What exactly is spotting?

OK...I have a low grade, constant brownish/pinkish, its not tinged mucus, its like, bleeding. Is this spotting?

Everyone says spotting is normal, everything can be fine...but is that "spots" or a continuous flow?

I'm just worried. Starting to feel a bit of cramps in my back, lower belly and feels very tender.

So far for 2012, I"ve been pg in January, July, Aug-Oct, Nov, Dec and NOW but it seems this one won't stick either. :(

Unless of course, this constant flow can be considered "spotting" which can be normal. My other m/c came on very sudden,no spotting really until the actual event.

How far along are you?

Hey Harley,

I'm really happy that you're still hanging in there! I thought you were going for bloodwork on Tues? Have you gotten any results yet?

For me, spotting is enough to wipe and perhaps stain on undies/pantyliner and is brown/pink but not red. Much as I hate hate hate to say it, once it turns red for me it's always eventually gone to AF/bleed.

I know you won't like hearing this, but you were straight up for me last week and I'll be honest with you now. :( My m/c started with spotting. First brown tinged cm (which I dismissed). Then two days of nothing at all. Then a day of faintly pink but only when I wiped after going to the bathroom. Which escalated by the next day to red when wiping, and within 24 hours of the red I got full flow. :(

OTOH, I also spotted throughout the first tri with DS3 and he's obviously just fine. But it was pink and brown and never red.

I pray with all my heart that this bean will stick for you, you so so so so deserve it hon. Unfortunately spotting can mean nothing or everything it seems. :(

I had brown spotting with my first. Turned out fine. I hope yours is just old blood.

Thor, my missed period was Tuesday but I had a bfp from last wednesday so I feel like this will be the longest pregnancy in history if it makes it.

Lace~ the DR refused to do bloods because she said I "would know one or the other soon enough". It rankled me at the time, but now I'm actually pretty upset about that. And she didn't really want to do any further testing on the m/c issues due to "my age".

SO I guess I could go to the ER when the Dr's office closes if I REALLY need to find out any information because obviously she is not going to help me. I live on a remote island in the South Pacific so I don't know if anyone really *understands* whats it like getting answers around these parts. I don't have a GP because I can't find one. They won't take you, if they don't want to. Case closed. Its truly bizarre.

Idk..I agree about the red blood being the end. So far, in pink category but its just dragging on for days and I"m getting fed up.

And I really think this is more than spotting from what you describe. Thanks :HH:

If it's the beginning of a miscarriage then it is likely the cervix opening. It could be just from the extra blood flow to the region and the softness making it more easily injured. Hoping for a happy ending.

I'm really hoping for a happy ending for you too!!

Ugh, how can your doc REFUSE you blood tests? WTF!!! I might hate the admin at my doc's but she's never refused me requested tests. That's freaking unbelievable.

Anyhow.....

Regarding cervix, it might not be a great sign one way or another. Mine was soft and closed all the way until I started to bleed red. I panicked when I started to see pink spotting, checked my CP and it was soft/high/closed. Unfortunately it didn't end the way I hoped. So probably best not to check it just in case, since IME it might not mean anything anyways.

I'll be praying for you!

Thank you. I've decided I am just going to remain hopeful and not panic! LOL...oh my goodness if I wanted a roller coaster, I just should of booked a trip to Disneyland.

The doctor is just a 55 year old woman in Birkenstocks who cannot FATHOM why anyone would want a baby at nearly 41 years old. :eyeroll:

Hi harleyquinn, my girlfriend just confided in me today that she is expecting. She thinks she between 7 and 8 weeks. She too is having reddish brown to bright red spotting off and on for the last week. She suffered a misscarriage last year and had the same symptoms as now. My fingers are crossed for the both of you!!! :fingers:

How long does it generally take to clear up? Is there a stage timewise when it really should have stopped? Am 4 weeks now - was spotting a little every other day, but has increased a little more. Is just browny water still but is really getting annoying. Am going away for the week from Monday, so will retest when I get back just to make sure all is still on track. Just really hope it doesn't make out trip difficult.