**Please note: Images in the featured image is from Lem & June and not from our contributor**

We want to hear about the positive pregnancy stories but when we only hear/read about the “positive” ones, we can miss out on the learning opportunities that can come from the ones that don’t go smoothly and miss out on learning about events that can happen that can be scary and uncertain but also bring comfort that our medical advancements can bring a positive outcome (birth). Learn about Cailin’s subchorionic hemorrhage experience below.

This Mama Beginnings story brought to you by: Cailin Drinkwater

Content Warning: pregnancy bleeding, premature birth

Roller coaster of a pregnancy

My first pregnancy was a roller coaster to say the least that I feel privileged to say had a happy ending with the birth of my son. The pregnancy started out uneventful and then at 16 weeks started to get a little more…eventful. I started to notice spotting that progressed to a full bleed of dark/old blood. I was of course worried that this was the beginning of the end, but was relieved to hear that beautiful heart beat when I followed up with my midwives the next day. As it turned out, they found a subchorionic hemorrhage (SCH) that caused spotting/bleeding intermittently from 16 weeks to 28 weeks. Some bleeding was heavier than others, but each time my son was still healthy and thriving at each ultrasound.

Premature rupture of membranes

One of the things that I heard from midwives while going through these bleeding episodes was that a SCH can cause a “premature rupture of membranes”. I didn’t understand what they were talking about and I foolishly didn’t ask, so when it felt as though I had involuntarily peed my pants at 28 weeks I had no idea that “premature rupture of membrane” was my water breaking early. After figuring out it wasn’t urine, I turned to Dr. Google and figured out that my water had broken (slow leak) and that I would imminently be going into labor within the next 24 hours. My husband and I were terrified as our son would be born so premature. We arrived at the hospital, panicked and scared, only to be greeted by the loveliest L&D staff of nurses that told us what google had not! Your water can break and you CAN remain pregnant for as long as your body will allow you too. In my fortunate situation, my body did not go into labor and I was able to continue the pregnancy, on strict bed rest in hospital for a few weeks, for another 8 weeks! This may not be typical, but this is my story. Some of the concerns around premature membrane rupture is increased risk of infection and decreased fetal growth. I was monitored closely and things were looking good. I was transferred to the high risk OB team at McMaster Hospital and was scheduled to be induced at 37 weeks if I was able to make it that far.

Making a grand entrance

My son decided to make his grand entrance all on his own, days before the induction, on my husband’s birthday at 36W+5D. He was 6 lbs and 13 oz and required NICU support for his breathing and feeding support. He was in the hospital for a week before we brought him home and started our life as parents.

The real roller coaster

That is a snapshot of my story. The real roller coaster was my emotions and the stress of waiting to see what each day of this pregnancy would bring. One thing, I learned was that women have very little control over how a pregnancy progresses and we have to just “go with the flow” whatever that may look like. Having a strong support team was what got me through each unpredictable turn and I am so thankful for that. My son is now 4 and we have a second child, my daughter is 2 and her pregnancy went off without a hitch! I worried every day that every time I went to the bathroom I would find blood and the stress of living through my past experience would arise, but I was blessed with a typical second pregnancy and couldn’t be more grateful.

I love sharing my birth stories and I really kind of glossed over the actual birth part, but I really wanted to bring awareness to bleeding during pregnancy and the circumstances around that, I know I learned a lot from my experience. Thanks for reading!

Thank you Cailin for sharing your experiences. Your story shines a spotlight on how each pregnancy isn’t linear and it truly is a roller coaster of feelings when you experience events that we think shouldn’t be apart of the pregnancy.

Need to talk to someone regarding your own experience? Birth and Postpartum Support Resources here 

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