Does heavy bleeding even after having positive pregnancy test mean I have miscarried?

Question

Hello doctor,

Six months back, I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks. I thought my periods might take a while to go back to normal, but I was shocked that it was on time the next month and every month thereafter. One month after my periods, I started getting a faint brown discharge. This lasted for four days which was unusual for me since my actual period has always started on time every month. Well, two days ago, I decided to take a pregnancy test. It came back positive. I started bleeding quite a bit yesterday, and I am still bleeding today. I took a pregnancy test again today, and it is still positive. The bleeding is heavy but not as heavy as I usually get. I do not have cramps or pain. Have I miscarried again?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Do not panic. If you have had regular periods every month, then the chances of pregnancy are low. Of course, there can be pregnancy if periods of bleeding was lesser than normal, but again chances are very low. As your pregnancy had reached 13 weeks, the levels of the beta hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone, the same as the one you check in urine for pregnancy, would have raised to a great extent. So, it would take some time for the hormone to return to non-pregnant levels. There will be some amount of hormonal imbalance for some time. So, trying for the next pregnancy is also not very much advised.

So if I suggest, just have serum beta hCG level today and after 48 hours as 48 hrs is the doubling time for this hormone. This can confirm that there is no new pregnancy. If it is the remains of the hormones of the previous pregnancy, it will keep falling. If it is a new pregnancy, this value will keep increasing. There will also be minute bits and remains of the decidual tissues left, which can keep going out at every period as brownish and dark red discharges. They keep producing the beta hCG, but the values keep falling. As you do not have cramps, maybe the heavy bleeding was the remains of the decidual tissue being thrown out, and your further periods will be on time. If you are unsatisfied, you can go ahead with the beta hCG and confirm. It can diagnose the smallest of the pregnancy.

Hope I have clarified your query. Regards.