subchorionic hematoma

[buggy1]

Hello

I've been told I'm high risk and need to rest (can't really do anything much, housework, shopping etc) due to subchorionic hematoma (blood clot in the uterus).

It is a large blood clot, about 10cm across and as it hasn't reduced in size over the last 4 weeks I'm at risk of an infection which will 'end the pregnancy' as I was told.

Just wondering if there is anyone else out there in the same boat?

Thanks x

 

[Kelly450]

Hey!
Just seen your name posting and thought I'd say hi. I don't know anything about the post but I am curios, how long are you on rest for? X

 

[buggy1]

Hi! Congratulations on your recent BFP on the looks of things!

Got another scan at 24 weeks to see if the clot has reduced in size, then I should be able to do normal things x

 

[Hawthorn]

Hi Buggy1

I have not posted on this forum before but when I read you were in a similar situation to me I had to write.

I had bleeding for weeks and no one would take me seriously but then at 18 weeks exactly I had quite a heavy bleed and thought enough is enough so I called the hospital and because it was before 9am I got put through to the labour ward who asked me to come in. I went in and they did an internal but I wasn't actively bleeding anymore, they told me my cervix and vaginal walls were not damaged so they hadn't caused the bleed and they prepared to send me home! I told them I wasn't happy because the fact it must be coming from my uterus was more worrying and I decided I wasn't leaving without a scan! The registrar turned up with a portable scanner and had a look and sure enough there was a large bleed on my placenta measuring 10cmx6cmx8cm. It was horrid to see it as its right alongside the poor baby who was, thankfully, measuring spot on. I got sent away for 2 weeks until my 20 week scan which is on Tuesday. I've had quite a bit of blood since then - red/pink/brown but I'm trying to remain optimistic as I've been given an 80% chance of a good outcome, so the odds are not bad. I have swapped my role at work for a sitdown job (which caused some problems!) and I'm on pelvic rest. No one has mentioned infections to me?

I totally know what you are going through, fingers and toes crossed for both our babies.

 

[J_Anne]

I was in 2 minds whether or not to reply because I don't want to frighten you,
but I have a question. I had a haemotoma with frequent heavy bleeds, but as the baby was growing as it should, no one was concerned or mentioned any risks. I went into labour at 23+4 and my beautiful son was born at 24 weeks, last week. He's doing well at the minute but they've mentioned there could have been an infection as he had meconium in his waters, what did your doctor say to you about infection?

They still don't know if the haemotoma had anything to do with premature delivery, no one was concerned at all at any of my appointments so could just be a coincidence.x

 

[Hawthorn]

No one has mentioned infection to me but I get the impression that they are not taking a great deal of interest in my situation as I'm only 19 weeks so not passed V day yet. Is there anything I can do to minimise the risk of infection besides pelvic rest? (Hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread, Buggy1!) Huge congratulations on the birth of your son btw J_Anne!

 

[buggy1]

Hi Buggy1

I have not posted on this forum before but when I read you were in a similar situation to me I had to write.

I had bleeding for weeks and no one would take me seriously but then at 18 weeks exactly I had quite a heavy bleed and thought enough is enough so I called the hospital and because it was before 9am I got put through to the labour ward who asked me to come in. I went in and they did an internal but I wasn't actively bleeding anymore, they told me my cervix and vaginal walls were not damaged so they hadn't caused the bleed and they prepared to send me home! I told them I wasn't happy because the fact it must be coming from my uterus was more worrying and I decided I wasn't leaving without a scan! The registrar turned up with a portable scanner and had a look and sure enough there was a large bleed on my placenta measuring 10cmx6cmx8cm. It was horrid to see it as its right alongside the poor baby who was, thankfully, measuring spot on. I got sent away for 2 weeks until my 20 week scan which is on Tuesday. I've had quite a bit of blood since then - red/pink/brown but I'm trying to remain optimistic as I've been given an 80% chance of a good outcome, so the odds are not bad. I have swapped my role at work for a sitdown job (which caused some problems!) and I'm on pelvic rest. No one has mentioned infections to me?

I totally know what you are going through, fingers and toes crossed for both our babies.

Yes very similar to me! I've had I think 4 scans now. Got my 20 week at the end of the month and a 24 week in Feb.

My consultant said to me (he is very blunt) that there is risk of infection and if that happens it would 'end the pregnancy' that has really got me worried. However I've seen two sonographers/midwives who have looked at the bleed and measured it etc and they never said anything of the sort. They didn't even tell me I needed to rest so I had been decorating at home, going shopping and doing all the Christmas cooking!

I'm resting as much as i can now but it is tricky with a toddler. I have a sit down (work from home) job anyway so that is something.

I hope your next scan goes well and you've been given good odds which must hel put your mind at rest a bit x

 

[buggy1]

I was in 2 minds whether or not to reply because I don't want to frighten you,
but I have a question. I had a haemotoma with frequent heavy bleeds, but as the baby was growing as it should, no one was concerned or mentioned any risks. I went into labour at 23+4 and my beautiful son was born at 24 weeks, last week. He's doing well at the minute but they've mentioned there could have been an infection as he had meconium in his waters, what did your doctor say to you about infection?

They still don't know if the haemotoma had anything to do with premature delivery, no one was concerned at all at any of my appointments so could just be a coincidence.x

I have heard that this condition can cause the placenta to come away from the uterus lining (or something like that) which stops the supply to baby, which I assume can bring on early labour. It is in my mind that is a possibility and I'm worrying constantly about this pregnancy.

Having said that I am fortunate in that the bleed is under the baby, just above the cervix, the placenta is above baby so they are well away from eachother. I was told that if you are going to have a blood clot it is the best place to have it. They said it will hopefully pass out through the cervix quite easily because of it's position or be re-absorbed and therefore hopefully reduce in size.

They didn't go in to much detail about the infection side, just that it was a risk. I'm not sure how it would come about but sounds as though it would be bad news if it happened. Somehow apparently resting should help ward of any infection but I'm not sure how, unless it is purely to do with shrinking the clot.

I'm glad to hear your baby is doing well at the moment and hope he continues to do so x

 

[J_Anne]

That sounds promising that the bleed isn't near your placenta, mine was behind it so very different. Hopefully it'll turn out its nothing to worry about. Best of luck xx

 

[buggy1]

Thanks J_Anne. Do you mind saying, did you just start going in to labour or was there a problem and they induced you/did a c-section? Just want to know what to look out for etc

Hawthorn I'm only 18 weeks at the moment. I may be in a slightly 'better' position in a way because we lost our last baby I was already under a consultant for that. I imagine it must be worse not having that additional contact. I know I've felt like no-one else (docs, hospital, midwifes) are interested before you are 20/24 weeks! There isn't a lot of support out there in early pregnancy. Can you try and get a referral to an early pregnancy unit? I don't know where abouts in the world you are but I expect there is one near you. I was just told rest, I asked if there was anything else I could do but it was just a case of 'keeping your fingers crossed', the only other thing they said was to avoid sex as that could carry risk of infection. Just trying to make sure my personal hygiene is good, changing pads/liners regularly and showers instead of baths x

 

[J_Anne]

I'd started bleeding again on Christmas Eve but thought nothing of it because of all the previous bleeds. Then Christmas Day morning I was sick then started getting contractions and I was 2cm dilated when I got to hospital. Luckily it was a slow labour so it meant he could hang on until 24 weeks, so 4 days of irregular contractions. His heart beat was great all the way through and he was moving about so they left us to it really and I had him naturally, 3 big contractions and he was out.xx

 

[buggy1]

Wow! You must be over the moon that he is doing well, it must be a real worry going in to labour early. Thanks for sharing x

 

[Hawthorn]

Thanks ladies. I had another load of red blood last night but its eased off to brown now. I've got my 20 week scan on Tue and then an extra one just for the SCH on thur so I should get some answers then. My bleed is coming from my placenta which has started coming away but I don't know how much has separated yet. I'm counting down the days to V day and trying to avoid Dr Google. Did the bleeds cause your early labour j_anne? Isn't there anything they can give you to stop labour if its caught early enough? Keep us updated buggy1 I will be following your thread with interest. x

 

[J_Anne]

They don't know for sure what caused it, Hawthorn. They couldn't give me anything to stop the labour, just steroids and something else to give baby a better chance. X

 

[buggy1]

Hope all is ok for you Hawthorn

 

[BunnyN]

I had 3 blood clots behind my placenta that showed on my 13 week scan. The doctor told me to have total rest at home for 6 weeks. No bending, lifting, housework, climbing stairs or sex. The advice seems to vary depending on the doctor/MW you see. Some say rest won't make much difference. I got a private scan at 16 weeks and it showed the clots were still there but much smaller so I started being slightly more active after that but still was careful. At 18 weeks the clots had gone. I never had external bleeding. The rest of the pregnancy went well and LO was born safely. After the birth the MW could see on the placenta where it had seperated. I am pregnant again and close to being due. I haven't had any problems with the placenta or blood clots this time.

Mine happened a little earlier in pregnancy than you ladies but thought I'd add my experience.

 

[buggy1]

Good to know, thanks for sharing