Yup, that's what I've got (click on the title to go to a link with an article about subchorionic hematomas). After waking up from a nap Monday afternoon to find that I was bleeding, I started to panic. I kept it together enough to call the doctor's office - which of course, it was 5:10 PM, so he wasn't in and had to be paged - but after getting off the phone and waiting that 30 minutes before I got to talk to the doctor, the tears began to flow. I scared Bryce half to death when I called him crying and talking about CJ (I was explaining through my tears about how I had put CJ and myself down for a nap and so Bryce thought something had happened to CJ), but after I explained to him how I was bleeding, he left school immediately and rushed home. Dr. Maughan, my OB-GYN, called me and asked me a series of questions. After finding out that the bleeding had stopped, and that I wasn't having intense cramps, he reassured me that I was not having a miscarriage. He told me that it was likely that I ruptured a blood vessel or that I had a blood clot and that I needed to be very still the remainder of the evening and come in for an ultrasound in the morning.
Relieved, but still worried, I asked Bryce to give me a blessing, so he asked our neighbor and friend, Levi Adams, to come over and participate. In the blessing, Bryce blessed us that the baby would be okay and that I would continue this pregnancy. Instantly, a wave of peace came over me. It was wonderful. I was able to relax the rest of the evening...until that night. I had the most anxious night of my life. My heart was racing and I could not get to sleep. I just kept reminding myself of the blessing and what the doctor had said in order to calm myself, but it was a stressful night nonetheless.
Finally morning came and our anxiety was intensified when I realized that I was bleeding again. Bryce and I both said prayers that we would have faith in the blessing I had been given and that helped. We made it into the doctor's office and again, my heart raced as he began the ultrasound. We saw the baby on the monitor and I searched for the little flashing that is the heartbeat. It was difficult to see at first, but Dr. Maughan quickly found the heartbeat for us and our fears were put to rest. The baby is fine and still growing normal and healthy.
Dr. Maughan then found the subchorionic hematoma, or blood clot, on the ultrasound and pointed it out to us. There is no way of knowing what caused the blood clot, and no way of really treating it. Right now, it's not a threat to the baby, but if it doesn't pass, and if it is aggravated, it can potentially pull away part of the placenta which can result in a miscarriage. So the doctor told me to be on strict pelvic rest for the next week (he compared it to a cut, which takes 7-10 days for the fibers to reconnect and seal off and heal), only getting up to "eat and go to the bathroom," and to see him again after I've had a significant amount of time without any bleeding. Then he'll do another ultrasound to see where the clot is at.
the highlighted black mass is my blood clot
We're so grateful that our prayers were answered and our little one is alright. And we also are so grateful for the help that we're receiving right now. Friends have babysat and made us dinner, lent me movies, called to check up, and offered to help in any way. And Bryce's mom and sister drove over from Seattle and took CJ back with them until Sunday so that I wouldn't have to worry about him (I cried when they left. I miss him so much).
The worst part is that I feel pretty okay, but I have to lie around and be waited on as if I was really sick. It's a great lesson in humility, though, that's for sure. I look forward to being up and around next week (if all goes well)...I'll keep you posted.
