bleeding at 20 weeks

hi all,


I'm just been discharged after a 2-week stay in hospital for threatened abortion and a low-lying placenta.

My bleeding started at about 18 weeks and has not eased up at all -- some days are better than others, but I normally change about 2 pads a day (half-soaked).

I'm also experiencing contractions and am on 2mg of Ventolin (asthma muscle relaxant), 4 times a day.

I'm getting pretty frustrated and worried as the bleeding and contractions aren't easing up at all, despite complete bed rest (except for meals and going to the loo).

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Any advice as to whether the bleeding will eventually stop or whether I may have to on bed rest till I deliver?

And God forbid, is the chance of a miscarriage high?

Alisam -


what you are going through is scary and very unpredictable. I also started bleeding at 14 weeks and I freaked out because I was convinced I was having a miscarriage. I called my father, (who is an OB/GYN) hysterically crying on the phone and shrieking into the receiver that I was bleeding and that I was going to miscarry. He told me that actually after the first trimester, the chances of miscarrying are actually quite slim. If you've made it past the first, chances are you will continue.


I wasn't convinced, and ran to my ob/gyn in Seoul, who told me that mine was caused by a placental clot which was lying in a not dangerous place for the fetus. But I did continue bleeding for two more weeks, and then it stopped.


I then experienced another round of spotting - it definitely wasn't as bleeding as the first but it happened again after in about my 20th week.


i'm surprised that your doctor didn't prescribe progesterone which is common in these cases. My doctor did, and I called my father and asked him if I should take it. He gave me his "doctorly" line about how it hasn't been toally proven to be effective and how it might not hurt, and therefore confusing me. I pressured him for an answer and he said, "As my daughter, I want you to take it." So I did.


I know quite a few women who bled throughout their entire pregnancies and had healthy babies. Most of them did end up on complete bedrest, and had varying other pills and medicines to take to stop contractions - another common one is magnesium I think. My friend was on bedrest for her baby from her 20th week until her 38th when she delivered. She ended up staying in the hospital for the last 14 weeks of her pregnancy, so just be prepared that it could happen to you.


but as I said again, according to my father, the chances of miscarriage, after passing the first trimester are not high. Question though, have al your ultrasounds show the fetus to be normal and growing well?

Wow....I wish I could reach out and give you one BIG hug:)

I can't help you with any information other than my sister had the same thing with her twins, she started bleeding at about 20 weeks...had complete bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy and fortunately everything was ok. The twins were delivered extremely early but happy and healthy.

I would go and see the BEST doctor you can...I am using Dr. Arabinda Ghosh at the shui on centre in Wanchai-Phone: Veritas ( 852 ) 2877 3118 you may even be able to e-mail him at abbi@veritas-medical.com, He also is the resident dr at the Matilda hospital.

I wish I could help you more, you must be so worried...

good luck and a big hug from me to you...

regards White Rabbit.

Hi Alisam,


I can't help you too with any information, i know that it is not normal to bleed but it is common to some women. You're not the only one who is experiencing it, there are a lot of women who had it and delivered a healthy baby. My sis had it too for the whole pregnancy.


If your doctor discharged you from the hospital, then it must be OK now, as long as he assured that everything is alright, just have a complete bedrest, relax and eat healthy.


Take care.

Alisam, I am writing because I too was told I had a low lying placenta in the 20th week of my pregnancy. Although 99% resolve themselves by the 28th week, I was in the unlucky 1% that did not. They call it placenta previa after that time. I bled too... but my bleeding was in the 31st of my pregnancy, had on and off contractions and was hospitalised for 2 weeks. I wasn't discharged because my bleeding came on and off, so they kept me until I delivered. I gave birth at 33 weeks to a healthy baby girl. She breathed on her own and was 9-10/10 on the apgar score....

I know your worry, I've been there done that..... but hang in there, okay? Almost all mothers and babies come out of this situation well.....My c-section was a breeze too compared to my monthly period cramps....

Log on to www.babycenter.com and type "placenta previa". You'll meet lots of women talking about low lying placentas and placenta previas. Some bled as early as week 8..... I don't think miscarriage is an issue.

If you need to talk, like I've said, I've been there and done that and I too worried since Week 20.

Feel free to write to me: xpatinhk@hotmail.com.

I met another lady at the hospital who bled on and off since Week 25/26... and she delivered at Week 36.... but she was hospitalised for months!!! Yikes!!!

Hi all,


Thanks for your replies and support. I haven't replied as I was hospitalised again and have just been discharged.

Unfortunately, many other problems cropped up. Besides the low lying placenta, the doctors also suspect that my waterbag was also leaking as my AFI was only 5.8 at 22 weeks. I also developed Group B Strep and came down with a fever.

Though it broke our hearts, my husband and I had not much choice but to terminate the pregnancy as the doctors advised that our baby wouldn't have survived anyway or could be born with defective lungs and limbs.

Baby Annabelle Jenner Lee was stillborn at 23 weeks. The placenta had white pus-like spots on it.

We decided not to do a post-mortem as Annabelle had already suffered so much. Still, I can't help but wonder why things have turned out this way.

Alisam -


My heart breaks for you - it's too heartwrentching to even read about - I hope that you will seek some support emotionally after such a heartbreaking experience...You need some time to heal before you can figure out the WHYS of what happened.


I wish I could reach out and hug you - but for now, rest and just recover from this experience. You will learn something from it I'm sure - and it will have a lesson for you to teach others with.

I'm so sad for you and your husband Alisam you are sounding so brave yet i'm sure this has been the most difficult time in your life. I really hope that you can move past this as thw "why?" question can torment you otherwise. I hope you and your husband have some good support to help you thru this. My thoughts are with you both.

Oh Alisam.... I am so, so sorry to hear what happened <>


I was in tears reading your short message.... I too have been through a complicated pregnancy myself.


I don't know what to say but I've found a little poem for you.....


Baby Angel


by Karen O'Connor


Don't let them say I never lived,

Though something stopped my heart,

I felt the tenderness you gave,

I loved you from the start.


Although my body you can't hold,

It doesn't mean I'm gone,

This world was worthy, not, of me,

God chose that I move on.


I know the pain that drowns your soul,

What you are forced to face,

You have my word, I'll fill your arms,

Someday we will embrace.

You'll hear that it was "meant to be

God doesn't make mistakes",

But that won't soften your worst blow,

Or make your heart not ache.


I'm watching over all you do,

Another child you'll bear,

Believe me when I say to you,

That I am always there.


There'll come a time, I promise you,

When you will hold my hand,

Stroke my face and kiss my lips,

And then you'll understand.


Although I never breathed your air,

Or gazed into your eyes,

That doesn't mean I never "was"

An angel never dies...

Hi all,


Thanks for your support.... still feeling really lousy.... but will have to just slowly give myself time to get over it... in the meantime, I'm just glad that if nothing else, this unfortunate incident has strengthened the bond between my husband and myself....

I am so sorry to hear what happened.......I am truly lost for words...........I hope you and your husband will find some peace in your hearts. I shed a tear for you all today...and hope you make it through this tough time in your life..take care, best wishes, and a hug to both of you.

Alisam, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I have only just logged on to this site looking for info, but must share with you that some years ago I lost a baby at 17 weeks, then last year after a pregnancy with occasional (heavy) bleeding, had a baby boy at 24 weeks (born in Brisbane, Australia). We were initially told he had only a 10% chance of survival, but 8 months later, he is home, happy, healthy and doing all that a 4 month old (corrected age) bub should do. I know it will take time, but hopefully you and your husband will try again with a happier outcome. Remember that all these experiences make us stronger, and we can and do learn from them.