SCH questions

LottaLattes

I know there were a couple of threads about this a few weeks ago, but I can't figure out for the life of me how to actually search in a practical way on TB.  So if someone has a link, I can just read that.  I didn't have one then so I didn't read them then! 

So here's what I'm curious about.  First of all, I had a big gush of blood and two big clots yesterday.  They look and there's a SCH in there, but "not too big."  The doctor said that as it moves to the cervix, I might get more bleeding, but to call if there was any red blood.  Now there was a huge amount of it yesterday, I'm just not sure if he read the chart or whatever about that (so I have a call in today).  Anyhow, my question actually is, if you have this large amount of bleeding, what is the typical behavior?  Do you just bleed a little more for a couple days but more like spotting?  I'm not really bleeding very much right now, but it still is very red.

As that second clot (I'm just guessing?  Or is there usually just one big one that slowly empties?) moves forward, does that mean I should be on pins and needles for another gush, or is that just what's trickling out?

These might be far too specific, and I'm sure there isn't really any "typical" anything in this case, but my internet searching doesn't provide a lot of details on the actual logistics of this all and how it plays out for different people.

dfduke1221

LottaLattes:

I know there were a couple of threads about this a few weeks ago, but I can't figure out for the life of me how to actually search in a practical way on TB.  So if someone has a link, I can just read that.  I didn't have one then so I didn't read them then! 

So here's what I'm curious about.  First of all, I had a big gush of blood and two big clots yesterday.  They look and there's a SCH in there, but "not too big."  The doctor said that as it moves to the cervix, I might get more bleeding, but to call if there was any red blood.  Now there was a huge amount of it yesterday, I'm just not sure if he read the chart or whatever about that (so I have a call in today).  Anyhow, my question actually is, if you have this large amount of bleeding, what is the typical behavior?  Do you just bleed a little more for a couple days but more like spotting?  I'm not really bleeding very much right now, but it still is very red.

As that second clot (I'm just guessing?  Or is there usually just one big one that slowly empties?) moves forward, does that mean I should be on pins and needles for another gush, or is that just what's trickling out?

These might be far too specific, and I'm sure there isn't really any "typical" anything in this case, but my internet searching doesn't provide a lot of details on the actual logistics of this all and how it plays out for different people.

I currently have a very small SCH and will try and answer your questions from what I have experienced.  My Dr. doesn't seem to worried about it, but everytime I do have an episode, she askes that I call her and come in so they can take a look at it.  I've had 3 episodes thus far.  My last one was last Monday (knock on wood).  Hopefully it was my last.  I went to the Dr. yesterday and the bleed was still there.

As for your questions: 

What is the typical behavior?  For me, it's been an initial big red gush of blood that comes out and then it tapers off into brown spotting for a few days.

Do you just bleed a little more for a couple days but more like spotting?  It's more like spotting for a couple to a few days.

As that second clot (I'm just guessing?  Or is there usually just one big one that slowly empties?) moves forward, does that mean I should be on pins and needles for another gush, or is that just what's trickling out?  I don't think the clot moves (from my understanding).  It gets re-absorbed by the body and the bleeding goes away - usually around 2nd trimester.  I'd hate to say it, but there is no warning for when the gush is coming.  I am always on pins and needles and when I'm not bleeding, I am wearing a pad, just in case.  I really don't want to have to throw away another pair of pants.

I hope this answers your questions.  I know how scary it can be, but my Dr. doesn't seem concerned, so I am not letting it get to me.  Stay positive and know that it won't harm the baby.  I've asked my Dr. this question 100 times.  Let me know if you have any other questions and I will help you anyway I can.  We can help keep our minds at ease, together!

SugarWorms

Ive bleed twice this pregnancy due to SCH.  The first one at 8 weeks and the next one at 15 weeks.  Both times it was a GUSH of bright red blood, then brown spotting starting the next day and lasting a few weeks.  I'm not sure what is typical. 

 

mrs.julia.goolia

My OB didn't really call my SCH a 'clot' ever---more like an 'active bleed'. I was asking about whether it would just keep on going until 'empty' or what, and she basically said that if I stopped bleeding that would be the best case scenario but that wouldn't mean the bleed would really be gone. Does that make sense?

For me, I bled a LOT for a few hours, then more like spotted red for the rest of that day. Then I spotted brown for maybe another 48 hours? And nothing after that (except some brown spotting after two internal ultrasounds). My SCH slowly started to shrink in size significantly as the baby grew bigger.

I think it's entirely possible you COULD gush again, as I know some other ladies had that experience. But it's also possible that it might just go away on it's own. Also, my OB thought my 4cm bleed was 'huge' and was very concerned with the size but I was only 6 weeks along so it was enormous compared to the baby's size. Isn't it funny how some OBs are not phased at all by SCHs and others are freaked out? I like hearing the variations out there.

It's hard to do, but try to remain positive. LOTS of stories online (Dr. Google!!) of women with really big bleeds (like 14cm and bigger) and their stories ended happily. Hopefully you found some of those good stories in your research.

LottaLattes

Thanks everyone!  I was definitely way more freaked out by the huge clots than the blood (though on its own, the blood would have been just as bad I think?)  I finally got a call back from my OB's nurse (I LOVE my OB practice, they handle these things so well) and she said I'd likely spot a little bit and just to call them if I had another bleeding episode.  Since I have my NT scan scheduled for Thursday, they'd check it again then and see if I should come in the following week to see if it's bigger or smaller or whatever.

My spotting has definitely gone down quite a lot today and it's getting darker.  I really could use a totally boring pregnancy right about now, it's amazing how easy my first two were relative to these last three, egads!

Thanks for all of the experiences.  Oh, and the doctor said it was pretty small but I think it's just because it's relative to the size of the sac.  It's about the same size as the baby so quite a bit smaller than the sac.  The worry he said was that if it's too large, when it comes out it can sometimes take the sac with it, but the bigger the ratio, the harder that is to happen.  They definitely don't seem worried about it, but the bottom line is that if I do miscarry, nothing can really be done to prevent it at this stage.  And the control freak in me doesn't like that too much

Karen1998

Totally butting in -

First of all, congrats on your BFP and twinsies! 

I had a SCH with DS at 12w.  Actually, they think part of my placenta pulled away, causing the huge gush/hemorrhage and SCH.  I bled until about 19w.  From reading other's accounts, I bled for a lot longer than most.  Most seem to have it taper off in a week or so.  It ebbed and flowed with me, but never reached a gushing level again after the first few hours.  Every time I decided to get active (such as actually clean something), it'd increase.  So awesome.  It also went from red to brown to yellow/tan and back to red again more times than I can remember.  Sometimes I had clots, sometimes I just had blood.  It was super fun.  We had an early anatomy scan because of it.  At 18w, the peri could still see blood clots in my cervix (actually in the mucus plug) that were working their way out.  He couldn't find any reason for the bleed, though, which was very helpful at relaxing me.  By 20w, the blood was all, finally, gone.  I didn't bleed again until late in labor. 

I hope for you that this is just a minor (though scary) bump in the road for a long, and very healthy pregnancy.  GL!

Butting back out  -

Mjmksb04

I had/have a huge SCH found at my 9 week ultrasound. It was the same size as the gestational sac. I had one bleeding episode the day after my appointment and then a longer bleeding episode about 3 weeks later and haven't had any since. I haven't had any further ultrasounds since 9 weeks, and my other appointments, the baby's hb has been just find. So I am looking forward to my A/S so I can see whether it has shrunk and the location of the placenta. So I don't really have any advice, just wanted to share my experience.