Early scan - left with so many questions...

[JayTree]

After a stressful day on Tuesday with light bleeding, my doctor arranged for me to have an early scan Weds morning. The scan went fine (despite dd1 yelling the place down - another story....) and the sonographer quickly found a clear image and heartbeat. I was so relieved at this that I didn?t really listen to anything else she said in any detail (dh was so busy controlling dd1 that he didn?t pay enough attention either.)
The baby was dated at 7.4 weeks and she noted down that there was an area of bleeding adjacent to the sac 22mm x 12mm. I remember her saying that my body may absorb this or that I might have further bleeding and if so contact my doctor if I am concerned.... I wish I had questioned her more. Has anyone else had this patch of beeding show up (it was just a dark area on the screen). Should I be worried? Could it threaten the baby even though it had a strong heartbeat? If I do start to bleed again, what should I ignore and when do I call in a doctor?? I am going away for nearly two weeks as of this weekend and am starting to worry that everything could go wrong... If anyone out there knows about or has experience of this sort of problem, I would love to know what you think.
Sorry about the rambly post - trying to stay relaxed about it all but am kicking myself that I didn?t ask these questions at the time!!

[SoupDragon]

I've certainly heard about it - on here I think so I'm sure someone will tell you more about it!

I'd take heart from the fact that the sonographer told you to contact your GP "if you are concerned". She did not say "see a doctor immediately" or similar.

:-)

[JayTree]

Thanks SoupDragon. You are probably right about the sonographer. I have hunted the message boards and haven?t come up with anything on this so far but hope that someone is kind enough to explain all soon!!

[SoupDragon]

I can't remember where I saw it or who worte it but it was someone who'd had bleeding in early pregnancy and the site of the bleed was visible on the scan. I think, like yours it was adjacent to the sac and therefore from the mother, not the baby.

It could, of course, have been on another board entirely!

[elliott]

Jaytree, I had a couple of episodes of light bleeding in my first pregnancy at about 5-6 weeks, and at my 7 week scan the area from which this bleed had come from was visible (and like you the embryo was fine with good heartbeat etc - and is now ds!). As you'll be aware, bleeding or spotting in pregnancy is really common and doesn't necessarily mean anything disastrous - although of course it is always anxiety provoking.

As to when/whether to contact the doctor - well personally I would only do so if I had obviously heavy bleeding with pain, and would probably try to ignore any light spotting or brown discharge - though obviously if you are out of your head with worry then it might be best to contact someone to discuss it. Last time I didn't contact anyone (already had the 7 week scan arranged anyway), just took things easy and hoped for the best. There is nothing they can do that will change anything one way or another, although of course they can organise another scan which will tell you how the embryo is doing at that particular time.
Anyway I hope you don't get any further bleeding to worry you - it does sound as though things are just fine and you should try to hang on to that.

[Marina]

OK, based on my practically resident status at our local Early Pregnancy Unit in January and February this year, I hope what happened to me puts your mind at rest a little JayTree...
If the heartbeat is strong after this minor bleed, that is apparently an excellent sign that the pregnancy will continue OK. Nothing is certain, but that's what I was told.
I was also told to come back anytime if I experienced "fresh" bleeding, ie, red. I was told that if my body didn't absorb all the "old" bleeding, it might stain the usual discharge a "rusty" sort of colour for up to a week or so. If you experience back pain or cramping with any kind of bleeding then get in touch with the GP right away.
At your stage in the pregnancy the bleeding might have been due to implantation of the placenta into the wall of the uterus, or if your period would have been roughly due when you first noticed, it might have been because your body was still building up enough pregnancy hormones to suppress menstruation. (This is also apparently quite common and usually also nothing to worry about). So you might have had a mini-period.
The fact that the bleeding was dark means it happened quite recently. As it dries up inside you it would gradually appear as grey and then white on the screen (by the time I went for my nuchal scan the sonographer was able to say, oh look, you had a bleed earlier - there's the white patch).
I had light spotting in all three pregnancies so have spoken to several sonographers over the past five years. They do vary a lot in both experience of early scans and expertise (not to mention people skills) and at this nuchal I got a fabulous man who explained everything to us in huge detail.
Were you given a printed scan report? I would take that with you for sure if you are travelling within the UK or to an English-language destination. I would also, if possible, get your GP to tell you where the nearest hospital is to where you'll be staying, or look it up. But that is JUST a precaution. I know what it is to be frantic with worry in early pregnancy and lots of us on here do too. I really hope it works out for you JayTree, remember that heartbeat is generally a really good sign. Take care and enjoy your holiday if you possibly can!

[Katherine]

Jaytree I am sorry you have had this scare but would like to echo what Marina has said. Bleeding is very common. It can of course mean mc but very often the cause is never explained. I am now 21 wks with no.3. With this pg I had bleeding right the way through the first trimester. Sometimes red, sometimes brown. At 9 weeks I had a scan and couldn't beleive they found a baby and strong HB. But the spotting did continue on an off for another 3 weeks at least. I was never given a cause which in some ways is more scary. Take heart from the fact that your bleeding was from another area adjacent to the sac and not from the baby. I don't know whys or wherefores but at this stage you have had good news so keep that in mind when you go for your holiday and remember that every day that passes makes a loss a little less likely.

[Gem13]

Jaytree, Marina has given a really comprehensive reply. But I just wanted to add my experience.

I too had a bleed (although at 11 weeks and there was a lot of blood). I have posted about it before another thread but to cut a long story short, on the 2 scans I had (2 lots of bleeding!) we could see the baby was lying on a 'mass' which was where the bleeding was coming from. This was longer than the baby and about half as wide. The sonographers were very reassuring about it all and said they had seen women with larger 'masses' who had gone on to have successful pregnancies. They also said, as yours did, that it would either be reabsorbed or would bleed some more.

Despite being told not to worry, I did, but at the 20 week scan the mass had gone and the baby was fine. That little being that caused us so much anxiety is currently napping upstairs!

If you want to put your mind at rest you could maybe try and get a five minute appointment with the sonographer or discuss it with your GP (mine was very reassuring). And do have a good time away.

[JayTree]

Thank you so much to all of you - your postings have been so helpful and reassuring. I feel so much more informed now and somehow it feels better to known that others have been in similar boats with positive outcomes. I know nothing is certain when it comes to pregnancy - it isn?t easy creating little miracles - but I do feel much happier. I have found checked out the details of the local doctors and hospital at our holiday base (great idea, Marina - thank you ) and feel more prepared for doing so. I will also take my scan info with me - just in case. Also, thanks for all the scan detail info Marina - exactly what I wanted to know.
Again, a big thank you to those who have taken the time and effort to post - every one has been so reassuring and helpful. I love this site