Understanding Unexpected Bleeding & Positive Pregnancy Test - What Could It Mean?

Question
I started my period, or so I thought, 4-13 and bleed bright red blood until 4-23.  It decreased to spotting stuff and then stopped on the 24th.  I started spotting again the 26-27 and my husband urged me to take a pregnancy test on Saturday...today.  It turned out positive.  I did not have big clots of any on the week I bled and no cramping, just some major mood swings.  Did I miscarry or am I still pregnant?  My plan is to wait a week and retake the PT and watch my bleeding.  I may call a doc on Monday.  Our insurence hasn't kicked in yet so I am hesitant.  

Thanks for listening.  

Answer
Dear Alisha,

It really is difficult to know whether this was a miscarriage or just some early pregnancy bleeding. Bleeding in early pregnancy is not unusual. Vaginal bleeding can occur frequently in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and may not be a sign of problems. It can be a sign of miscarriage but does not mean that miscarriage is imminent. Studies show that anywhere from 20-30% of women experience some degree of bleeding in early pregnancy. Approximately half of pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages.

On the other hand, since it occurred for such an extended period of time and during the time when you expected your period to arrive, it may have been a chemical pregnancy (a pregnancy that ends very early in the 1st trimester).

The fact that you had no cramping and there were no clots or tissue are positive signs. If you don't want to go in to the doctor's office just yet to get a quantitative blood pregnancy test done, then I would simply suggest a "wait and see" approach. Take it easy, keep yourself healthy - eat well and drink plenty of healthy fluids, take vitamins, and avoid the introduction of anything into the vaginal canal while bleeding is occurring (such as tampons or intercourse). If you don't get a period when you would expect to again, then it is fairly safe to say you have retained the pregnancy and should go in for that blood test to see what your hCG level actually is.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda