Super Light Spotting...

[melloyellochelle]

Hi ladies!

I need some input here... not sure what is going on with my body. It could be that I'm BFing still, but this seems unusual for that too.

So, AF came 2 weeks ago this last Tuesday. Stayed for a few days. Nothing special. This last Monday, I notice I have suuuuuuper light spotting. Only noticeable when I wipe. Hhmmmm.... Made me think AF was coming. Odd. I just had a visit from AF. But who knows!? However, the super light spotting continues. I don't get AF (or any of the other symptoms). On Tuesday morning I start to have some 'heavier' spotting. But we're talking minimal really. Just more than before. I wear pads for the last two days and sure there is a little, but not AF! Then, just confuse things more, I start to have EWCM mixed with the spotting. And now, I'm just CM and no spotting.

Any thoughts?! I really don't think I O'd yet this month and I know I'm not pg. What could cause midcycle spotting like that though?! DH and I hadn't DTD the few days before Monday so I don't think my cervix got irritated or anything (I've never experienced that anyway).

Hhhmmmmm...

[BlessedMommy]

Do you have a link to a chart?

Are you using sympto-thermal or mucus only?

It sounds to me like breakthrough bleeding--especially with the description of the mucus you gave. It is potentially fertile time and may be close to ovulation. If you are taking temperatures, then you can confirm whether or not ovulation occurs.

ETA:

Here's some commentary on breakthrough bleeding from my NFP manual.

"During a woman's fertile years, she may experience bleeding episodes that are not part of menstruation. Such occurances are more likely to develop in the following situations: cycles of young women during the puberty years, long cycles, or the postpartum and premenopause times. In the previous lesson, breakthrough bleeding was introduced as a potential problem related to the use of CCL's Mucus-Only Rule. Additionally, "breakthrough bleeding" can mask the presence of mucus, and it can be a potentially fertile time because it could occur just before ovulation. It can also occur as a regular period following an anovulatory (infertile) cycle.

Physiologically, breakthrough bleeding develops when the endometrium builds up so much that the top layer cannot be sustained solely by estrogen. Thus, the endometrium breaks down. It may appear as spotting, or it may show up like a normal menstrual flow. It is important to be aware that mucus can be present during this bleeding episode.

If you experience breakthrough bleeding, you should assume Phase II fertility on all days with a bloody discharge that are not preceded by a thermal shift."

(The Art of Natural Family Planning, p. 136)

[BlessedMommy]

Bumping this up for my edited post.

[melloyellochelle]

Wow! Thanks Ruth! That sounds about right, for sure!!!

To be honest, we haven't done any charting really since Grace was born. She isn't a 'good sleeper' yet, so I tend to only get a few hours of sleep in a row. Not sure how that will change temping but we'll see this next cycle. We're also trying the Marquette Method actually (fertility monitor). I don't think we temp with that. But I might do it anyway simply because I enjoy seeing the shifts and all. I'll have to research it again and go over our info. So, yeah, recently, it's been mucous only. And whenever I see a hint, I run from DH! LOL! JK! But I was unsure with everything this week so we did abstain. Once I saw the EWCM I was thankful we did. Hoping for a few more months.

Thanks again Ruth. I feel a little more 'normal' just knowing this is common and has a name! Haha!

[BlessedMommy]

Originally Posted by melloyellochelle

Wow! Thanks Ruth! That sounds about right, for sure!!!

To be honest, we haven't done any charting really since Grace was born. She isn't a 'good sleeper' yet, so I tend to only get a few hours of sleep in a row. Not sure how that will change temping but we'll see this next cycle. We're also trying the Marquette Method actually (fertility monitor). I don't think we temp with that. But I might do it anyway simply because I enjoy seeing the shifts and all. I'll have to research it again and go over our info. So, yeah, recently, it's been mucous only. And whenever I see a hint, I run from DH! LOL! JK! But I was unsure with everything this week so we did abstain. Once I saw the EWCM I was thankful we did. Hoping for a few more months.

Thanks again Ruth. I feel a little more 'normal' just knowing this is common and has a name! Haha!

I wouldn't worry about consecutive sleep hours. Honestly, I think that having a certain amount of hours in a row is overrated. As long as you're not running a marathon or anything before temping and do it at a relatively consistent time, it shouldn't affect it too much.

But if you prefer a method that doesn't use temps, of course that's fine too!

I just got my first PPAF after DS, so I'm back into full charting mode. I ovulated and had a full length LP before AF came back, so I'm expecting this cycle to be relatively normal. We'll see!

GL!

[JRBL]

Wow! This was great info! Thanks Ruth!

[BlessedMommy]

Hehe, how funny that just after I posted this bit about breakthrough bleeding, I'm having a tiny bit of spotting myself partway through a LONG cycle. At least I read up on it recently so it's fresh in my mind.

Gotta love postpartum and BFing wackiness!

[melloyellochelle]

That is funny Ruth! And yeah, great you already knew what was going on... I was sooo confused for that week. Hee hee!!

[melloyellochelle]

So this month I had it again. It was a little bit heavier but still bright red. It lasted 3-4 days too. The passage you shared didn't specify length but it did say it could be like a normal menstral flow. Interesting.

I know the internet isn't always a good resource. But I did do some searching and I think I am going to make an appointment with the doctor, just to be sure it isn't anything I read about. Since I have other uterine issues, I just want to be sure everything is OK. I'm sure it is. But I'm willing to lean on the cautious side for this one.

[JRBL]

I don't blame you for being cautious... Personally, I think any woman who has family history of issues (Cervical cancer runs in my family) should pay attention to signs of problems. IF it turns out to be nothing, great! I hope your appointment goes well and this is just normal for you~