Patient Resources

What is bleeding in early pregnancy?

• Bleeding in early pregnancy can be a threatened miscarriage.
• Bleeding or spotting during pregnancy is common and many people will go on to have healthy babies.

There is a chance, however, that you may lose the pregnancy. A miscarriage is usually how the body deals with a pregnancy that is NOT developing normally

• A miscarriage does NOT occur because of something that you did. It is NOT the result of exercising, working hard, stress, or having sex during pregnancy.
• In general, the more bleeding and cramping, the more likely the pregnancy will end in a miscarriage. As the bleeding increases, then clots will form
• The fact that one pregnancy ends in a miscarriage does NOT mean that this will happen again.

What you should do while at home

• You should be resting.
• Keep track of the bleeding. Record how many pads that you use each day. If you are soaking more than 3 pads in 3 hours, present to the emergency department.
• Do NOT have sex or use tampons while experiencing vaginal bleeding. You may resume sex once the vaginal bleeding has stopped.
• Your doctor may monitor your blood hormone levels.
• An Ultrasound may be offered on an outpatient basis.

Call your doctor or return to the Emergency Department if:

• Your bleeding or cramping gets worse, soaking more than 3 pads in 3 hours.
• You feel faint.
• You have a fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher.
• You have increased abdominal pain or cramping, or if the pain is found mostly on one side of your abdomen.

‍

For more detailed information:

PregnancyED Handout on Bleeding During Early Pregnancy

‍

Physical Well-Being

Physical Well-Being

• Consult your healthcare provider or go to the nearest Emergency Department immediately if you:
  • Suddenly have severe pain in your abdomen that is not controlled by pain medication.
  • Suddenly feel faint or feel like passing out.
  • Have very heavy bleeding (soaking more than 3 sanitary pads in 3 hours).
• Have chills or a fever greater than 38oC.
• Have foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Vaginal Bleeding

• You may have vaginal bleeding, similar to a heavy menstrual period. This should slow down over the next 7 days. Many women experience some bleeding or spotting for up to 3 weeks.  
• While bleeding, you should only use sanitary pads (not tampons), and you should also avoid having a bath (showers are acceptable), douching, swimming, or having sexual intercourse.
• If you miscarry at home, you may choose to collect the baby or pregnancy tissues, or not. How you manage the remains is a personal choice. For more information, contact your healthcare provider or see pages 12-13 of the PAIL Network “Miscarriage: Pregnancy Loss Before 20 Weeks” Booklet (https://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca/resource-library/)

Menstruation/ Family Planning

• You can expect a normal menstrual period 4to 8 weeks after a pregnancy loss. Talk to your healthcare provider if this does not occur.  
• It is possible to become pregnant immediately after a pregnancy loss, even before your menstrual period has returned. Discuss your plans for family planning with your healthcare provider.

Breast Care

• After a pregnancy loss, your breasts mayor may not produce milk.  
• If you experience breast discomfort:
  • Wear a well-fitting bra with good support.
  • Apply cold compresses for comfort.
  • Take warm showers to help the milk drip out.
  • If your breasts feel very full, you may hand express a small amount of milk from your breasts. Expressing a spoonful or two will not increase your milk production, and may help you be more comfortable.
  • Fullness should decrease over the next 3 to 4 days.

Psychological Well-Being

Getting Support

• Family and friends want to do the right thing but often are unsure of how to help or what to say. Let them know how you feel and what you need at this time.  
• If you feel you need someone to talk to, there are skilled people in your community. Discuss a referral with your healthcare provider.  A sheet of contacts and resources is also included for your support.
• A hospital social worker or spiritual care provider may also be available to help upon your request.

Grieving and Remembering Your Baby

• It is important to allow yourself to grieve the loss of this pregnancy.  
• There is no right way to feel after a pregnancy loss.  
• The experience of grief is powerful and you may feel physically and emotionally drained.  
• Remember that by grieving you are helping yourself heal.  
• You may find that planning for the future is difficult during this time.  
• Some parents have found the following things helpful to provide comfort and begin healing:
  • Take care of yourself
  • Take time to be with your partner
  • Take time to cry and to grieve
  • Take a break from your regular schedule
  • Make a memento box or scrap box to commemorate your baby and the pregnancy experience
  • Write a poem or letter to your baby or about your baby
  • Keep a diary about your experience
  • Name your baby
  • Have a ceremony to recognize your baby
  • Light a candle
  • Plant a tree or make a memorial garden
  • Talk to family, friends, religious leaders, or healthcare providers
  • Talk to families that have had a similar experience
  • Attend a bereavement support group, such as through PAIL Network (https://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca/)

‍

Free and low cost recreation opportunities are available for Port Alberni residents on limited income with our HEART subsidy program.

For more information, please visit:

‍

https://playinpa.ca/heart/

‍

‍

• The blanket will have a disposable cover (the nurse will send you home with an extra in case this becomes soiled)
• Have baby undressed, with only a diaper, when wrapping into the phototherapy blanket.
• Place eye protection on baby when the photo light is turned on. (if unsure have the nurse show you before leaving the hospital)
• Continue to have baby on back for sleep and avoid using a tight swaddle (keep baby’s hands free)
• Monitor baby temperature by touch (behind neck); also consider checking temperature under armpit every 4 hours (36.5-37.4C).
• Monitor how well the baby is feeding. Is mother’s milk in, is baby actively sucking and can swallowing be heard at the breast.
• If baby taking expressed breastmilk or formula then keep track of amounts baby is taking.
• Monitor how many wet and poop diapers have in a 24-hour period. (sometimes babies can have loose poops with phototherapy)
• If baby becomes sleepy and hard to wake for feeds then contact the maternity unit
• Sometimes, babies may need to be readmitted back to the hospital for double phototherapy.

If the following occurs, then contact Tofino General Hospital

• Baby not feeding well, becoming sleepy and unable to wake
• Baby does not have a normal range temperature (36.4-37.5 C) after stopping phototherapy for 15-30 minutes
• Baby not having any pees or poops over a 24-hour period

PLEASE RETURN TO EITHER THE HOSPITAL OR PUBLIC HEALTH FOR WEIGHT CHECKS AS DIRECTED BY YOUR NURSE.

RETURN TO HAVE BABY’S BLOODWORK COMPLETED AS DIRECTED BY YOUR NURSE

‍

Please fill out this form to give us feedback about your experience as a patient of West Coast General Hospital's Maternity Ward:

‍

Survey

For some good resources for those struggling with postpartum depression anxiety, please visit www.postpartum.org