12 DPO Constant pink CM. Help?

[Blessedbymybabies]

Hi all. So we had our attempt and now I am 12 dpo, tracked by OPKs. I definitely feel pregnant and my stomach is doing crazy things. Yesterday as I was driving home I had intense sharp pains in my uterus area, which lasted maybe 20 seconds, but it was enough to almost make me want to stop the car, like jolted. I also needed to use the toilet so I thought its ok maybe I had left it too long (Ive been needing to "go" every hour or two, to the point I cant hold it). But when I got home, I found pink cm in my panty liner and in the toilet water. I got more later that evening and Im still seeing it and in my liner this morning it looked brown. But pink when i wipe. Its not a flow, but quarter size cm. I tested last night and it was negative. And again this morning, and it seemed the test is still negative, but I am almost CERTAIN today there is a line there, but its fainter than a squinter. I do see something? I have a feeling by tomorrow it will be a little more visible squinter. I dont think its my period. My period usually comes full flow the morning of my period day, never in small amounts of pink cm.

My question is whats going on with my CM?? I am so late now in the DPO for implantation bleeding, and I know people say if you DO happen to implant later it usually means miscarriage or a problem with the baby???? Im so worried now, I usually get my positives by 12 dpo, is it normal that if I am pregnant for it to show later than this? my HCG tests are 25 miu internet cheapies. I should have that amount at this dpo.

My cycle is odd this time as well. I usually get my period the 1st of every month. but last month October, I got it Oct 1, and then again October 28, instead of Nov 1. So it came a few days early last month. Im not sure if that means I am late on my period being today the 28, Or if I should go back to assuming it will have come on December 1 like all the other 5 months prior to October. I think the Oct 28 period was a fluke thing and it would have gone back to normal. If that is the case and I should consider my period dec 1, then as of now I am not late on my period, but if i would go by my last 28th day period I would be late today and that means I should have tested positive! I dont know?

Does anyone have any input? Im really hung up on not testing positive at 12 dpo, and if that could mean my baby has a problem if i AM pregnant? Is it possible that I have implanted in the days before 11 dpo and it just started to spot on that day, or does the spotting instantly happen after? I hope I implanted sooner than later! If I am pregnant, I just dont want to sit here thinking about that late implantation worry.
I have never had implantation bleeding in my past 4 pregnancies, So I thought it was a one time spotting, I seem to have it for two days now! is that okay too?

Sorry for all the questions, I would love any input to put my mind at ease and of course yours Atomic <3

Thank you guys

[atomic sagebrush]

Pink CM is very common both before a period arrives and in early pregnancy.

I find true "implantation spotting" to be exceedingly rare. Most of what people CALL implantation spotting is bleeding from the cervix. Becuase the cervix is very soft and easily injured at about 7 DPO it's not at all unusual (and I know this is not "implatnation spotting" because so many people have it when they're not trying to conceive! and also because soo many people will tell me that they've experienced this after vigorously checking their cervix trying to "learn their cycle". Just leave your cervixes alone please ladies)

So NO, "late implanatation spotting" doesn't indicate anything becuase most "implantation spotting" is not implantation spotting and does not tell you anything about when your baby implanted.

Now, about the DPO you get pregnancy test...we have had several people who did not get positives till 14 and even in 2 cases 16 DPO. BUT most of the time, if you're pregnant you would start getting positives by 12 DPO. The other option is that you ovulated later than you think. That is not at all uncommon and so you're not out yet.

Do be cautious with symptom spotting though. Since my time on this site I've paid scrupulous attention to my cycles and often have what I would consider "I feel pregnant" symptoms during the 2ww. Jolts and pains and cramps and flutters and all sorts of stuff. I suspect that because we have enhanced blood flow during certain parts of our cycles it makes us feel normal sensations that normally we don't notice. I suspect that you had a little owie on your cervix that was irritated and that caused the pain and the blood mixed in the CM (just like how with any injury, you can suddenly find it started bleeding again randomly even though you do not recall reinjuring it.) OR, you could have a small polyp or fibroid in the uterus or a little erosion in the cervix that is causing a little spotting and some pain. We just can't know and so for now, operate under the assumption taht you could be pregnant but don't get your hopes up, and please please od not start experiencing tons of anxiety that something is wrong becaause everything youv'e described is quite normal.

[Blessedbymybabies]

I’m trying not to be anxious. I totally get what your saying that there is a number of things other than implantation it could be. I know I can’t know or control it I guess.. It seems the pink CM has stopped yesterday shortly after the post. I’ll keep an eye but Atomic in your opinion is getting a late bfp a bad sign? It seems by your answer saying some women don’t get it until later (14 and 16) indicate you don’t think it’s an issue but I want to confirm. I feel this is going to do my head in. I’m positive I’m pregnant now but let’s pretend like I know that is a fact if I Am pregnant I’m wondering if such a light line is NOrmal at 13 dpo. So I tested again today, and that test I took yesterday which I said I am sure I see something extremely faint but barely there, it is just a tad darker today. Yesterday I can see it at a certain angle but today it’s just there. Looking at them side by side earlier. Just barely a squinter but it’s definitely not stark white anymore. I know it’s there and is not in my head because the first test could not be anymore negative, then yesterday’s as I explained and today’s. I would be 13 dpo. I know my body gets thrown off every couple cycles with my period a few days and goes back too what it used to be, so I really think my period would be coming the 1st of December like all the months before my October 28, so I don’t think I’m really late yet but I should show so much more of a line by this point shouldn’t I? And if it WAS going to be the 28 than I am late. I know it’s just a waiting game to see what happens it’s just bending my mind into a pretzel. Wish I could get a test more sensitive then 25 to test but since either way I am only a day and a half away from
My period of Dec 1 I don’t understand what could be happening, unless I truly did ovulate a lot later than November 16 (pos OPK on nov 15). Just can’t seem to get past the feeling of it not feeling normal to not have a decent line this late if I actually am pregnant. I hope to be put at ease Tomorrow with a decent line.

[atomic sagebrush]

No, I do not think late BFP are any reason to worry at all whatsoever. The issue is that it's very faint, not the day you are getting it on. We would hope to see it darkening up over the next few days. (but please don't panic if it doesn't do this consistently and dances back and forth from lighter to darker at first)

[Blessedbymybabies]

I see... so if the issue is not what day it’s on but that it is faint. what could that mean and why is it an issue? I do know of course that it should be darkening, as we all know, so I hope this is the case, I guess I would just like to know for my own knowledge if it didn’t what that would mean

[Nell_]

Could you get a test that says "pregnant " or not pregnant " instead of the ones that just show a line?

[Blessedbymybabies]

Atomic I sent you a private message and this is the photo, the last darker test being today being 14 dpo. It’s so light still!. I’m so worried if you could read my message and respond about the photo40824

[atomic sagebrush]

I see... so if the issue is not what day it’s on but that it is faint. what could that mean and why is it an issue? I do know of course that it should be darkening, as we all know, so I hope this is the case, I guess I would just like to know for my own knowledge if it didn’t what that would mean

What happens with a chemical pregnancy is that a fertilized egg starts to implant and then for some reason something isn't right and the process doesn't finish. The body pulls the plug on the pregnancy, but not before a very small amount of preganncy hormone is released. This can register for a day or two on a pregnancy test, but the test will be very faint. Now, the trouble is you can also get a faint pregnancy test early in pregnancy too because it's just early on. But in those cases over the course of a few days the test would become darker.

As for those tests, I'm not convinced they are positives. Some brands of tests can make a very faint line in the spot where the true test line will appear and they can be at times mistaken for positives. The one on the right is ~maybe~ a real positive but then again it may just be the lighting.

What we're hoping for here is that these tests will be darker soon and that you ovulated later than you think. Because by 13 DPO ~most~ of the time you'd be seeing a much darker positive than that. There are exceptions of course but my concern is not that the test is late (because if you had a dark pos at 13 DPO I would not be concerned) but because the test is faint.

[Blessedbymybabies]

I took another pregnancy test this morning and it is slightly darker. I’m positive either I’m having a chemical at this point and I’m even more scared it could be ectopic since I had weird spotting days ago.. I can’t believe this is happening, I just want whatever is happening to be over with, I hope so bad it is not ectopic. I’m absolutely terrified I don’t know what to feel crying so bad

[Blessedbymybabies]

40836

[atomic sagebrush]

I took another pregnancy test this morning and it is slightly darker. I’m positive either I’m having a chemical at this point and I’m even more scared it could be ectopic since I had weird spotting days ago.. I can’t believe this is happening, I just want whatever is happening to be over with, I hope so bad it is not ectopic. I’m absolutely terrified I don’t know what to feel crying so bad

OK deep breath. It's ok. Spotting in early preganncy is SUPER common and ectopic pregnancies are rare. Please don't jump from pink CM to an ectopic pregnancy - that's like jumping from sneezing once to Ebola. :)

Most likely explanation is that you ovulated late and it's just early. Also likely is that it's a chemical (and while I know chemicals are hard, they are really common and most of the ladies on this site myself included have had at least one, and they don't cause any complications and you'll still be able to TTC this upcoming month, so don't stress over that.) It's even possible that you're just not getting dark tests yet due to dilute urine. That this is ectopic is so so so distant in likelihood that it's not worth even entertaining the idea right now, let alone getting upset over it.

I have a motto for dealing with my anxieties and it is "There will be time enough to worry when we know if there's really something to worry about." For right now, I want you to try to operate under the assumption that everything is ok (because it almost certainly is.) If you ovulated later than you think or have just gotten oddly light tests up till now, then all is well and we'll see the tests darken up in time. If you are having a chemical, it will resolve within the next couple of days. These are by far and away the most likely case scenarios here. And if in the far distant chance of ectopic, there is time to figure that out and they'd not be able to tell yet anyway, and would have you wait and see - so you'd still be in limbo for now.

What I do know is that getting really upset is not going to help either you or this pregnancy in any way. Remember, there will be time enough to worry when we know that there really is something to worry over. Right now, there isn't, and so I'll say congratulations and just know that we're out here :pray: for a sticky baby and sending you all the pink dust we can. :heart:

[Blessedbymybabies]

I know... it’s so hard to not be upset when I know all other previous pregnancies resulted in far darker lines by this point. The reason ectopic came to mind after the spotting is because I know it can produce hcg levels like a normal pregnancy but also another sign is slow rising HCG. I did get my levels drawn yesterday so I will have to wait in that. Im not even in the least happy about the line I got today Atomic :( Honestly I think it shows more in the picture and although it’s a tad darker than yesterdays, you can take my word when I say it’s incredibly faint. Especially looking back at it after an hour or so (because I save them to check..) I just can’t see how much farther my ovulation could have been when we had one attempt, if it was too far out the pregnancy would not have stuck and if it wasn’t far off I’m still 15 dpo... I honestly have no hope in myself for this one... but Atomic thank you for giving me hope. Reading your answer this morning got me through. <3 I’m praying so much I’m wrong. And that you are right again. So much.

[Blessedbymybabies]

Hi Atomic... I’m sorry to keep coming at you with questions, I hope I am not being a bother. Trying not to be obsessive about this but I POAS today and the line is again a little darker than yesterday’s, although it’s not nearly as dark as the Control line as id like it esp. since I’m past my missed period, so that’s why I’m asking this but looking at them is this a good sign of NOT being a chemical ?? A chemical would taper off from the start right, not get at all darker? I would like some honest reassurance. I will attach photo, yesterday’s test lighter one and today’s underneath it

[Blessedbymybabies]

40840

[katiemay]

That’s positive!! And it’s getting darker, so I would say congratulations! My experience with these kinds of tests are that they aren’t as sensitive as they claim to be. Many people don’t get good lines on them until they are late for their period by a week. If I was in your shoes, I would take a FRER or other branded test and I bet you’ll get great lines. Xx

[Blessedbymybabies]

Oh Thank you hun! I actually had my husband grab me a frer yesterday, I said if i woke up with another light test that I wasnt happy with I would use the same urine sample and try with a frer to compare, I never ended up using it because the test was darker :) I think my bean just took a while to implant or Ov. late. I think ill stop testing and let the blood work Doc gives me take it from here.

Im so happy Im pregnant now, this will be a hard one for me with two losses from two different problems with baby but I decided I will get help if I need. I really dont want everything to freak me out, I hate feeling like that. I did start spotting pink again yesterday night, very little but I had a small panic and remembered Atomics words. I cant change anything in the future and the situation right now is I AM pregnant. I think and hope itll be ok. Praying for a healthy pink peanut. And if you are swaying/ttc, sending those prayers your way too!

[atomic sagebrush]

no you're not bothering me at all, it just takes me a couple days sometimes to get through all the posts.

I want you to consider the possibility that nothing I say is really going to make you feel better here. I can't tell if your pregnancy is developing normally, I can't tell if it's ectopic. I just don't know and any assurance I give you would not be a guarantee. After all, pregnancies end very early on even if they're not technically chemicals, not to mention ending later on even when things seem totally normal. I just can't tell you if this pregnancy will work out and I don't want to mislead you and make promises about unknowns when I really don't know.

The latest test is darker, and that's a great sign. Right here and right now, you're pregnant, and I hope and pray that everything continues as it should be. I had a 5 day period (heavy) and ended up with a baby at the end of it. Just take it a minute at a time if need be - we are all here cheering you on and hoping that this is your rainbow. :heart:

[Blessedbymybabies]

Thank you Atomic. Please don’t feel that my crazy question asking is any implication that you don’t make me feel better. In fact, I know it may sound funny but I have read your previous reply below probably 10 times already. You made me feel so much better and every time I’m like Ok! Yes. Common sense. H

Hard experiences in life make you irrational. I absolutely know you are not guaranteeing anything, but simply thinking rationally as a person outside this pregnancy who knows a lot in this field, looking in. That someone who knows what they are talking about can tell you yes it could happen, but In your opinion that this and that most likely just will not happen, but such and such would most likely be. Or any advice in general. I absolutely understand. And that is a world of help to someone like me That has not told anyone about this pregnancy and probably will not for a very long time know for personal reasons, to have reassurance when anxiety from past experiences clouds my judgments to the point I was POSITIVE I had a chemical because of faded lines and then POSITIVE I had an ectopic for reasons like spotting? As if you can have both...

So to have you bring me sort of back to earth that there is a whole grey area in between. Thank you. I know you cannot know when I myself dont. People like me sometimes just need that slap back to reality, not so much a guarantee lol I used to feel bad for my mother she would always be the one I would "Unleash" my anxiety on but i feel i cannot even tell her about this one until im certain all is well... Biggest hugs to you. The thoughts may creep and everyone for different reasons but you keep everyone in check.

I keep reminding myself to worry when there is something real in front of me to worry about, as per your advice. XOX

[atomic sagebrush]

No not at all but I just got nervous when I read you wanted honest reassurance because I truly cannot give it. I wish I could but it's just beyond anyone's ability to know just yet.

I can say that the chances of ectopic are distant - that much I know. They happen but it's just not the first concern we'd have.

When I was pregnant with my last baby at 41 after 2 losses and my last pregnancy being high risk I just kept saying "stick with me baby, stick with me!" Every time I had those fears (and I expected to lose the pregnancy every second of every day - every time I went to the bathroom for 9 months and then for like 5 years after she was born, LOL) I just asked her to stay with me and even though it was totally psychological, it made me feel like I was doing something, and it helped calm me down.

:heart: we're all here hoping and :pray: that everything turns out ok.