I wrote this in September 9, 2020, the day Mars stationed retrograde at 28*Aries. I wrote it for two reasons. Number one, there were not very many, if any, first-hand accounts of experiences with sub-chorionic bleeding floating around the interwebs when I was looking for some, and I would have liked to have found more. Number two, I was amazed at how perfectly the experience was lining up with Mars's movements. I was originally torn between publishing it with or without the astrological analysis. I wanted my story with it to be accessible to more people and I wasn't sure of the best way of accomplishing that. It ended up getting shelved for too long due to that indecisiveness. I've since decided to go ahead and publish it here on my astrology blog, with astrological analysis, but I am leaving the astrology for the end, in part 2. Part 1September 9, 2020 I’ve been experiencing what is referred to as a sub-chorionic bleed. It started very early in this pregnancy, I think about 7 weeks and is still active now, at almost 16 weeks. Sub-chorionic bleeds occur in about 1-3% of pregnancies and 99% of women experiencing them go on to have healthy pregnancies and birth healthy babies. So it is not very serious, but it has still been a pretty big source of anxiety, stress & discomfort for me. I’m lucky. I have had generally very healthy pregnancies with no complications at all so far. No nausea, no vomiting, nothing else really, except my boobs hurt *really* bad in the first 12 weeks, but this particular experience has still been distressing and I feel more vulnerable in this pregnancy than with either of the other two, or ever before in my life really. I don’t know, just something feels so…breakable, about me. I’m sure it has to do with lingering and completely normal and acceptable depression from grief compounded by the grief from the world appearing to be a dumpster-fire of fear, shaming, division and control right now. And just feeling the difference in my body from being a whole decade older than I was for my last pregnancy. A sub-chorionic bleed is a condition in which there is old blood “stuck” between the wall of the uterus and the amniotic sac of the baby. Sometimes, the blood comes out in small amounts that could be called “spotting” and sometimes it doesn’t at all and women only know they have the condition by ultrasound. My experience has been spotting at first, with dark maroon to brownish blood. At first I was unalarmed as bleeding in the 1st trimester is rather common, but I still did not like the statistics that up to 50% of those that experience bleeding go on to miscarry, so it did begin to cause distress. At one point I may have caused myself a panic attack and my blood pressure dropped significantly. I very nearly passed out. Which scared me even more, unsure at the time if I was doing it to myself or if it was something else. The next day, at which point I had my first appointment with my midwife, she graciously agreed to meet me after-hours to make sure all was well and hopefully quell my anxieties. At that time, she felt around for my uterus, noted it was up high, which is good, and listened to babe’s heartbeat, which was strong and perfect. Anxieties quieted, I went home. That night, I experienced a bit more than what could be called spotting, as quite a bit of blood poured out of me, more brightly red this time. No pain. I felt so tender and…breakable. I went to lay down on the couch with my legs up and research what was happening more deeply than I had so far. All the official sources that first showed up were completely unhelpful. All of them just insisted its very serious if you bleed a lot and you need to see a health provider now. I kept looking though. I found a BabyCenter forum thread full of stories of 2nd trimester bleeding that didn’t go away all the way up to 18 weeks. They talked about a “friable cervix”. So, at first I thought it might be that. But it calmed me down and helped me get through the next few days until my scheduled first, real appointment with my midwife. She brought up the sub-chorionic bleed and that’s what is likely going on. Sub-chorionic bleeds usually resolve themselves around week 16. I was having a spotting episode about once a week. Then I went for about 2 weeks with no bleeding between 13-15 weeks gestation, and I thought I was out of the woods. I was not. Bleeding started again at around 15 weeks gestation, lasting 4-5 days. Still no pain and no other symptoms. It had become clear to me upon looking at illustrations of the condition why I seemed to sometimes bleed more while in certain positions. Squatting, for example, with my knees spread wide in a sort of yogic squat, which has been a fairly regular part of my routine, well one night I got into the position for just a few moments and I felt some bleeding. I got all grossed-out and queasy just thinking about it honestly. But I could understand how it might actually be a good thing to put myself in those positions, or at least not terrible, because it helps to get the blood out and maybe hastens the end of the ordeal. I still feel more vulnerable doing even the simplest at-home yoga that I already don’t do enough of. There’s been more crying on the mat. Which I’m told is a good thing and happens all the time. Means the healing is working. “We create tension to release tension”. Update: I am now 1 year post-partum from what ended up being a healthy pregnancy, labor and birth with no serious complications resulting from this or anything else. The bleeding stopped right after I originally wrote this, right at 16 weeks. If you would like to know a little more about sub-chorionic bleeding, here is an article: https://www.verywellfamily.com/subchorionic-hemorrhage-2759988 Part 2 I am repeatedly and consistently amazed by how well life events line up with the movements of the planets. It gets me excited. Reminds me there is magic in this world. Reminds me I am a part of something. Reminds me I am connected to something great.
Blood and bleeding are traditionally signified by the planet Mars. So Mars was naturally the first place I looked when I turned to astrology to help me make meaning of my experience. Mars entered Aries on June 28, 2020. Aries is my 6th house. 6th house is often associated with what ails us. Mars being the planetary symbol of blood and bleeding...bleeding was what was ailing me. I am a Scorpio rising, Sun, Venus and Mercury. SoMars is a very important planet for me because Mars also rules Scorpio. Particularly because Mars rules my ascendant, Mars's movements are indicative of my state of health and vitality. It was the last week of July 2020 when I started experiencing bleeding episodes. Mars was at about 15*Aries at that point. I experienced my last bit of bleeding on September 10th, at exactly 16 weeks pregnant. It was the day after Mars stationed for its retrograde movement at 28* Aries. Astrologers debate about whether planets are stronger or weaker when they are retrograde. Astrologers also debate about whether stronger means "behaves better" or behaves worse, according to its nature, when it is "stronger". Most astrologers agree that planets in their own domicile are stronger, but there is debate about what stronger will mean, especially in the case of the malefics. Aries is the domicile of Mars, so Mars has strength there. This means he can be himself here, unencumbered by the expectations or rules of other signs. Whether you believe a planet gains or loses strength when retrograde, we all agree that it is quite significant when they station, or appear to stand still before changing direction. This is evidenced in my story by the fact that my bleeding stopping lined up perfectly with Mars' station. My opinion on whether planets are stronger or weaker when retrograde is that they are stronger, but this does not necessarily mean that their worst attributes are at the worst or best attributes at their best. I think it depends on the situation. It depends on the planet and it depends on the person. What is clear to me is that a planet changing direction is a sign of reversal of fortune. Whatever its been symbolizing in our lives, it may start symbolizing the opposite or the reversal of the situation. In my case here, Mars' arrival in Aries and my 6th house brought bleeding and its station retrograde harkened the end of the bleeding problem. It is also interesting that Mars was in Aries for almost my entire pregnancy. It went into Aries when I was 5 weeks pregnant and didn't leave until I was 33 weeks pregnant in a pregnancy that went to 41 weeks plus 3 days. On an ending note, Mars is said to rejoice in the 6th house or be "in its joy" there. Just as a planet really likes to be in its own sign, it also really likes to be in certain houses. It can really be itself there. This experience of being pregnant for an extended stay of Mars in the 6th house could be its own whole write up and is not the focus of this article so I will just leave you with this excellent article about Mars in the 6th house for you to follow up with if you are interested in learning more: https://www.elsaelsa.com/astrology/planetary-joys-mars-in-the-sixth-house/ Do you have any experience with Mars in the 6th house by transit or in your natal chart? Leave a comment!
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