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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Dark Brown, Sometimes Mucousy Discharge During Pregnancy?

Laura, Aged 26, bmi 27, Weight 88kgs, height 5 feet 9 inches. I am 12 weeks pregnant and been bleeding dark brown, sometimes red blood vaginally for 5 weeks. It is non offensive smelling and sometimes can be quite mucousy. I have had Swabs taken and waiting for result. I had a call from hospital to call my GP regarding 'treatment' and results bur they are closed until tomorrow. What could the problem be requiring treatment?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Wed, 25 Mar 2015 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 26 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on
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OBGYN,  's  Response
At 12 weeks of pregnancy, dark brown discharge per vaginum is a worrying event. When ever it is dark brown discharge, it is due to the old blood coming out now. This usually happens at this stage of pregnancy when the foetus is no more living inside the uterus for quite a few days. We call such condition as missed abortion.
The condition has to be diagnosed by some tests:
1. Pregnancy test on urine: After about 8-10 days of the foetal death, the test becomes negative.
2. Ultrasonography: This is more reliable and specific test which tells whether the foetus is living or not.
If the foetus is not living; i.e. in missed abortion, the pregnancy has to be terminated at the earliest. Before that some tests on the blood have to be performed to find out about the coagulability of the blood. In this condition, a serious complication called as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy is known to occur which causes serious bleeding. So please do not waste the time and rush to your obstetrician for getting correct diagnosis done and proper management at the earliest.
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What Causes Dark Brown, Sometimes Mucousy Discharge During Pregnancy?

At 12 weeks of pregnancy, dark brown discharge per vaginum is a worrying event. When ever it is dark brown discharge, it is due to the old blood coming out now. This usually happens at this stage of pregnancy when the foetus is no more living inside the uterus for quite a few days. We call such condition as missed abortion. The condition has to be diagnosed by some tests: 1. Pregnancy test on urine: After about 8-10 days of the foetal death, the test becomes negative. 2. Ultrasonography: This is more reliable and specific test which tells whether the foetus is living or not. If the foetus is not living; i.e. in missed abortion, the pregnancy has to be terminated at the earliest. Before that some tests on the blood have to be performed to find out about the coagulability of the blood. In this condition, a serious complication called as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy is known to occur which causes serious bleeding. So please do not waste the time and rush to your obstetrician for getting correct diagnosis done and proper management at the earliest.