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Prolonged period / pregnant
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KY92411 posted:
I am 21 years old, I am happily married for 1 year. I was recently taken off of my birth control due to abnormal bleeding at the end of May of this year. I had been on the pill since i was 14 (7 years) and was started on it because of abnormal periods. The doctor who took me off said that I have been on it for quite a while and maybe my body just needed a break. As soon as I stopped the pill, I stopped bleeding/spotting. The first month off of the pill was great, my period came right on time and left seven days later. The second month was okay, my period came on time but was only three days long. The third month has been awful. I started on August 29th, which was late, and I am still bleeding... I am currently on day 24 of constant bleeding. Not heavy but not light either. It is constant every day and is a constant flow like a period (not spotting). My husband and I are still sexually active despite the bleeding. I took two pregnancy test Tuesday which came back positive (first time pregnant), I had lab work on Wednesday that confirmed the pregnancy. The doctor wants me to come back next week for more lab. If my HCG levels go down, most likely I am miscarrying, if the go up, I'm not. I am almost 100% positive that I got pregnant while bleeding. If that is correct I am only 3 weeks pregnant. I am not having any *OTHER* signs of miscarriage. (No cramping, back pain, etc.) What could cause all of this bleeding? If I am not miscarrying, will it hurt the baby? Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Prolonged period / pregnantI am 21 years old, I am happily married for 1 year. I was recently taken off of my birth control due to abnormal bleeding at the end of May of this year. I had been on the pill since i was 14 (7 years) and was started on it because of abnormal periods. The doctor who took me off said that I have been on it for quite a while and maybe my body just needed a break. As soon as I stopped the pill, I stopped bleeding/spotting. The first month off of the pill was great, my period came right on time and left seven days later. The second month was okay, my period came on time but was only three days long. The third month has been awful. I started on August 29th, which was late, and I am still bleeding... I am currently on day 24 of constant bleeding. Not heavy but not light either. It is constant every day and is a constant flow like a period (not spotting). My husband and I are still sexually active despite the bleeding. I took two pregnancy test Tuesday which came back positive (first time pregnant), I had lab work on Wednesday that confirmed the pregnancy. The doctor wants me to come back next week for more lab. If my HCG levels go down, most likely I am miscarrying, if the go up, I'm not. I am almost 100% positive that I got pregnant while bleeding. If that is correct I am only 3 weeks pregnant. I am not having any *OTHER* signs of miscarriage. (No cramping, back pain, etc.) What could cause all of this bleeding? If I am not miscarrying, will it hurt the baby? Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
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Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear KY: It sounds like your blood HCG level was elevated in a range that suggested a documented pregnancy. That is the most important issue to resolve.

The way the medical world commonly dates pregnancy is not days post conception, but usually by LMP (last menstrual period). In your specific case you have been having some kind of bleeding since 8/29. If you are very sure about date of conception then you should add two weeks to your three weeks since conception which would make you five weeks.

If you are not having a miscarriage or an ectopic/tubal pregnancy (in both of these HCG levels will not double every 48 hours) then you could be having early first trimester bleeding. I have seen women bleed as heavy as a period and still deliver a healthy infant. Your own OB/GYN may have some specific recommendations for you if you continue to bleed.

Here is a link to an overview of causes of first trimester bleeding:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pregnancy_bleeding/page2_em.htm#first_trimester_bleeding_causes

Congrats on conceiving relatively quickly coming off your birth control pills. We hope for the best outcome as you watch your HCG levels.

Yours,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Prolonged period / pregnantDear KY: It sounds like your blood HCG level was elevated in a range that suggested a documented pregnancy. That is the most important issue to resolve. <br /><br />The way the medical world commonly dates pregnancy is not days post conception, but usually by LMP (last menstrual period). In your specific case you have been having some kind of bleeding since 8/29. If you are very sure about date of conception then you should add two weeks to your three weeks since conception which would make you five weeks.<br /><br />If you are not having a miscarriage or an ectopic/tubal pregnancy (in both of these HCG levels will not double every 48 hours) then you could be having early first trimester bleeding. I have seen women bleed as heavy as a period and still deliver a healthy infant. Your own OB/GYN may have some specific recommendations for you if you continue to bleed.<br /><br />Here is a link to an overview of causes of first trimester bleeding:<br /><br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pregnancy_bleeding/page2_em.htm#first_trimester_bleeding_causes">http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pregnancy_bleeding/page2_em.htm#first_trimester_bleeding_causes</a> <br /><br />Congrats on conceiving relatively quickly coming off your birth control pills. We hope for the best outcome as you watch your HCG levels.<br /><br />Yours,<br />Jane
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