I have a subchorionic hematoma (blood clot / bruise in the uterus). I've googled this thing to death. It can lead to a miscarraige, or could cause problems with trying to push/strain during the birth if it doesn't resolve. I've found some super scary stuff and some stuff that doesn't seem too bad. My OB told me to take it easy and up my vitamin C intake and to come back in 2 weeks (which is on Monday).

Anybody have any first or second hand experience or stories with these (good or bad)? I'm tired of reading articles and medical dictionaries.

I can only help with this idea, and will pray for you! Straining during pushing is not absolutely required. You may decline checks until your body starts pushing on it's own, even then, not necessary to "check" most likely. Your body will "push" without your mind having to be told to do so, which will cause you less strain, instead thinking of breathing the baby out, and just relaxing and stretching for the baby to move through. I would refrain from laying on the bed at all costs, staying on all fours, on a ball, the toilet, the shower, etc. while in hospital. At home, feel free to lay around or do whatever until labour is far far far along.

Can I just add, also, that in time, maybe with a different u/s tech, a different diagnosis may surface that is far more favorable and perhaps even perfect altogether. Here's hoping for the best

Great advice Andrea! I agree letting your body push on its own should keep you from straining and having any complications. I also second being upright during pushing stage or on all fours, and getting as much rest as possible BEFORE checking into the hospital! If you enter into the pushing phase with stregnth and patience you should not have to strain, and can allow your body to gently and naturally push the baby down and out.

((HUGS)) I pray that you find comfort with this and are able to gain stregnth and faith in your body, in the birth process, and above all in your creator...you are not flawed.

A girl at my church had this (I think it was the same) she bleed for weeks. Bed rest for the first part then the dr said well you should just do whatever. It resolved and baby was born fine. she had an elective section.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. Dr. Dickerson seems to think that it should resolve itself with a little TLC & vitamin C, but I freaked myself out researching it. (Darn internet!) Amanda, that is encouraging to hear that the 2nd half of her pregnancy was normal. Hopefully I'll have a similar story!!

I had this when I was pregnant with Cooper. It scared me because I thought I was having another miscarrage. Once I went in an had an ultrasound and found out what it was I relaxed. This was around 7-8 weeks or so into the pregnancy. I had bleeding for about a week and then that was it!

Hi Allison, yes, I had one with my daughter. Scared the ever living daylights out of me because I have had 2 miscarriages and sorry for the TMI, but I went potty and the toilet bowl was filled with blood! I thought for sure she was gone too. I was 11 weeks and went to the ER (then got a call from my OB to meet him at the assessment center) and we found that sweet little heartbeat on the doppler. I went in for an ultrasound that Monday and found my little one on the ultrasound as happy as could be, but we found the reason for the bleed...a subchorionic hemorrhage (which I "think" it was a hemorrhage instead of a hematoma because it was an active bleed at the time...on the ultrasound you could see blood flowing through it!) A little background, I had been spotting off and on for weeks prior and continue to spot just a little for a couple of weeks, but this was the one main episode of the bleed...and my OB things that the majority of the blood and/or clot exited at this time.

Anyway, I was to "take it easy", which I had already put a stop to exercising around 8 weeks when I was spotting about 5 out of 7 days of the week...but I just made sure to not do anything out of the ordinary.

We did a follow up ultrasound 3 weeks later (or maybe it was 4 weeks) and there was no sign of any blood...only a healthy little baby!

Deep breaths...and I'll pray that you have great news on Monday!

So...there's my success story for you...my 1 year old daughter!

How many weeks are you right now?

And did they say how big the bleed was? Or where it was located?

I know the internet is EVIL, EVIL, EVIL when it comes to this....I did my fair share of reading, freaking out, and totally obsessing when I found out about mine too!

I am 11.5 weeks along now and we saw a heart beat at the ultrasound 2 weeks ago. I had NO idea that anything was even wrong during the u/s. The tech kept taking measurements and lots of pictures, but I just thought that's what they did. It wasn't until we met with the OB that he told us about it and showed us the pictures. The clot (he called it a bruise) was bigger than the placenta...which was super scary for me! I hadn't had any bleeding or spotting at all, so I was pretty shocked to hear about this. I am definitely anxiously awaiting the results tomorrow. Hopefully it will be GONE!

Thanks for sharing your stories. It definitely helps to hear about others who have had the same diagnosis. One of the first sites I found when researching this was from a lady who lost her baby at 20 weeks due to one of these. It was so sad and scary...

Thanks for the positive thoughts and prayers!! I'll update tomorrow, hopefully with GOOD NEWS.

Was your u/s today? I sure hope you have some good news! Thinking about you!!!!

It's GONE!! Yay! Now I can continue on with a normal pregnancy and hopefully VBAC! Thanks for all of your thoughts, prayers, and shared experiences.