Subchorionic hematoma

[Anne30]

As if I wasn't scared enough about surprise identical twins after our 1st IVF treatment, while at work on Monday, I started bleeding red (9w6d). My DH picked me up immediately and we rushed to the ER. What an awful horrible scary as hell experience. The u/s showed that babies A and B were just fine, but I was still red bleeding The ER doc discharged us w/ diagnosis "threatened miscarriage." They said 50/50 chance.

By the time I got home that evening, the red bleeding had stopped. My ob called yesterday and said I had a subchorionic hematoma (she did not specify the size). She also said that the babies had grown normally since the last u/s, their hb's were good (175bpm & 180bpm) and that there were no signs of fetal trauma. I have been on bedrest since Monday and have brown spotting now but I'm afraid to practically get out of bed. I dread each trip to the bathroom, fearing more red blood. There is no way I could have prepared for this, it's so scary. The more I read on the internet, the more I see that many people have had similar (terrible) experiences.

I just don't know what to make of all this. I don't know whether I'm going to miscarry or go on to have my pregnancy. And if I do go on, will my chances of pre-term labor be even greater than they already are with them being twins?! I can't seem to get any answers. Please advise if you know anything. Thank you so much.

PS: I really enjoyed seeing everyones' kids' Halloween costumes.

[11sungoddess]

I don't have first hand knowledge of this but I know I've read about other ladies on these boards that have had the same thing happen and went on to have healthy babies.

You will be in my thoughts. Try to think positively.

[twins2007]

Oh, I feel for you! I was diagnosed with a subchorionic hemhorrage. From what I understand, that is the same thing as a hematoma, basically.

I started bleeding -- with huge clots -- at 7 weeks. It was terrible! I had cramping, and was rushed to the ER. They could only find the one baby on the u/s, so they told us we lost one and would likely lose the other. For four days I felt like I was in hell. I was afraid to go to the bathroom -- afraid to do anything other than lay on my side all day long.

Then we had a follow-up u/s with my fertility doc (we conceived through IVF as well). Sure enough, both babies with strong heartbeats showed up on the u/s! It was the most miraculous moment of my life -- to see them both still there, and still strong.

I continued to have weekly u/s until 10 weeks, then bi-weekly, and now I am on a normal schedule. The best advice I was given was to take it easy, rest as much as possible and keep up with my fluids. I bled/spotted (mostly brown blood) for nearly 7 weeks.

MAKE SURE, if you are RH-negative (i.e. -- "B-" blood type) you talk to your doc and that you get your RhoGham shot asap, if you haven't already! I am RH-negative, and am glad that was the one thing the ER did right that night. I just had another one today, since the bleed area is still there, and will have another one at 28 weeks, per my perinatologist's recommendation.

If you are on baby aspirin for IVF (I was), ask if you should continue taking it. Luckily, I thought better of it, and didn't take it. My doc later said that was a good move.

Now I am 23 weeks, and can feel the babies moving around. The bleed area is still there, though it is much smaller. It was so big for the first few weeks we nicknamed it the "evil triplet" b/c it looked like another, larger, gestational sac.

From what I understand, many women develop this, and many have happy outcomes. Hang in there, and feel free to ask me any questions or drop me a line if you need some support.

My thoughts and prayers are with you!

[christy bee]

I am sorry you had to go through such a terrible ordeal. I luckily haven't gone through something similar but from the posts it seems a lot of women have had and continued on to healthy pregnancies.

Our thoughts are with you... keep us up to date on everything. Think positively and send those babies your love.

Take care.

[kayleeplus2+2more]

I am so sorry to hear this, I have not gone through this, but the best thing for you to do is TRY TRY TRY to stay POSITIVE. And I would also not research any more on the internet, there seems to only be BAD things on the internet..Definitely take it easy and rest a lot. My thoughts are with you and I will say a prayer for you tonight when I go to bed. [[[[HUGS]]]]

Shannon

[BrandiD]

Anne, I'm so sorry that I missed this thread previously. I don't really have any knowledge of or experience with hemotomas, but I definitely wanted to offer my support. I can't imagine how scary the ordeal must have been for you and your DH. Hang in there and try to stay positive. You have quite a long road ahead of you, but it will be gone before you know it and you will have your precious babies in your arms. As I've told you before, please let me know if there's anything at all I can do!

[dmeyerhoff]

I had unexplained bleeding in my first trimester - very red and very scary! I know how hard it can be not knowing where your pregnancy will take you. I'm 17 weeks now and still scared every day! Everyone told me not to think about it...impossible! Just try to feel your feelings and get as much support as you can from those who love you.

[holmesj5]

I was diagnosed with a subchorionic bleed with two of my pgs, but both were just fine! I never did bleed from them, they just saw it on ultrasound. Take it easy, the outcome is good lots of times!

[TWINS2BE]

I'm sorry to hear you're going through that.
I've never had a hematoma but from what I'm seeing there are a lot of women here who have had successful pregnancies with this same situation. Don't worry too much. Rest and drink lots of water and like the PP said....STAY POSITIVE!!!
I'll keep you in my prayers.
Keep us posted....

[Jene]

Anne, I know what you have been going through. It was because of bleeding that I learned about my twins. I had red bleeding at about 8 weeks with my first (singleton) pregnancy, went to the ER, etc. just like you did and learned that there wasn't really anything they could do but tell us to wait it out. So when I had the same gush of red blood with this pregnancy, I just waited for a while. It stopped within a few hours like before, but then started again a few days later. That's when the dr scheduled a u/s. And low and behold....twins! I'm still having discharge on a daily basis but at least it's brown now. They never told me what they thought it was, just that the u/s says everything looks okay. It is very scary, but I try to be pragmatic about it. (That is, I fake it.)

GL on everything!

[brooke.o]

Hi, I wanted to tell you about my subchorionic hematoma. I started bleeding at 6.5 weeks, continued through that day and the next was sent to the hospital where I found out I was having twins (and had a s.h.). I was put on modified bed rest, scared myself to death, cried every night for about 2 weeks, continued to bleed a good amount (like a light period), was put on progesterone as my levels were low and by 14 weeks my hematoma was gone. I have since had a pretty uneventful pregnancy (crossing my fingers!) and I'm almost 24 weeks. I just wanted to tell you my story because it had a good ending and I know I read too much when I found out I had mine. It does depend some on the size, mine got bigger once but then shrunk down.
Good luck!

I, too, had an S.H. The doctor never gave me the official name but gave a very detailed explanation that allowed me to match it up on the web. Anyway, mine began at work and sent me crying and running from the building so my husband could get me to the hospital. Luckily, our OB has his office at our hospital and wanted to examine me himself. I just knew it was all over and that our little sweeties were gone. Just at 9 weeks, we had begun to really get excited. I couldn't look at the U/S screen until I heard my DH sigh and say, "thank God!". The babies were like champs in there completely unaffected by this horror. Doc sent me home for 4 days of bedrest. As I was heading to get in bed a huge hemorrhage started that put teh earlier one to shame. I've never been so scared or horrified!

I'll be anxious to see the size of the area of bleeding the doc pointed out. I really wish that I had paid closer attention to it b/c like y'all, I am scared about another event. If I had looked, I may have a better indication of the possibility of it happening again.

Thanks for sharing your stories. This is the first place I've found that discusses it. Mine happened two weeks ago but is fresh in my memory.

Take care and good luck in avoiding the horrible SH!