Can we talk about "Implantation Bleeding" & periods during pregnancy?

Happy Saturday, everyone!

As you guessed from the title, I have some questions about implantation bleeding and periods during pregnancy.

My situation is that I just started TTC this month.  I did my happy little OPK every day for 20 days at the same time, and I did get a dark line, but it wasn't quite as dark as the test line.  Hubby and I did the baby dance 5 times that week... plus once the day before, and once the day after.

My period has never been "regular," per se.  But I have been keeping track of it for 9 months, and my average cycle length is 38 days.  My next one wasn't due until May 10th.

So this morning, I go to pee, and there's bright red blood.  Today is one week since my dark OPK line.  So, I'm confused.  Before this, my shortest cycle was 33 days.  This would make 29.

Then, I jump online and read articles about implantation bleeding, and there are some women out there who:
a.) have a period the whole time they're pregnant
b.) have "heavy" implantation bleeding that seems like a period because it's bright red and lasts for a couple of days, and
c.) have all the symptoms of pregnancy while they're on their "period."

So, I'm asking all you lovely baking mamas out there... what was your experience?  How in the heck am I supposed to know when I'm ovulating if my period wants to change when it's gonna come every month!?  I'm frustrated with it all.  LOL

Thanks!!

 I never had implantation bleeding, but I did have a lot of pregnancy symptoms before I could even test both times. If this really is your period, then maybe talk with a Dr. about something to help regulate ovulation- I have used Clomid both times we TTC'd, and it worked rather quickly- I always conceived the first month we tried using Clomid. Just a thought. Everyone's experiences are so different that it can be really confusing. Good luck though! 

Carrie

Thanks for your response.  I'm new to this whole TTC thing, so it helps to read about other peoples' experiences.  When I saw my OB several months ago, she told me that if I didn't get pregnant within 6 months of trying, to come back and see her about going on meds that would help.  I'm assuming she meant Clomid.

At any rate, this was only our first month TTC, so, while I'm kind of disappointed, I am a realist and know that it could take a while.  Only time will tell.  :)

I am convinced that this is in fact my period that arrived a week early, because it's too heavy and clotty to be implantation.  Lucky me!  LOL

i had implatation spotting with my first for 1-2 days it was brownish/reddish and kinda sticky (tmi) i was not really keeping track that cycle and thought it was my period but found out i was pregnant but i got a positive hpt 3 days later. With molly i just had some cramping that was it. If it is your period you probably have low pregstrone because that luteal phase would be way to short.

Yeah, my cycles have varied in length from 33 to 52 days over the last 10 months.  Crazy, huh?  But before I lost all my weight, I was really irregular and was lucky if I got 2-3 periods a year!

I had a super bad bleed last June, and that's when I started tracking my cycles.  It lasted for 9 days and it was seriously like I was "bleeding out" and I went to the ER because it just would not stop.  They told me that because of my rapid weight loss, my body was trying to regulate itself by shedding the endometrium.  They had me take 4 BC pills a day until the bleeding stopped (4 days later.)

So anyway, that's my history.  I decided to use the OPK because, well, I never really know when my cycle is going to start... so I can't really track "luteal phase" and all that stuff.  It's never the same two months in a row! 

Thanks for your response.  :)

In your case then, along with the OPKs, I strongly suggest temping.  Because the PP is right - if your luteal phase (the time from ovulation to period starting) is only 7-8 days, that is a defect, and it would probably make it darn near impossible to have a viable pregnancy.  There are meds a doc can give you to prolong your LP, there are also herbal alternatives.  But you should definitely be tracking, even if it's just when you THINK you ovulated to the first day of red flow.  If you have an LP defect, you could get pg every month and lose the pregnancy every month.  Not trying to be doom and gloom, but it's all part of the learning process of TTC :)

Pick up a basal body thermometer at a drugstore (usually $5-10) and start logging your temp every morning at www.fertilityfriend.com.  It's also helpful if you don't ovulate, it should show you that.  At which point I might go to your doc before 6 months to get help ovulating.  

It helped me last cycle - I ended up ovulating (IF I did) 4 days late.  The day I got my +OPK my dog ran away (we got him back the same day thankfully) but the stress of losing him caused my O to be delayed.  I would have been certain I was pg because I was "late".

Anyway, just some thoughts to help you in the wonderful world of TTC.

Thanks for your response.  I was actually thinking about doing the temping because it seems easy enough, and cheaper than having to buy OPKs every month.

I do both.  I started with just OPKs but Sephia (on this and the VSG board) actually convinced me to temp :)  It proved useful last cycle.  To get cheap OPKs (but that are effective, someone did a comparison between digitals and internet cheapies, she found the ICs more reliable) check out www.early-pregnancy-tests.com.  They also sell IC HPTs and Preseed too.

I highly recommend the Actively Trying board on Babycenter.  There's a wealth of knowledge there, I thought I knew a lot before this latest attempt (on cycle #8 this go round, but not preventing and several actively trying attempts for 7.5 years) but I've learned ALOT more, especially about herbals.

My husband and I were not being careful (I admit it) and about 3 days after my supposed ovulation time, I had just a tiny amount of spotting for one day. I thought it was weird because I'm super regular with my periods and I never have any spotting in between, so it made me suspicious. Well about 11 days past when I suspect I ovulated, I thought I was starting my period (which was early for me) but it started light, the next day a little heavier, the next day kind of the same, then the next was completely gone. It was the normal red color, not brown like you hear about implantation bleeding being.  I had assumed it was my period starting until it just went away completely.  My periods are like 7 days so I knew something was up. I took a pregnancy test and got a positive. I had spotting off and on throughout my entire 1st trimester which always scared me to death. But everything is fine with the baby.

WITH MY FIRST i DIDN'T HAVE IMPLANTATION BLEEDING SO WHEN I DID THIS TIME I WAS A LITTLE UN-EASY SO I TESTED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND IT WAS LIGHT BUT IT WAS POSITIVE.