periods

[grace1019]

Hey! So i recently had my period, it was normal as expected. I had my normal flow and clots , but on my previous post i’ve discussed pregnancy scare. I scared myself again by reading that sometimes you can bleed while pregnant, and this scared me. Can i have some insight on this? a voice to tell me that i cant have clots and a completely normal period and be pregnant

[HannahP]

Hi Grace! Remember how we talked about how reading things about pregnancy on the internet can make you feel more anxious and it can be better to take a break? I think you and I talked about strategies you have for reassuring yourself that there's no need to worry.

Have you seen our guide, The Pregnancy Panic Companion? How about you take a look at it, read the section about periods, and follow the steps. After that, if you'd like to talk about why you might be feeling so anxious or about the suggestions in the article, I'd be happy to do that. How does that sound?

[grace1019]

Alright I read it, and definitely feel better to some extent. If you dotn mind id liek to ask some things. Are clots the sign its. atrue period? Don’t laugh lol but i asked chatgpt since they now have an option where it can search the internet for answers
and it always tells me vague answers like; most likely and stuff.
I got my period around my normal time and experienced the same old same old. I filled several period products and had to change them as often as i usually do. And it lasted as long as it it normally does.

[Andy]

Hi there Grace1019!

I’m glad to hear reading the article has helped you feel better. The thing is, if something feels like your regular period, it’s safe to assume that’s what it is. Because even though some bleeding can occur during pregnancy, it would be very different from your period (a lot lighter for example). Does that make sense and answer your question?

Can you think of some steps you can take to prevent scares like this in the future?

Also, while having some real clots in your menstrual blood is normal, what people usually assume are clots, are actually pieces of the uterine wall, which make up a big part of the menstruation fluid. But if what you are experiencing seems to be blood clots and it’s happening often and in a big extent, it might be something to ask your healthcare provider about.

And lastly, like you already seem to know, chat bots like chatGPT are not a good source when asking for information like this. Even though it can search the internet, it isn’t usually able to verify the source it’s taking information from, and because internet is full of misleading or incomplete information (like we talked about in your previous thread), the answers you get aren’t likely to be good either.

[grace1019]

Oh arlight, thank you, and yes that makes sense. I was just getting anxious because alot of sources were saying woman can experience bleeding thru pregnancy and i didnt know if that was happening. Even tho i dont even think a handjob or cuddling would pose any type of risk.
And it just felt like my normal period.

[Andy]

Glad to hear that!

Here is a clear break-down of what can and cannot pose a pregnancy risk: Can I Get Pregnant, or Get or Pass On an STI From That?
Please, read through it and then let us know if you need any clarification or have other questions.

[grace1019]

I read it alrdy, im sure im being irrational, considering everything seemed normal and felt like my normal period. But what do you think?

[Michaela]

Hi grace1019,

Andy responded to your question regarding your period in the post above

The thing is, if something feels like your regular period, it’s safe to assume that’s what it is.

Do you have specific questions about the information covered in the articles we have provided?

[grace1019]

no just anxious, but i had clots
normal flow
and normal everything
im just crazy

[Andy]

Hi again, Grace!

No, you are not crazy, you are experiencing anxiety. And second-guessing our own judgement as well as that of others, is exactly what anxiety does to us. Is it something you tend to experience in other parts of your life as well?
As for pregnancy anxiety, it is actually something quite a lot of our users experience and there are ways to manage it. Would you like to talk more about what steps you can take to do that?

[grace1019]

idk i just struggle to understand theres no way i could be pregnant, like im somehow i am even tho ive just given a handjob
and cuddled with clothes on

[Heather]

Grace, have you ever given this piece, which explains exactly how pregnancy happens, a read? If not, want to take a look at it and see if having the facts about how this all works helps?

Human Reproduction: A Seafarer's Guide