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1st Trimester
vmsykora
member
What they didn't tell me to expect...after a vaginal ultrasound!
vmsykora
member
So I wanted to share my experience to put some people's mind at ease, and to also to see if anyone else went through this.
We had our first u/s this past Wed...they needed to do a vaginal u/s because they couldn't pick anything up on the belly. We thought we would be at 8 wks but it turns out only 6. Everything looked good/normal. Yesterday (the day after) I started to spot in the morning brown. By the time I got home from work, and in the evening...the spotting picked up a little bit more and the color turned to brownish red. I called the nurse, and she said that it's normal to have some spotting or even bleeding after a vaginal u/s. She said that I could even see some red.
This morning..it started again, stopped for a few hours but by 12pm picked up again when I was walking around the kitchen. I also had some clots or mucus like/stingy dark blood and of course then I panicked. I called the Dr again because to me, it looked like a light period and it seemed to me that it was picking up again when I thought it was tapering off.
I went in again today for an emergency u/s...and it was of course, another vaginal u/s. THANK GOD, everything was fine...heard baby's heart beat again and everything still looks normal. They warned me that I will now continue to have spotting/bleeding because they had to go in there again...and to expect this to continue for about a week.
I guess I just wish someone at the Dr could have told me all of this on Wed when I first went it. This is my first baby, I don't know! The internet says any red blood is bad, well guess what...it's red sometimes. I also had some cramping afterwards. She told me to relax the next few days with my feet up and by next week this should all stop. I'm curious if anyone went through this?!? How did you cope? This is so scary!!
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Re: What they didn't tell me to expect...after a vaginal ultrasound!
I'm sorry you went through this, and am glad everything is okay!
Thank you for posting this as I have my first u/s on Friday and this is also my first pregnancy. So I appreciate knowing what to potentially expect.
ETA: It also sounds extremely fishy to me that they told you to expect this to continue for A WEEK? Um, no. Maybe just look into getting a second opinion to be on the safe side, OP.
I also have had and will continue to need vaginal ultrasounds. I've had probably... 50 total due to IF/miscarriage issues. I have never once had spotting/bleeding after one.
Glad your bean is ok!
The practice I go to has a good reputation, and today's u/s was actually at one of their other offices down the road from where I normally go...and the the dr. actually came in and talked with me.
I was fine, and had no spotting until yesterday...the day after the ultra sound. Most of the time, the blood is dark red...or brown/brownish red...not a bright pink red...well maybe a little mixed in, but honestly it is so hard to tell. I guess what alarmed me regardless was "red" in general...as I was just thinking spotting would be brown. When I called them yesterday and first spoke with one nurse...then today, talking with the actual dr. they said this can happen and that some woman are more sensitive that others. Right now...I have little to no spotting at the moment...but an hour ago when I was up walking around, I had some come out....so it's coming and going. I don't know what else would have caused this except the vaginal u/s...all my blood work is normal, the baby looked good Wed...and again today. Maybe it's just me, and my body.
She said a week at most...possibly because they just went in and poked around in their again so it's really irritated. Last week, I had a pap and pelvic exam too. She said that it sometimes takes awhile for the blood to travel down and that's why I might spot on and off for a few days. I guess I can call my other dr. I used to go to in the city before we moved and see what her opinions are on this. I am just thankful that the baby was ok. I can't tell you how scared I was!! Thanks for your reply. I will let you what I find out/what happens!
Every body is different. Just because person A had a million ultrasounds and no spotting does not mean that person B will have the exact same experience. There's much more blood flow in pregnancy than pre-pregnancy, so comparing the two scenarios isn't exactly comparing apples to apples. You could have a sensitive/irritated cervix if there was an exam.
They made have told you a week so that you don't freak out everyday until th spotting ceases. I've been spotting for 2+ weeks due to a SCH. It is what it is.
You can inquire about your progesterone levels or about the presence of any SCHs, but if happened after the t/v u/s it does sound related. That being said, my SCH did spot more post SCH. May be worth asking if any showed up on your u/s - if the answer is yes then the spotting, even a bit if red, does make senses.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
Agreed with this. Along with the increased blood flow to the area, your cervix is also much more sensitive and soft, and may bleed if irritated. It can get irritated by sex, t/v u/s, PAP, pelvic exam, etc. It's not uncommon to have bleeding after an exam or t/v u/s. As VC said, you can ask about a SCH, however your experience sounds cervix related. Don't freak out. To be fair to your OB's office, they answered your questions when you called the first time about the bleeding, so you should have been at ease. Take it easy for a few days until the bleeding stops, that will help. Also increase your water intake. If you're still concerned, you can ask about a SCH, but be aware they may want to do another u/s if in your previous u/s they weren't specifically looking for them, which will in turn probably cause more irritation to your cervix. Therefore, more bleeding. At this point, just take it easy and see if it stops in a week.
Oh god! That's terrifying! I'm glad you shared because I don't get my first ultrasound to find out how far along I am until July 2 (tentatively 4w4d)!! This would scar the crap out of me too, as this is my first baby too! Thanks for sharing sorry it happened to you though.
I'm understand that just because it hasn't happened to me or someone else, doesn't mean it won't happen to another person. I'm just saying it's unusual. If I was the one going through this, I wouldn't be sitting back and accepting it as normal because of what my doctors were telling me. I'd be out doing my research an getting second opinions. I think that sometimes during pregnancy, especially with your first when you're not quite sure what to expect, it is important to be your own best advocate and be proactive about making sure you're getting the best care possible, and also to be completely comfortable with your helalthcare providers. I was just trying to be a voice of reason and make sure OP covers all her bases, as her situation certainly sounds like a special case.
I agree that patients should always be their best advocate. The thing is, at the end of the day, unless it's something like low progesterone or a hugely positive ANA panel (which most doctors do not even run), there is nothing that the doctor can do to stop what is happening, especially so early in the pregnancy. Plus, even in the aforementioned scenarios, there's no guarantee that intervention will stop anything. I'm a molecular geneticist, and have been through multiple miscarriages; maybe I'm just clinical in my approach, but at the end of the day there are some hard truths about early pregnancy.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.