Second Trimester - Subchorionic Hemorrhage

Here’s me ranting/advocating for myself.

I have done SO much research, to the point that I have myself worried sick and I feel like I’m the boy who cried wolf, except the girl who called the doctor.

I found out I was pregnant with baby #2 (first born in May of 2020 with ZERO issues or bleeding whatsoever) around the beginning of November, I was 4W5D at the time. I had a pretty easy first trimester aside from all day nausea, until Christmas Day when I unexpectedly bled through my Christmas pajamas while at my SO’s family’s Christmas. I was 12 weeks exactly, I’m supposed to be damn near in the clear of not miscarrying so my heart sunk. My symptoms continued to the point that I felt the need to go to the ER later that night. I was cramping and bleeding a decent amount, so they took my blood work and checked my cervix. Blood work came back normal, and when the provider checked my cervix, it was slightly open and I was told I was having a threatened miscarriage. The hospital in my town is more so known as a “bandaid station” and I immediately turned to my SO and said, nope I don’t believe them. They couldn’t find heart tones and there’s no US tech available after hours. I was told they would make a phone call to a hospital in the city to get clarification on what I should do, and the provider came back to tell me they didn’t want to see me in the city and I should be okay to wait until morning for an ultrasound to confirm if my pregnancy was viable.

Next morning, on December 26th, they got me in to see radiology first thing in the morning and low and behold mama was right, baby had a strong heartbeat of 175. We found the cause of the bleeding, and I got diagnosed with a subchorionic hemorrhage, which at the time was relatively small. My doctor was not too concerned as baby looked great and said they’re super common and usually go away on their own. I went about my life, happy as can be that little bean was still alive and growing on track. The bleeding had slowed tremendously and it was never bright red.

Fast forward to the first weekend of January… I wake up in the early morning on January 7th with abdominal cramps so bad that I’m shaking and I’m in tears, I call my mom to come over in case I have to go to the ER and leave my 2YO at home, but I find that a heating pad gets me the relief I need to go back to sleep. I wake up after a few hours of some decent rest and go to the bathroom to find dark red blood and clots. I’m freaking out, but trying to ease my mind and I tell myself I will call my doctor first thing Monday morning to get an appointment. I tell her what’s been going on, she squeezes me in right away, I have another ultrasound and find that the my SCH has gotten larger… great. I’m told to not lift anything over 10 lbs, there’s no cure whatsoever, and that my doctor would be out of town the following week and if I experienced anything alarming (light headedness, extreme cramping, or bright red blood) to make a phone call and I could be seen by the on call OB while mine was out. At this point, I’m questioning my doctor and what she’s telling me because there’s no sympathy or any information really, so I call and make an appointment in the city with an reputable OB/GYN, but cannot be seen until Feb 7.

I made it a goal for myself that I wouldn’t go to the hospital that week my doctor was out. Not unless I absolutely had to. Wednesday afternoon, I started cramping something fierce. Wednesday night after my 2YO went to her dad’s house, I felt a gush. I called Labor and Delivery, they didn’t want to see me because I’m not 20 weeks yet. I talked to a nurse up there for 10-15 minutes, explained my symptoms, and she told me she suggested I go to the ER. I told her after my last experience in our ER department, I would not be doing that. They gave me misinformation, and did absolutely nothing to educate me or inform me of what I was going through. I stuck it out and got in to see one of my previous providers who had delivered my daughter, that following morning.

I’m 15W4D at this point, bleeding a decent amount and just stressed beyond belief. She puts the doppler on my abdomen and finds little heartbeat right away. She tells me she had a larger SCH during her second pregnancy and told me essentially the same thing my doctor had said, there’s nothing we can do, go on pelvic rest, continue to not lift more than 10 lbs and hope for the best. Another US is ordered, the radiologist tells me that my bleed looks better than last time and to continue what I’m doing because it’s obviously working. Baby is measuring right on track with a strong heartbeat still. The next day? I get my test results via MyChart and the bleed has gotten bigger, yet again, so it is now measuring 4.8cm. No phone calls from a doctor to explain it, just left to stir in my thoughts over the weekend.

Yesterday, January 21, I wake up to the heaviest bleeding I’ve had yet. Bright red blood with mini clots. We have a private ultrasound booked to find out the gender. We see baby’s heartbeat flickering away and we find out that we’re having a bouncing baby boy. 💙 I had been wearing pantyliners everyday up until this point, I broke down and opened up an actual pad and have been wearing actual pads since yesterday morning. I had a 6.5 hour window this morning where I didn’t bleed at all, and now I’m back to gushing blood.

I fully plan on calling the hospital in the city to see if anyone can get me in prior to Feb 7 because at this point, I need answers. I need encouragement. I need support. I am anxious, I am depressed, I am worried. I don’t know what to do. ANY positive thoughts or stories of having a SCH this late in the game would be so helpful. There’s obviously a lot of SCH’s that resolve within the first trimester, but I need to know about second trimesters… I already take it pretty easy most days. I work from home and my boss has fully encouraged me to work from bed as I can and as I see fit, so I’ve been doing that damn near everyday. I’m always hydrated, I probably need to eat some more nutritious meals but I can’t find anything that tastes good so I have been slacking in that department. Is anyone else in my boat? Has anyone else’s SCH resolved in the second trimester? Would you find another doctor for a second opinion?