Actually, if someone posts that she might be, someone else comes along and claims they know better, that she is just getting her period. Then someone else claims she lost track of her periods, and someone else claims she is having a miscarriage. Then they all start fighting about it. I don't know if she is or she isn't and at this point, I honestly don't care. The last episode was so confusing and I hope Don just stays in the Pacific Ocean.

.....Another energy-sucking contribution.

PeteandTrudy.....I'm curious, and forgive me for prying, but what is it that you DO get from this forum?

Are ANY of your needs being met here?

Just asking.

I am wondering why you think the last episode was confusing? It was done very well and lots of things got explained. As for Betty she was probably getting her period but if not then we will find out next week!!!!

Mary Jane, I agree with you. I think Betty being pregnant will be the ticket for Don and Betty to reconcile. Don dropping a divorce on his wife when she is pregnant is just not a 1960's acceptable move for a man. He will suffer dearly if he goes that route! I think Weiner has figured out a way to get Ken and Barbie back together!! LOL Cheers ;o)

I posted this over in the open forum, but I'll put it here also (hope that's allowed) since it'll get lost over there.

I can't make up my mind on whether or not Betty's pregnant.

It would certainly leave a cliffhanger Sunday night and it would fit with their recent sex at her Dad's house, but.... you have to realize by now that the writers of this show love symbolism, e.g. the baptism at the end of the show. The symbolism is what makes the show so great.

It's weird for me, a dude, to write this, but we all know that a lot of the transition from "little girl" to "young woman" is about the onset of the menstrual cycle. So, here's Betty, talking maturely to Sally about Don being gone and not knowing when he's coming back, etc. And, based on her recent conversation with Helen Bishop, she's thinking to herself at the same time about life on her own. The she gets her period. That's certainly not gratuitous. The writer's may be showing the onset of the period as symbolism that Betty is growing up. Like she was a little girl-type character before, but now she's going to be an adult woman on the show. Does that make sense?

Then again, if that diagnosis is wrong, this Dr. House says she may be pregnant.

Glad to see others here share my thoughts. I believe Betty is pregnant.
Good point about Betty's transition, John Galt...

Just think, if she is, when next season starts she will have already had the child, so we'll know sooner than later! :)

......Aside from the expecting part, isn't it a very bad sign to hemmorage? So there is a possibility that, even if she is expecting, she will not be able to carry it to term....? Sure there is an expert on here somewhere....where is 60schild?

Hi Dry!
First, let me say, I am humbled that you would consider me an expert!! Thank you!
I am just drawing on my education, and many, many years of experience.

There could be a couple of things going on...

1. She may just be having a normal period, and her cycle is irregular, that would explain no feminine hygeine products.

2. She is in the early stages of a pregnancy, and is having a miscarriage (which is often like a heavy period). Of course, that shoots my theory that the sex scene with Don at her father's home was a dream. Unless she may be pregnant by another man? Hm....
If she seeks medical attention right away, she may be able to save the pregnancy.
I found it interesting that she was still in her riding pants and had probably just come from a ride on her horse. It is possible, that the horse riding may have brought on the miscarriage (she did say she does jumping).

3. She may be one of many women who continue to have periods throughout an entire pregnancy, and don't realize they are pregnant until they see an MD to confirm the pregnancy.

Those are my humble opinions. Thank you for asking....I welcome any other opinions!

.....It would help if we knew just how long Don Draper has been living away from home.... oh, but that's too easy.

I was surprised Matt Weiner threw us so many "bones" in the last episode. We got to answer SEVERAL burning questions. I guess he knows if he doesn't throw us one or two, exasperation and apathy will overtake all of us.

I too agree that the period meant she was becoming a woman. She made the transition from child like bride, to bonafide woman who is in charge of her life, and is coming to realize that she doesnt need a man to help her. But through it all you know deep down Betty misses Don. If Don comes back to her as Dick, everything will be fine, but here is the clitcher, will Betty accept him like Anna accepted him? I saw a commerical for this yesterday, and it looks like Betty is at a Doctors office, she gets off the bed, and you see the weight scale, medical posters in the background along with other hospital stuff. Maybe she is pregnant, or maybe she went because she knew she miscarried. I cant wait for this coming week.

Dry...
Remember, when Betty was disciplining Sally, little Bobby was nearby wearing a Halloween mask. Could it be closer to October now? I believe, that is the implication. There was a date on the check she signed, too. Our High Definition viewers may be able to help us with that.

Regarding Betty's bleeding...having a light cycle is not unheard of during a pregnancy. As I have previous shared, I had a pregnancy where I had a (albiet 'light') cycle before I found out I was pregnant. Granted, my cycles were screwy, birth control pills were wreaking havoc with my body, and I had just separated from my husband. I actually celebrated and thanked God when I saw the evidence...I thought I had gotten away clean from an abusive marriage. One month later I found out I was pregnant...and five months along. So, I wouldn't discount what Sally exclaimed as 'bleeding.' Betty knows her body, and we will probably not get that far into her reproductive proclivities. Believe me, it could happen...and I prefer to wonder if Weiner would do that to the storyline....

I don't think that it means anything at all really. Not everything in the show has to lead somewhere, it could just be a moment that happens in life. It has certainly happened to me more than a few times. Either starting and not knowng it until it is too late or bleeding out of your hygenine product by not changing it in time. It happens!

I think that it was a moment to show that Sally is growing up and she will need to have a talk with her before she too starts her period. This happened right at a moment when Betty is having a more grown up conversation with Sally by letting her know that her parents are having a disagreement and her father went away and she doesn't know when or if he will come home.

I've already had to explain menstration (on her level) to my 7 year old daughter because she was asking questions about why I was bleeding.

Most women find out that they are pregnant after NOT having a period, not by bleeding through their clothes.

Lots of menstral bleeding is also a sign of ovarian cysts so it could be some sort of problem as well. Or more likely, it means nothing at all.

Thank you the positive responses. Sorry if this topic is redundant – but I avoid the main episode threads - there seems to be a lot more going on there than just MM discussion.

At this point we don’t know if Betts is pregnant – but the writers put it out there for us – and if it weren’t for D&B’s bedroom floor scene – it could be more than symbolic of Betty’s maturing – or it could just be those pesky writers starting another arc to nowhere.

It appears that the check Betty was endorsing for Don was dated October 11, 1962. My guess is that he’s been away for about two weeks.

Assuming Don returns to NYC in the season finale (with limited commercial interruptions – thanks to Heinekens), he’ll be in for some BIG surprises.

fox news is now reporting that AMC hasnt even signed deals with any of the actors, and that the season finale is going to tie alot of loose ends, incase it doesnt get picked up for another season on AMC. WTF is going on with you AMC. You have a hit on your hands!! Give them what they deserve!!

I have to say, just a little off topic, that I have never understood the character of Betty. Is she a "good" or "bad" character - yeah, I know everybody is a mixed bag. But the things she does just make no sense to me. And after seeing Anna and how good she was for Don, I wonder if Betty would or could ever be as good a woman to him as Anna has been?

As for the pregnancy, I think there almost certainly is one. No other reason for the rather contrived plot twist that gets Betty and Don having to share a bedroom during their separation. I felt that it was really out of place for a woman who felt so strongly about kicking her husband out to then initiate one episode of sex and then re-kick him out.

Mary Jane...
Thanx for the eagle eye spotting on the check! The tv show Peg and the guys were watching when Pete returned from San Diego was showing the admittance of James Meredith to Ol' Miss on October 1st. Now, we know how long Don has been absent.

flowerpower...
I believe Betty was just as good for Don as Anna was. Did you see his face when he was telling her about Betty? Their problems began when he realized he could not be truthful with her, and actually had to play a role...a role he created and she bought into. It exhausted him and drained their relationship. I'm sure he has learned a new way to deal with their situation, otherwise he would never return.

Great comments!

I'm liking the symbolism of Betty's coming of age (having a period) and hope that was the meaning of the scene. I also found it cool that precocious Sally, who's "a big girl now," was the one to tell her she was bleeding.

She could be spotting in the early weeks of a pregnancy, but I would be sorry if an unplanned baby is the reason she and Don reunite. It would be too much like a shot-gun wedding with the attendant resentments for all concerned. However, that may be where the writers decide to take us.

Betty could be getting her period, miscarrying or even pregnant with a healthy pregnancy. My sister in law "spotted" and sometimes worse during the 1st three months of her pregnancy and my nephew is healthy and in his 20's today.

I don't think an unplanned pregnancy would be the cause of a reconciliation, because I truly believe Don is going to leave California intent on coming clean to Betty. I think it might be another reason (along with love for each other and their kids etc) for them to give it a go.

As for unsigned actors, that saddens me. If MW really wrote the finale on the assumption MM wasn't coming back it seems they are going into negotiations playing hard ball. Unless the reason they thought they may not get a third season was due to low ratings.)

Donny Boy has a story and he's sticking to it. To our knowledge, only Anna is aware of his true identity. (Pete suspects but he has no real proof.) Coming clean to Betty would be detrimental to his personal and professional life, and since it is highly unlikely that Birdie would ‘stand by her man’ – ultimately illegal.

When he returns to NYC he will be Don Draper – a Madison Avenue advertising executive. Much like ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ – the title says it all.

Greytone, Pete returned to the office on October 1, the date James Meredith was admitted to The University of Mississippi. The Kennedy coverage on the office TV indicated the date. Don's paycheck that Betty was endorsing was dated October 11. That means Don had been in California for about 2 weeks at that point.

Sometimes women spot when the egg implants. This would have happened about 2 weeks after Don and Betty's encounter.

I'm leaning toward Betty being pregnant at this point.It is common to "spot" in the first trimester.
I could picture the writers having Betty miscarriage in Season Three. wouldn't want to see it happen though.

Pardon me if this has already been raised but Oct. 11, 1962 is 11 days before Kennedy went on the air with the finding of the missiles in Cuba. That will probably be the background of "Meditations in an Emergency"? Given the subtle complexity of the writing on this magnificent series, not the only meaning of that title of course.

I don't mean to be morbid however, she might have more severe medical problems. The miscarriage sounds probable too. I was also confused until this episode. I just don't like Don in California...he needs to go back to New York.

I'm still sticking to thinking that Betty is pregnant, but if she's not then I think symbolism may have to do with Betty having to talk to Sally about things she doesn't want to yet. She sat her down and told her part of the truth why Don is away 'cos she's a "big girl now" and the bleeding could be a signal that eventually she will have to talk about other grown up things with her. Also I think when Betty tells Sally that "I may not always be able to give you things you want" when she gave her the riding boots, I think she was thinking about not having as much money if she left Don. Nevertheless, I'm going with my first instinct that Betty is pregnant.

Back to a couple thoughts about Don's paycheck. Is Betty left-handed or was she trying to forge Don's signature with her left hand so it would not look the same as hers? With so much symbolism in every scene, I was thinking how ironic Betty is signing that check sitting at the desk with the locked drawer. I'll bet inside the drawer she might find umpteen years of cancelled checks made out to another "Mrs. Draper."

Thatgirl - Betty is left handed.

I don't think the bleeding was meant as a symbol of her becoming a woman. That's just not very MM-like. I'm sure it indicates a pregnancy or the loss of one. I think she's m/c'ing and that she's been riding a lot to make that happen.

I think Don will come back to NY - not Dick. The whole "the only thing keeping you from being happy is the belief that you are alone" followed by him becoming one with nature told me he's preparing to go home and not be alone.

At some point in Ep. 12 there was a comment about the president's speech that was going to be on TV in a few days. Did we know Kennedy would be making a TV speech on Cuba? I was just a baby then so I don't remember.

Ok....maybe I am being too simplistic....

BUT...since when is bleeding a sign of pregnancy?

I just don't see where you guys are getting that. Bleeding is normally a sign that you are not (or no longer) pregnant.

We only know a few things for sure and one of them is that she is 'bleeding"...also I noticed that the camera seemed to pan out purposely so that you could see her full frontal view. There was no sign of bleeding there....so I wondered what that was about.

I'm pretty sure I skimmed over each previous comment well enough to know that noone has suggested illness. We know that Betty's mother died within the last three years and it is assumed it was likely cancer--I'm sure if you had to guess, you would guess it was a cancer that women typically get, which we know is usually genetic.

It appears that Betty drinks and smokes on the hour if not more frequently than that, factors that would make her more vulnerable to certain kinds of female cancers like cervical cancer, a cancer also attributed to HPV, a virus widely accepted to be contracted through having multiple partners....I think we could all agree that Don would have provided that for her.

Just going with what went through my head when she stood up and realized she was bleeding. Usually women don't find out they're pregnant because they're bleeding, especially not on television.

It just seems like such a trial would be the only thing that could shake Don out of his funk.

I'm pretty sure I skimmed over each previous comment well enough to know that noone has suggested illness. We know that Betty's mother died within the last three years and it is assumed it was likely cancer--I'm sure if you had to guess, you would guess it was a cancer that women typically get, which we know is usually genetic.

It appears that Betty drinks and smokes on the hour if not more frequently than that, factors that would make her more vulnerable to certain kinds of female cancers like cervical cancer, a cancer also attributed to HPV, a virus widely accepted to be contracted through having multiple partners....I think we could all agree that Don would have provided that for her.

Just going with what went through my head when she stood up and realized she was bleeding. Usually women don't find out they're pregnant because they're bleeding, especially not on television.

It just seems like such a trial would be the only thing that could shake Don out of his funk.

Betty does a lot of horseback riding and she rode pretty hard that morning she got up early. Maybe she shook something loose (like a baby?) Just my opinion.

The period may also explain the harsh way she treated her daughter when she caught her smoking. I know I can get unreasonably cross with PMS.

All of you have such great posts, and I think it could go several ways..pregnant, miscarriage, period, but herself on those tight riding pants..did Sally say where she was bleeding? I assumed I knew where. Betty's reaction was calm, though. Not frightened. My first thought, at the comment by Sally about Betty bleeding, was that the writers were having fun with us, knowing we expected a pregnancy after the night on the floorboards. It made me smile, because it told me they are in charge and I will find out what I need to know when they want me to know it. I like this show.

That should be 'cut herself', and yes, I am laughing at my slip.

Damn!!

Well, Color me stupid! I just thought she was having her cycle.. it has happened to many of us women out there, where we've accidentally bled on ourselves, or worse, some piece of upholstered furniture :( -- hate to bring up those days, but, c'mon, true enough, huh?

A miscarriage [of justice] for our Betty? Hmmm... now that's surely possible.

~RDee~

Hi RobinDee!
Don't color yourself "stupid"! You may be right, it may just be her period. One thing we do know...anything is possible on MM!

Hi Sizzie!
I didn't think of that...Sally may have seen a cut on Betty's arm. Wow! All this speculation for nothing. That sounds like MM.

I still think she is having a miscarriage, or is pregnant, and still having menstrual cycles. I just wonder who the father of the baby may be?
Dick, Don, or??? LOL!!

Could the bleeding mean she is going to lose a child? The show is packed with symbolism, as we all know. She just gave Sally those boots. Someone told me they thought of Gone With the Wind when they saw that, and got scared for Sally. I thought, Oh no, not Salamander! Would the loss of their child bring Don and Betty closer, or seal the end of their relationship and send Don back to Anna for consolation?

P.S. It was Sally who told her she was bleeding, yet there was no blood... Maybe only Sally saw it.

Betty loves order. Betty likes everything to be neat and squared away. Having her period start and ruin her pants and maybe her couch is just another thing to tick her off. We have all had those times. I saw the blood on her pants. Things like that just pisses one off.

Saying that, I think the person who first said it was a metaphor for her growth as a mature woman was most likely correct.

how can she be pregnant if she is bleeding???

and yes I know perfectly well that some women bleed throughout their pregnancies but MM already did that scene with Preggy

I think she was either hemorraging or having her period

I watched the previews for tonight's episode closely, and it provides a big spoiler to its content. (I love the scary movies, but I missed my Sunday morning dose of Mad Men.)

Betty is shown in a dark blue dress in a dim gray room. She is sliding off something to stand up, which must be a doctor's examination table, because on the far left is one of those portable curtained screens they would use in a hospital or doctor's office back then. So I am sure it will turn out to be something serious and "disconcerting." Now I can't stop wondering who Becky will be going out with, and what news she will share with him. My guess is Don, and the news being she is pregnant or miscarried, or maybe cancer.

I LOVE this show!
I was glad to see someone finally mention the big "C". Cancer was my first thought when the blood was mentioned. The 'you're a big girl now' talk and the comment about not always being able to give Sally things she wants could point to Betty knowing she is sick.