Brownish Discharge at 5 Weeks Pregnant

Updated on January 12, 2011
S.P. asks from Nashville, TN
16 answers

I had a miscarriage last month on Dec 1st. I quit bleeding altogether on dec 10th. i was only 6 weeks along. My first child i had a healthy pregnancy and never had any different discharge or blood. So i am now pregnant again im 5weeks and ive noticed some brownish looking color on my toilet paper when i wipe only after i use the bathroom. I have noticed a spot of blood only after i had a bowel movement (sorry to much info) and was constipated and i probably strained myself. Im just really nervous of having another miscarriage. You have to look to see the brownish color on the toilet paper and i am wondering if anybody else has had it. Ive looked it up and it seems that its normal to have but i just need some reassuring.

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So What Happened?

I have talked to my ob she doesnt seem like its bad unless it turn bright red and i have to wear a pad. I go to the ob in a few weeks for an ultra sound. I was just wondering if anybody had it and had a healthy baby.

Thank you all for your coments. On Dec. 8th my doctor called me to tell me that my hcg levels dropped to 48 and to just take a pregnancy test to make sure its negative. I forgot and never took a pregnancy test until i felt pregnant again. SO my doctor had me come in on tuesday they drew blood and called me 2 days later and said my levels were 137. they wanted me to come back in that day to see if there going up or going down and they called me the next day and said that i am pregnant again my levels went up to 352. Also im not having the brown discharge anymore so im feeling alot better. Thanks again:)

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C.H.

answers from Dallas on

I would definately take it easy up until 3 months time as to lifting, carrying, pushing, straining, climbing stairs. Just for the in-case. I had that in one pregnancy. I took it easy. Everything went fine.

I would find out what gave you the miscarriage before in case it came from an anomoly that you can't control; e.g., the uterus may be divided by a septum and the egg attaches itself to the septem instead of the outer wall. For some, this type of scenario would be a high risk pregnancy for which you would take certain precautions.

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

The hardest thing to do is to "wait and see" but that's all there is to do. A miscarriage can start out as brownish blood and then change to red. Or slight bleeding can come and go and everything can be fine. There is nothing we can do to cause or to prevent a miscarriage. Good luck to you.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like "Old" blood to me but I would call your dr considering your history.

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R.W.

answers from Medford on

I too had a healthy (no discharge) first pregnancy, then 4 years later a miscarriage. I got pregnant again last April but didn't know it cause I was having brownish discharge & thought it was the start of my period. When I realized it was staying brown & then stopped altogether, I decided to take a pregnancy test & it was positive. At my first OB exam at 7 weeks, she god an ultrasound to make sure everything was ok this time & we saw the heartbeat! It was amazing! I had brownish discharge off and on through week 20, but noticed it more when I was stressed or didn't get much sleep. On December 13th, at 39w6d, I gave birth to a very healthy 7lb 14oz baby boy! So, take care of yourself...and as long as your discharge doesn't turn red, try not to worry yourself too much & ask your OB for an u/s at your first visit to help ease your mind! Hope it works out for you this time! Good luck!

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K.K.

answers from Washington DC on

Sarah:

I had a GF who had a period for the first six months she was pregnant!!

However, I will state that brown blood is "old" blood. Bright RED blood is current. That's the only time I would worry!!!

I'm sorry for your loss!! Take a deep breath! Don't panic. Call your OB with your concerns!

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

i had this around the same time. my baby was to term and is fine and healthy. the best thing you can do it take it easy and rest with your feet up. try not to do anything strenuous if you can. if it becomes worse - call/see your dr.

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J.F.

answers from Philadelphia on

I have never bled in my pregnancies. I do know that brown is old blood. Call your Dr to be safe.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Brown... is fine.

I had a miscarriage (and D&C for it) once, before my son. It started out brown... then over a couple of days... turned bright red. Like fresh blood. THIS coloring...was not good. Though I had no physical pain/cramping.... I was miscarrying. This was at 6 weeks of the pregnancy.

CALL your OB/GYN.
That is always the first thing to do, to ask questions....

All the best,
Susan

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K.E.

answers from Jacksonville on

I'm sorry for your loss....been there myself and it is a painful experience.....With my experience, my HCG levels didn't go down until about a month after the miscarriage and I was 6 weeks at the time of the miscarriage. I also bled on and off for that entire month afterwards.....I'm saying this because it hasn't really been a long time for your body to have processed your miscarriage.....Are you sure you are pregnant again and your body isn't just still processing the miscarriage? I'm not trying to be rude, I just want you to be informed about all the possibilities of what you are experiencing. A home pregnancy test or Dr. office blood test will pick up on HCG levels, but those could be lingering from the original pregnancy......I think it would be best to ask your doctor to do an exam and some more bloodwork NOW to make sure that you are indeed pregnant again....It's not an easy roller coaster to be on and if I can save you a little pain......

If you have confirmation that you are indeed pregnant again, Congrats and best wishes to you....Many people have spotting and discharge and go on to have beautiful, healthy babies......:) Best of luck to you.

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

I think it is normal, I had it but don't remember at which point during the pregnancy it was. You can always call your doctor to ask.

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Sarah:

From someone who has lost 3 babies - one at 20 weeks, I sympathize with you and am soooooo sorry for your loss!!

You sound like me! I lost a baby on 9/7/01 and was pregnant again by October! I was pregnant for five years in a row!!! Took us 4 years to "learn" how to get pregnant then it seemed like that was all I ever was!!!

Now, as to the brownish discharge - for me - that was normal. As long as it's not bright red - you should be fine.

I know the stress and the worry - I wish I could tell you NOT to worry - but really. I know. Take a deep breath. DO NOT PANIC. if it continues - call your OB/GYN....I had cramping too as my uterus was expanding. It didn't help to see a discharge, but my OB told me it was fine.

I loved my OB - i could go in every day to hear the heartbeat if I needed to!

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K.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I had pretty much exactly what you were describing at 5 weeks too and I am now at 36 weeks!

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Don't stress too much right now. You've got an appointment & will be checked. There is nothing you can do O. way or the other to change the outcome (I know, I've had 3 miscarriages and I'm sorry you've gone through that too).
With my misses, I had the brown discharge and it never went to bright or red blood...but that's me...not you.
Good luck. Hope all is well.

A.M.

answers from Portland on

Same story for me. I had a little bit of brownish discharge as well , but I think it was a few weeks later; I didn't even know I was pg until 7 weeks, so I think it was the 8th or 9th week. I had a perfectly normal pregnancy that went to term (5 days over, actually!) and gave birth to a healthy 8lb 13oz boy. Just like your OB said: if it's bright red and quite a bit of discharge be concerned. I did some reading on it before, unfortunately I don't remember the exact cause, but it's really nothing to be worried about.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss and can easily understand your concern. I know it can be difficult but try to be as calm as possible during these early days, stress can be very harmful to the body- even without being pregnant! Drink some nice chamomile tea, listen to some relaxing music you enjoy, and put your feet up. You're doing great!

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H.M.

answers from Detroit on

I know your fears. I am seven weeks pregnant after losing a baby at barely four weeks five months ago. It has been an emotional rollercoaster. As scared as you might be I don't think the brown spotting is anything to worry about. It sound like your doctor said the same thing. I have known many women that have bled like a period during their pregnancy and had perfectly healthy babies! Good luck and Congratulations!!! :)

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A.M.

answers from Eau Claire on

I am 25 weeks pregnant and have had that since the beginning. I was so worried at first and convinced something was wrong, but the baby is fine and growing normal. Hopefully everything is fine, and if your lucky this wont be something that you have to deal with throughout your entire pregnancy. But even if you do have it the whole time it doesn't necessarily mean that something is wrong. Good Luck to you!

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