Bleeding in Early Pregnancy

Transcription

1 NHS Forth Vaey Women and Chidren Services Beeding in Eary Pregnancy Patient Information

2 Beeding in eary pregnancy Beeding in eary pregnancy causes women a great dea of worry. The aim of this eafet is to give you some advice and information about what to do if you beed eary in your pregnancy. We wi aim to answer some common questions, which we hope you wi find usefu. Beeding in pregnancy is fairy common and unfortunatey it is sometimes an indication that you may have had or are having a miscarriage. However the pregnancy may aso continue unharmed. Why am I beeding? Norma pregnancy beeding may occur when the pregnancy impants in the womb. You may be threatening to miscarry. You may have an ectopic pregnancy Beeding may be coming from the neck of the womb (Cervix) We may never find the cause. In many cases the beeding wi stop spontaneousy and the pregnancy wi continue as norma. What shoud I do if I notice any beeding? Under 14 Weeks You shoud phone the Eary Pregnancy Assessment service (EPAS). The contact detais are at the back of this eafet. EPAS is avaiabe to a pregnant women between 6 & 14 weeks of pregnancy who have beeding or abdomina (tummy) pain. 2

3 Under 6 Weeks YOU SHOULD PHONE THE EARLY PREGNANCY ASSESSMENT SERVICE (EPAS). Appointments are not routiney arranged if you are under 6 weeks pregnant but you wi be given some teephone advice. This is because ight beeding is fairy common at this stage in pregnancy and it is usuay too eary to see anything on scan. Over 14 weeks You shoud phone Maternity Triage. Again, contact detais are at the back of this eafet. Eary Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS) When wi I be seen? You wi be seen at the next avaiabe appointment. This wi usuay be within 72 hours. What if the beeding is very heavy or abdomina pain severe at time of referra? You wi be referred directy to Gynaecoogy inpatient ward (Ward 6). Can I bring somebody with me? Yes - but ony one person wi be permitted into the scan room with you. Sometimes you may have to wait to be seen so pease be mindfu of this if you are bringing sma chidren as they tend to get fed up easiy. 3

4 Who wi see me when I attend? You wi be seen by a midwife who wi provide a the care you require but she wi have access to medica staff if she thinks this is necessary. What wi happen when I attend? Consutation and Examination You wi be asked about your symptoms, the date of your ast period and your medica history. A vagina examination (simiar to a cervica screening test) may be carried out to see where the beeding is coming from. A vagina examination wi not cause you to miscarry. Tests The foowing tests may be suggested A urine sampe to confirm a positive pregnancy test. A test for chamydia may be offered. Bood test(s) to check your bood group and/or pregnancy hormone eves. Utrasound scan Most women are offered a transvagina scan (where a probe is genty inserted in your vagina) or a transabdomina scan (where the probe is paced over your abdomen). You may be offered both. Both scans are safe and wi not make you miscarry. A repeat scan may be necessary after 14 days if the pregnancy is very sma or has not been seen. 4

5 Medica terms that may be used to describe what is happening A threatened miscarriage - beeding or cramping in a continuing pregnancy. An incompete miscarriage - a miscarriage has started but there is sti some pregnancy tissue eft inside the womb. A compete miscarriage - when a the pregnancy tissue has been passed and the womb is empty. A deayed miscarriage/missed miscarriage/sient miscarriage - the pregnancy has stopped deveoping but is sti inside the womb. This wi be diagnosed on the scan. What happens if I am having a miscarriage? The midwife wi expain a the findings to you. She wi expain the options avaiabe to you and give you eafets on these if required. She wi arrange any foow up appointments for you before you eave. Is it aways possibe to give an answer at the first visit? No, not aways. It wi depend on the findings and how many weeks pregnant you are. You may be asked to come back for a repeat scan in 1 to 2 weeks or you may be advised to have a bood test. If a bood test is recommended the resuts are usuay avaiabe within 24 hours and the midwife wi expain the resuts by phone and discuss any further investigations which are required. 5

6 What if my scan is fine? You shoud make an appointment to see the midwife at your GP practice if you have not done so aready. If you have aready seen the midwife pease keep any appointments you have. What happens if I beed again? There may have been some beeding seen inside the womb at your first scan and this may take some time to pass. If your beeding becomes heavier than a norma period or is fresh and red you shoud contact staff on the numbers overeaf for advice. Does the beeding affect the baby? No. If your scan is OK there is no increased risk to the baby. Have I done anything to cause the beeding? No. Beeding is not caused by anything you have done - even if you have had a miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur because there is something wrong which cannot be prevented. Can I have sex? We advise you not to have sex whist you are beeding but it wi not cause any harm after the beeding has stopped. 6

7 Shoud I stay off work? This depends on the severity of the beeding, how you fee emotionay or whether you are having any treatment. If you are off for between 3-7days you require a sef-certificate, which you can get from your empoyer. If you are off for onger than this pease contact your GP for a sick ine if necessary. Contact detais/further information Eary Pregnancy Assessment Service Forth Vaey Roya Hospita Teephone: Ward 6, Forth Vaey Roya Hospita Maternity Triage, Forth Vaey Roya Hospita Support Agencies The Miscarriage Association For support and information on pregnancy oss, pease contact us on: Nationa Hepine: (Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm) Emai: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk Website: Ectopic Pregnancy Trust Maternity Unit, The Hiingdon Hospita, Pied Heath Road, Uxbridge, Middesex UB8 3NN Te: Emai: ept@ectopic.org Website: 7

8 Patient Appointments/Canceations If you have an enquiry about an appointment or need to cance it, pease ca If you can t go et us know! Every month around 2,000 peope across Forth Vaey fai to turn up for hospita appointments. This costs the NHS miions of pounds each year and increases waiting times. So if you are unabe to attend or no onger require your hospita appointment pease et us know so we can offer it to someone ese. We are happy to consider requests for this pubication in other anguages or formats such as arge print. Pease ca (24hrs), fax or emai disabiity.department@nhs.net For a the atest heath news visit foow us or ike us on at SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED ON NHS FORTH VALLEY PREMISES This incudes corridors, doorways, car parks and any of our grounds. If you do smoke on NHS premises you may be iabe to prosecution and a fine. NHS Forth Vaey Administration Offices Westburn Avenue, Fakirk FK1 5SU Re-order Ref: PIL/1109/WCCS Review Date: 2015 Printed on Recyced Stock by Fakirk Printworks Te: Fax: e-mai: printworks@fakirk.gov.uk