Unexplained Bleeding during 2nd trimester

I was doing some research and came across this message board, seems like once everyone posts they don't come back to let anyone know what happened! A shame too... My Girlfriend and I have been worried about whats going on, she is just now 22 weeks and 3 days pregnant and has been bleeding since last Saturday, But mostly at night when she sleeps. It's not extremely heavy but it is enough to be concerned any time your losing blood continuously is a reason to be concerned for you and your baby's health. The baby is measuring at 21 weeks old, so that is normal I suppose? The only other thing about her pregnancy (this is her first) is she has low embryonic fluid around the baby, so that is also a concern, this has been a frustrating and worrisome pregnancy, I'm telling you! They cannot explain the bleeding or the low fluid, but warn us of the baby not making it almost every Dr. visit. its very sad to hear this... I hope everyone has the best outcome, and I hope you can all keep us on your thoughts too, good luck and god bless you all.

OH! and I will be back on here after the next Dr. Visit for a update, see you next week!

This is reassuring to read though....even if no one has found answers. I am 24 weeks along and had continuous bright red bleeding, kind of like the 1st day of a period in my case. They couldn't see where the bleeding would be coming from, my cervix is closed, and baby has a fine heartbeat and is moving. That all made me feel a lot better. I have no pain or cramps though I have had a really bad cold for the last several days and have been sneezing, coughing a lot. I thought maybe that could have burst a capillary or vessel which maybe would be hard to see with the naked eye when the OB/GYN examined me. Seems to be stopping now though.

Hi, I am moved to reply here because this sounds so much like the situation that happened with my son...he is now a healthy 8 year old, but he was born at 24 wks - just 1 1/2 pounds, and I don't have to tell you it was a nightmare to go through! My bleeding started at 18 weeks and continued through 23 weeks. The irony of it is, the bleeding did not directly cause my preterm delivery...it was a combination of interventions that created a cascade of other issues, that ultimately lead to delivery. It began with a ton of poking and prodding, daily bloodtests, bedrest, hospitalization, and 600 mg of daily iron supplementation because of developing anemia (from blood loss/pregnancy)...and needless to say, major stress. Doctors poked at my cervix (requiring swabbing to remove blood) on just about a daily basis. One doctor even cauterized my cervix hoping to stop the bleeding. What ultimately occurred was that my bleeding finally stopped on its own one day around 23 weeks, but I subsequently developed a life threatening infection in my bowel, coupled with a urinary tract infection - and since I was hospitalized for weeks preceding that, I can only attribute both to the introduction of germs to my system coupled with high doses of iron and consequential severe constipation (iron feeds bacteria, and constipation inhibits excretion of excess iron, and also contributed to the infection that developed in the lymph nodes outside my bowel - which doctors misdiagnosed for appendicitis). My preterm labor was diagnosed as due to maternal infection - but here's the kicker...they were able to stop labor, but when they did an amniocenteses to determine whether the infection had spread to my uterus, the needle broke my waters - game over, because a baby cannot survive in the womb once waters break when there is a major maternal infection that doctors deemed was untreatable and required surgery (because they thought it was appendicitis). So I was rushed to emergency C-section, where they found the infection in my bowel and lymph - not appendicitis. My infection was treatable with antibiotics. I share all of this not to scare you - not to make you totally freaked about trusting the care of doctors...but to encourage you to be mindful that sometimes you won't have an answer for 'why', and it may be best to just RELAX (so important), because too much investigation CAN be harmful. And I guess also, yes - I do think you also have to be careful to not always take doctors opinions as 'right' - you have to do your own research, and trust your own instincts. I knew my constipation was a major factor - I kept telling them that, and they all told me 'no'! I also felt like they were poking me too much - and I knew from my own personal history that my cervix was prone to bleed when irritated - so they were likely perpetuating the bleeding. When I finally refused further probing is when my bleeding finally stopped on its own.

Best of luck to you...have faith, and trust your body, and your baby.

Hi ladies,

I noticed no one has posted in a long time on this topic, but I hope that all you ladies and moms that have experienced this can come back to share your stories of how things went after this episodes of unexplained bleeding. Here are my questions:

1. Did you have any complications because of the unexplained bleeding?
2. Did you have any problems whatsoever delivering?
3. Did you carry your bundle of joys to full term?

I'm 27 weeks pregnant and a first time mom. I started bleeding 1 day ago and I immediately called the doctor, he asked me to come in, he checked me out and everything was fine with the baby, I was fine too, no pains, no pressure, blood pressure fine. He sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. I did it and the doctor at the hospital said everything is perfect, the cervix was still closed and measured fine, baby's heart beat was perfect. Supply of blood and oxygen to baby was fine, baby was kicking up a storm. My baby is a kicker and he still kicks a lot. I still had no pain or pressure whatsoever. Therefore, the bleeding could not be explained at all. I don't do any heavy work at all. I'm basically worried, even though doctors told me everything is fine. Please share your stories and help me answer questions above.

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Wow…to know there are other situations that sound exactly like mine out there is a bit of a relief. I've done so much research on this and came up with nothing but doom and gloom. My mom is actually the one that found this forum and sent it to me.

My story sounds just like all of yours so far. I've had bleeding on and off throughout my entire pregnancy, but nothing heavy until now. I am now 16 weeks with my first child (no previous miscarriages), and have had now 2 bouts of medium bleeding with clots passed that scared me silly. The first bout sent me to the ER, afraid I was losing my baby. They did blood work, urine tests, vaginal exams, and an Ultrasound. The ER doc told me that baby looked great, the heart rate was good, baby is super active, no bleeding was coming from the cervix and was closed, my blood work looked good and everything looks normal. If it’s so normal, then why am I bleeding? Well, no one seems to know.

I had that similar reddish brown discharge as well, that continued until my second bout. The second bout had bigger blood clots, a bit more bleeding, but seemed to taper off fairly quickly. Now I’m back to the reddish-brown and the worry of why.

I hope to keep updated on my situation, because no one who posted previously said whether they went on to have healthy babies, and that is still a concern for me right now.

Thanks to all of you who shared your situation and pain. I hope you all are happy and healthy.

lizaB: did they find out anything. im having this problem baby looks fine my cervix is closed but i have been bleeding for my 14,15, and now 16th week of pregnancy.. i would love to know my dr is not very concerned but i am and the cramping is horrible as well

I can't believe how many people have experienced the same thing; I will say though that it is somewhat comforting. I had some very sudden, moderately heavy bleeding at 27 weeks (1st child). I immediately called the emergency line at my doctor's office and rushed to the hospital. I was hospitalized for 3 days and after 2 ultrasounds, constant monitoring, visits from 2 doctors and 1 specialist and endless NSTs, no one could find anything wrong. I will note here that I had some challenges conceiving and my mother had 2 second trimester miscarriages and was plagued by an incompetent cervix, so I had been very cautious during my pregnancy, but had had no problems at that point at all. By the third day in the hospital, the bleeding turned to brown spotting and went completely away a couple of days later. The only theory I was offered was that they saw a small fibroid tumor starting to form and perhaps it was rubbing against the placenta and causing some bleeding. My doctor told me to stay home from work for nearly a week and return to semi-normal activities after. Well, unfortunately, nearly a week ago (32 weeks pregnant), the bleeding returned. I again had another ultrasound and NST and again, nothing was found. My son has been extremely active and my cervix is still pretty long with no dilation. I had no pain with either bleeding episodes.

I too have placed restrictions on myself from paranoia, but my doctor has found no reason to put me on bedrest.

I am glad to hear that others have had similar experiences with no obvious negative effects on the baby, but it saddens me to hear that like my experience, no answers have been provided. Perhaps a member of the medical community will stumble upon these posts and be able to provide us with an answer.

I am going on 14th week of pregnancy and since yesterday evening, I have been bleeding. It started at 7 PM CST yesterday and we visited ER. They checked and baby was doing good but bleeding did not stop. Today morning I passed a nickel size clot also, but the oncall OB/GYN says that there is nothing we can do and hope for the best and follow-up with our Dr tomorrow. I am so scared, hope everything will be ok and my baby is fine. Anyone experienced same around 14th week?

I am 19 weeks along. At 17 weeks I had light blood discharge and brown spotting. I saw my doctor and had am ultrasound where they could not find anything wrong. I was told sometimes these things happen. Three night ago I experienced very heavy bleeding out of the blue - enough to fill a small pad each time. I went to the ER. By the time I was seen, I had already gone through 4 soaked pads. It was a lot of fresh blood. They did an ultrasound including a transvaginal one to see where the blood was coming from but could not identify a source. I was admitted overnight and placed on bed rest and observation. By the next day, the bleeding turned into spotting and I was sent home (yesterday). Today I was spotting until I had a bowel movement. I wasn't straining much but I felt a big gush of blood again. Am back on the bed but worried if this continues I'll have to return to the hospital. It is so nerve wracking as they don't know what is going on. I'm happy that the baby looks fine, but am so scared this is a precursor to a miscarriage or preterm labor down the road.

I would love to talk to others about their experiences but not sure where to go. Hope someone sees this message and responds. Thanks.

Im 14 weeks and 5 days pregnant, with my first. I started bleeding, pink and red at 13 weeks. saw the doctor a few days later, heard the heart beat, had an ultra sound 4 days after that. But no update from the doctor, the ultra sound tech didnt tell me anything, but did give me pics of our little one. Also my morning sickness got a lot worse at 12 weeks. My bf and I decided I would put myself on bedrest till we figure out whats going on. Ive also had a leep surgery a few years ago. The doctor didnt seem too worried about the bleeding, but should I still be bleeding? its been a week and a half now. could the bleeding be from the scar from my surgery? Should I be going to the ER?

At 12 weeks I also experienced a gush of blood that lasted for awhile and passed 2 golfball size blood clots, went to the ER and they could not tell me anything except that the baby was fine. A follow-up with my OB showed a possible SCH or a venous lake and I have somewhat of placenta previa. At 17 weeks bleeding occured again, but more of a heavy period. Baby looked fine on U/S and was told to go back on bed rest. Anyone that has posted previously, i would also love to hear the outcomes. Thanks for letting me know that i am not alone.

Ok so I have an update on my situation. I went for my quad screen at 16 weeks, and my AFP (I think it was that) level was extremely high. So off to lots of tests I go, and it turned out that my baby didnt have enough liquid around him, but we still couldnt figure out why I was bleeding. All the ultra sounds showed a very active little boy. So I was put on strict bed rest, and at 17 weeks and 3 days I passed a golf ball size blood clot. Then the bleeding stopped, but I ended up losing my son at 17 weeks and 5 days, @ home. So now he has been sent away for autopsy, but wont find out anything for another 2 months or so. I also have a doctors appointment in 2 weeks. Hopefully they will be able to tell me something. Good Luck to everyone! May your little ones have a better outcome than my son did.

I'm 15 wks. and this is my second pregnancy. A gush of unexplained red blood came out of me while I was driving on a road trip a couple of days ago. I immediately called my emergency number for my doctor's office practice and was told that because my first US at 8 wks. and my 12 week appt. was normal and good, that he believed things would be okay and just to monitor my flow and hopefully the blood would quickly stop. I bled through two pads in 1/2 hour and since then, I have just had spotting. It has been that way for 2 days now.

This forum is the first one I came along where other women were going through what I was going through. Worrying every single day, every single moment and trying to 'relax' yet never really being able to. Here is my story, its long:

At 7 weeks I began to bleed very heavily out of nowhere. In fact I thought I urinated my pants until I got to the toilet and realized it was blood. Called my MD immediately and he sent me to the ER. Bleeding continued, getting heavier like a period as I waited in the ER. I was convinced I lost the baby. My husband and I both expected the MD to tell us that. When they told us the US showed baby was ok, exam showed cervix was ok, closed. We cried. I was told it was old blood and was put on bed rest for close to a week. Blood slowed down and started to turn brown. Went to the MD a few days later for follow up, he said there was no active bleed. Baby was ok, Cervix closed with no reason for bleeding, looks like old blood. He put me on Progesterone Suppositories.

I continued to spot with times of heavier spotting where I would call my MD immediately every single time because I was SOOOO afraid of losing my baby, but every time it was chalked up to nothing. No explanation. Once at 10 weeks it turned red again so I was told maybe I scratched my cervix when putting in the suppository. Every time I had absolutely No pain just blood. And it was spotting, some days lighter some days heavier. I noticed if I did too much walking or sudden spurt of quicker walking more would spot. So I put myself on bed rest practically. I would go to work, walk very slow, come home and stay in bed. I barely cleaned the house, I barely cooked. My poor husband took on so many responsibilities. I did not lift anything heavy and I did not exercise. We also did not have sex. We took every precaution possible.

We decided to do chromosome testing and everything came back absolutely normal and we were so ecstatic for the good news! At about 11-12 weeks I finally stopped spotting and just had normal discharge. A bit heavy though, I never stopped wearing a pantiliner, but my MD said everything was normal. I had 1 episode of dark brown heavy discharge, ran right to the MD, they told me it appeared to be old Progesterone leaving my system. They tried to clean out the discharge and noticed no active bleed.

I had my anatomy ultrasound at about 16 weeks and everything was absolutely normal. Again we were ecstatic. It was a girl and she was absolultely healthy and so active! They had us watch how much she was moving around. They showed everything, it was the most amazing thing to see as you all know. Then about less than a week later I spotted light red blood again. Called the MD immediately, he had me come in immediately, they did an exam and could find nothing wrong with my cervix it was closed there was again nothing active. The MD did the sono in his office and again baby's heartbeat is strong and everything looked ok, but they wanted me to have the big sono so they can check closer on the placenta. They sent me for another sono with the big machine and they said it appeared my placenta was close to my cervix and that was causing me to bleed. They said I may bleed a lil bit more, but it should taper off.

A few days later I went back for follow up and again everything was fine, the blood did in fact turn brown and start to taper off. A few days later again it turned red. It started Friday night and stayed red into Sat. I called the Dr's service and he had me come in to Labor and Delivery to check me out since he was on call. I went in, they did a sono on the small machine, they examined me. NO explanation for the blood. Baby's heartbeat looked good, fluids looked good, cervix was closed. Again he put me on Progesterone Suppository. I continued to bleed red and was EXTREMELY nervous to say the least.

Sun night about 3am I got up to go to the bathroom and all of a sudden was gushing blood. I had it on my pants and it was in the toilet, it was the same type of blood I had been having just heavier. The next morning, which was really about 3 hours later because I had work Monday morning, I called my MD's office. I called all day because he never called me back (I was quite angry about this) finally I called for the third time and asked do I go to the ER? Can someone else see me because this is ridiculous! Im bleeding and scared! They had me come into Labor and Delivery to see my Dr, well on the sono while my beautiful little girl's heartbeat was still pounding away, all the fluid that should be surrounding her was gone. Apparently at some point, Sunday night my water must have broke with the blood. The sad thing she was completely healthy and her heart was still beating, but there was nothing they can do to save her. I had to lose her because her lungs would not develop without the fluid. The fluid would not regenerate. I lost her Monday night/Tues morning at 18 weeks 4 days. I had to go through the entire traumatic event of delivering her.

I hope other people do not have this outcome, but dont be scared to question more and get second opinions. I know I have been told over and over again there was nothing anyone could have done. I was told it wasnt the Progesterone that caused the heavier bleeding though I read numerous times on the internet that if you have low lying placenta you should place anything in your cervix, yet they had me putting in progesterone. And Im sorry some part of me questions why when I was put on Progesterone did the the bleeding get heavier not lighter? I wonder if my Dr missed something on that small sono. I wonder if they should have admitted me to watch me and maybe they could have caught something. I wonder a thousand things and have so many questions now. We opted for the placenta to be biopsied and tested to see if they can find out what happened. They say its possible I had a microscopic infection that no one could have known about or did the placenta detach and cause the break? They also say the continued bleeding could have weakened the membranes surrounding the amniotic sac and that could have caused it to break. They have no answers yet and I dont know if I ever will. Thats the hardest part.

I wish all you ladies the best of luck and I hope you do not have the outcome I did. I miss my baby girl every minute of every single day and were completely devastated. I wish these MD's could tell us where the bleeding is coming from, but its comforting to know Im not alone. I just dont understand how our bodies can continue to bleed and yet they dont know why, yet they can tell us there is no risk to the baby. I dont believe that. I just dont, not after what I been through.

Other ladies, I hope you will post what your outcomes were.

I had unexplained bleeding from week 18-20.  Went to the ER once, they said my cervix was closed and ultrasound looked fine and I was sent home.  The bleeding continued and got worse so I went to my doctor and they kept sending me home saying that the ultrasound looked fine and to just stay off my feet.  Then towards the end of week 20, my water broke while I was at home on bed rest.  I went to the ER and had they had to induce labor.  They could not save the baby.  Still don't know what caused the bleeding and made my water break.  I am devastated :(  I miss my little girl and had her funeral this week.