Implantation Bleeding?

Jenn - posted on 09/10/2010 ( 4 moms have responded )

Hi Ladies,

My husband and I had trouble with "unexplained" infertility. We tried for 4 1/2 years to conceive. The only thing that the doctors found was a possible Luteal Phase Defect (which usually has something to do with a progesterone deficiency), however, my progesterone levels tested normal. I have always had very regular periods, sometimes I would spot a day or two before, but I was never late. They put me on Crinone 8% (a progesterone cream). I got pregnant and I lost that baby at 12 weeks (I had a blighted ovum). Three months later I got pregnant with my daughter, who is now 13 months old. I nursed her until about a month ago. My period returned lightly when she was about 4 months & by the time she was 6-7 months it was back completely. My period is so accurate, that when it came back after being pregnant it came the same date that it would've if I had never gotten pregnant (I keep track of my periods using an online calendar.). In fact I even miscarried the first baby on the day that my period would've been due.

My husband and I haven't officially started trying to conceive again. We've been using a "natural" birth control method (meaning no pills or medicines), so there's always a chance that we could conceive. Last month my period was a day and a half late. That might not be a big deal for some people, but as I mentioned...I'm never late. I did take a test before my period came & it was negative & then my period came the next day anyway. Now this month my period is due next Friday. On Wednesday I started spotting. I also had some very mild cramping on my right side that went away after an hour. I'm still spotting today. The blood has been brown and a little bit stringy. You can barely see it when wiping, yet it is collecting on my panties & is definitely visible there. Today it seems like there's slightly more than the past few days, but it's still just spotting. Thursday morning I took a pregnancy test (an Equate one from Wal-mart) with my first morning's urine and it was negative. Today my period is still a week away, so I don't plan on taking another test soon. I've felt weird and shaky the past few days, I'm gagging when I brush my teeth in the morning (something I did clear up until 20 weeks while pregnant with my daughter), & I swear that my whole kitchen smells like bananas! I am not yet back on the Crinone, but I called today to get my perscription refilled. I didn't have any implantation bleeding with either of my other pregnancies. If I am pregnant I would be 3 weeks along today. With the first pregnancy I got a positive test on the day of my missed period. With my daughter I got a positive test 4 days before my missed period (when I was 3 weeks & 3 days along). (Oh, & not that it matters, but just in case it IS important, I had to have a caesarean. I pushed for 2 hours & she never even crowned. I heard the dr. tell the nurse that it was "failure to descend". They explained to me that her head was too big (13cm) and my pelvis was too small.)

So after that big long ramble I'm asking...does this sound like implantation bleeding? How long does it usually last. If it isn't, why on earth am I spotting a week early? Is it possible that even though my period was totally normal while I was nursing that it's all out of whack now that I've stopped nursing? Do you think I should take another test or just wait it out until Friday? What were your implantation bleeding experiences like?