I've heard will show you and explain what they're looking at and give a lot more info to you right then and there. it's also a lot easier to get a follow-up appointment in an appropriate time frame if you are too early to see anything, whereas er can make you wait a lot longer for a 2nd appointment from my experience. if your bleeding gets really bad or start getting bad or a lot worse cramping, then it's might be worthwhile to make a trip, but they cant do too much except a blood transfusion if you lose a lot of blood (and sometimes will recommend a d&c when you might not need it). obgyns are a lot more care oriented and sensitive to what you're going through! fx everything is ok with your little bean! keep us posted!

Edited: i forgot to mention that if you've had a recent u/s or pap, that can also cause some spotting/bleeding

delujm0

I would not go anywhere near an ER unless my OBGYN after hours line specifically told me to, or I was clearly having an ectopic issue (which, believe me, would not be a "I think my tube might be bursting" situation, it would be a "I can't stand up I'm in so much pain and/or I am actually unconscious" thing).  Or, preceding that, unbearable pain on one side with bleeding (assuming I hadn't had an ultrasound yet that confirmed proper uterine placement).  That might send me to the ER too.

 

Reason being, bleeding and cramping can be common in early pregnancy, and ER doctors are not pregnancy experts.  What will happen is they will give you an ultrasound, and then tell you it's a "threatened miscarriage" because you are bleeding, and then send you to your OBGYN when they are open again for a final ruling.  If you truly are miscarrying in the first tri, nothing is going to stop it from happening.  Early stage miscarriages are usually due to genetic issues; no amount of doctor interference will change that.  I would just rather wait it out and see an actual expert about it than deal with the ER all night and then STILL have to go see the expert the following day anyway.

 

However, if you have any amount of bleeding and have a negative blood type, and your OBGYN's office is closed for the weekend, definitely hit the ER for a Rhogam shot.  Those need to happen generally within 24-72 hours of the bleeding, so if you start bleeding Friday night and you can't see your OBGYN until Monday morning, the ER would be a better (though likely much more expensive) option.

 

Once you are further along, if you have anything weird happening, your OBGYN after hours line would more likely send you to L&D Triage than the ER.

thankfully

Everyone gave great advice above. I'll just toss in my .02 based on my experience for the heck of it.

*tw: detailed description of m/c follows* 
I went to the ED when I was miscarrying (it was very clear what was happening, very bad cramping and bleeding-- not twinges and spotting) because I was at the point where I did fill a pad in an hour for a couple hours (I was at work, on my feet the whole time) and in a lot of pain. I really, really wish I hadn't gone in. The wait for a bed took hours, then the wait for the doctor took hours. They knew in triage I had an early u/s and it was not ectopic, so they didn't do another u/s. They drew blood, put in a saline lock for basically no reason at all, and gave me extra strength Tylenol. Just spent my time uncomfortable, crying, awake all night in an unfamiliar place. The bleeding slowed down a bit on its own. It made a miserable experience much worse. I wish I had just waited to go in to see my MWs during office hours, it wouldn't have changed anything and they were better suited to offer me support.

JessyKV

Trigger warning - loss mentioned also after re reading this I'm not sure why I over shared other than to say trust your body and call your doc first. 

I always call the on office or after hours line before I make any decisions.  With my son I woke up one day at 6ish weeks drenched in blood.  Like soaked through my shorts on to the bed.  But I was not actively bleeding when I got up and used the restroom.  I talked to my ob and they got me right in for an ultrasound that day and we found out everything was perfect and I just had an irritable cervix and she put me on pelvic rest. I'm glad I didn't rush to the ER because that would have been expensive! 

With my third pregnancy I had a bad ultrasound and we were waiting to follow up or miscarry naturally.  I started bleeding and knew that was what was happening but then I started bleeding so heavily I was filling pads in minutes and passing large clots.  I called the after hours line and explained what was happening.  I was also starting to get dizzy.  She said to hang up and call 911 now.  I told my husband I didn't want to but a few minutes later decided it was the right thing to do.  While on the phone with 911 I passed out.  My blood pressure dropped super low and I had lost too much blood too quickly.  I was also throwing up.  I ended up needing a d&c to stop the bleeding.  So it's good that we called 911 and went to the ER. Everyone was so amazing and nice and for such a sucky situations it was a good hospital experience.  

mrt

I agree with most, I wouldn't go to the er at this point unless you fear it might be ectopic, or you are really losing a lot of blood fast. I went with my miscarriage because when I called my dr advised me to, but it was a waste of time and $. Could have waited until the morning to see the dr.

shsmart13-2

As an ER nurse, I will say that I agree with most of the things said above. Unfortunately, we have pregnant patients who come to the ER complaining of vaginal bleeding. An ultrasound is always ordered. We have found that sometimes the patient isn't bleeding at all and only wanted to see their baby or hear a heartbeat. That's right folks, I guess some people have nothing else to do on a Friday night. The hospital where I am has stopped allowing the mother to see the baby and/or hear the heartbeat. They give their report to the radiologist and that's it. Obviously if there is a decent amount of blood and still good news, i.e. a heartbeat, the ultrasound tech will show the mother and let them know what they see. They aren't heartless. We are trying to stop patients from using the ER as a primary care/OB office.

loopstation104

NurseSHS13 said:

As an ER nurse, I will say that I agree with most of the things said above. Unfortunately, we have pregnant patients who come to the ER complaining of vaginal bleeding. An ultrasound is always ordered. We have found that sometimes the patient isn't bleeding at all and only wanted to see their baby or hear a heartbeat. That's right folks, I guess some people have nothing else to do on a Friday night. The hospital where I am has stopped allowing the mother to see the baby and/or hear the heartbeat. They give their report to the radiologist and that's it. Obviously if there is a decent amount of blood and still good news, i.e. a heartbeat, the ultrasound tech will show the mother and let them know what they see. They aren't heartless. We are trying to stop patients from using the ER as a primary care/OB office.

What a waste of resources. Some people have no shame. Also, really ruins it for mothers really in need of urgent care. 

JessieRene'

As an ER nurse, I am loving some of these answers! Thank you! 

JessieRene'

delujm0 said:

I would not go anywhere near an ER unless my OBGYN after hours line specifically told me to, or I was clearly having an ectopic issue (which, believe me, would not be a "I think my tube might be bursting" situation, it would be a "I can't stand up I'm in so much pain and/or I am actually unconscious" thing).  Or, preceding that, unbearable pain on one side with bleeding (assuming I hadn't had an ultrasound yet that confirmed proper uterine placement).  That might send me to the ER too.

 

Reason being, bleeding and cramping can be common in early pregnancy, and ER doctors are not pregnancy experts.  What will happen is they will give you an ultrasound, and then tell you it's a "threatened miscarriage" because you are bleeding, and then send you to your OBGYN when they are open again for a final ruling.  If you truly are miscarrying in the first tri, nothing is going to stop it from happening.  Early stage miscarriages are usually due to genetic issues; no amount of doctor interference will change that.  I would just rather wait it out and see an actual expert about it than deal with the ER all night and then STILL have to go see the expert the following day anyway.

 

However, if you have any amount of bleeding and have a negative blood type, and your OBGYN's office is closed for the weekend, definitely hit the ER for a Rhogam shot.  Those need to happen generally within 24-72 hours of the bleeding, so if you start bleeding Friday night and you can't see your OBGYN until Monday morning, the ER would be a better (though likely much more expensive) option.

 

Once you are further along, if you have anything weird happening, your OBGYN after hours line would more likely send you to L&D Triage than the ER.

Spot on!