Spotting and bleeding from the vagina during pregnancy is common. Almost 50% of the pregnant women experience vaginal bleeding and panic.
Do you think this is a miscarriage symptom? Or is there any possibility of having periods during pregnancy? Well, before you get startled, know that vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy is not something that should worry you. It is in fact a good sign to show that you are a pregnant.
The bleeding may range from light bleeding or spotting to massive bleeding. Light spotting during pregnancy is not a matter of concern, but heavy bleeding can be an indication of a serious disorder. It is important to know the possible causes and undergo a check up to eradicate any complications.
If you observe brown or pink discharge similar to what you observe at the end of your menstrual period, it is spotting. If you observe a bright red discharge, it is bleeding. The amount of blood you notice is another warning sign. Spotting in pregnancy may not soak a sanitary pad, but bleeding does.
Light spotting in early pregnancy is usually not a serious condition. It can happen at the same time your menstrual period would have been due and lasts for one to two days. The other causes of bleeding in early pregnancy can be any of the following:
In the early pregnancy phase, about 20 to 30 % women may experience spotting because of implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall. It will occur around the time of your expected menstrual period. It can be confusing if you mistake it for a normal period before you realize you are a pregnant. This is normal during pregnancy and should not be a cause of worry.
During pregnancy, the flow of blood to the cervical region increases. Therefore, it is quite normal to observe light spotting after intercourse. Also, the region will be tender and any kind of minor stress can cause spotting. Sometimes, benign growths will occur on the cervix, known to be cervical polyps, which can also cause spotting after having intercourse.
Spotting after an internal pelvic exam or pap smear also holds the same reasons as above. The cervical region will become tender because of the increased blood flow and any bump to the region could cause spotting.
Conditions that are unrelated to pregnancy can also cause spotting. Vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infection or sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis can cause inflammation or irritation of the cervix. The inflammation can lead to spotting on being ruptured by sex or other stress.
Chorion is the fetal membrane that encloses the placenta. Subchorionic hemorrhage is a condition wherein bleeding happens within the folds of the chorion and the placenta. It usually stops by itself and does not lead to problems during pregnancy. Still, a prompt diagnosis and required treatment is suggestible.
As your body prepares for labor, you will pass your mucus plug, a state where your cervix begins to dilate. It will be soaked in blood, that is also called ‘bloody show’. Passing your mucus plug will not be a concern if you are already into 37 weeks of pregnancy. But, if there is heavy bleeding, be sure to consult a gynecologist.
Vaginal bleeding can occur at any time during pregnancy. It is rarely a sign of a serious condition, since it can accompany many pregnancy complications. But, it can sometimes be a sign of serious condition too. Therefore, it is important to understand the possible causes and get a check up done.
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy first trimester can be caused by various factors. Nearly 20 to 30% of pregnancies will be affected with bleeding during this phase.
In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, that is usually in the fallopian tube. You will usually notice cramping and a sharp pain in the lower abdominal region accompanied by dizziness, weakness and nausea. It can be life threatening to mother and requires immediate medical attention. Statistically, only 3% of pregnancies experience it.
Ectopic pregnancy can happen if you have had a history of the any of the following complications:
Prior ectopic pregnancy, ligation or Fallopian tube surgery, pelvic inflammatory condition, infertility for more than 2 years, smoking and having a birth control device placed in the uterus.
Molar pregnancy is a rare condition that results when the placenta becomes a cystic mass from a malformed embryo. This is a type of tumor that occurs because of pregnancy hormones and is not life threatening at all. It happens within a few weeks of conception. In some cases, it can turn out to be abnormal and can spread throughout the body, the condition being diagnosed as gestational trophoblastic disease. You can observe vaginal bleeding within few weeks of conception if you happen to suffer from molar pregnancy.
One of the major concerns with bleeding during first trimester of pregnancy is that it can be a miscarriage as well. It is common to occur during the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy. If bleeding accompanies symptoms like cramping, lower abdominal pain and passage of tissue through the vagina, then there is a higher chance of miscarrying the baby. About 50% pregnant women who experience the symptoms along with vaginal bleeding, miscarry a baby.
The common cause of bleeding during late pregnancy is due to placenta problems. Also, abnormal cervix or vagina can cause bleeding.
This is the most common cause of bleeding during late pregnancy. In this condition, the placenta that usually connects the fetus to the womb will cover a part of the cervical opening. As a result, bleeding takes place. Later in pregnancy, the cervix becomes thin and dilates to prepare for labor. At this stage, the placenta stretches and ruptures causing heavy bleeding. The risk factors for this placenta previa condition include prior placenta previa, multiple pregnancies and prior cesarean delivery.
This condition occurs in the second half of pregnancy or the third trimester. It is an early separation of placenta from the uterus and it leads to blood collection in the region between the placenta and uterus. It is accompanied by cramps, pains in the abdominal region, tenderness in the uterus and back pain. If the separation is too little, it is not lethal for the baby. But, it will pose severe risks if the separation is large. The risk factors for this cause of vaginal bleeding include trauma, hypertension, usage of tobacco, cocaine and prior placenta abruption.
In rare conditions there will be an abnormal splitting of the uterus due to a scar from a prior C-section. It makes the fetus expel into the abdomen that can be quite dangerous for both the baby and the mother. The uterine rupture can occur before or during the labor time. There are certain other risk factors that include trauma, multiple pregnancies, using excess amounts of oxytocin medicine (strengthens contractions) and deliveries through forceps.
The developing blood vessels of the fetus may cross the opening of the birth canal. These are known to be vasa previa and can be lethal to the baby as blood vessels can tear open and bleed severely. This condition is also accompanied by abnormal fetal heart rate. It is a very rare condition that happens in 1 out of 5000 pregnancies.
If the delivery time falls between week 20 to week 37, it is considered a pre-term labor. It is accompanied by cramping, regular contractions, built-in pelvic pressure and back pain. A few days before your body prepares for labor, you will pass your mucus plug where bleeding starts. This is termed as a bloody show that requires an immediate contact with your health care provider.
Light spotting is normal and nothing to be worried. Severe vaginal bleeding that soaks through the pad is a concern. Bleeding is not always a sign of miscarriage since some women suffer high bleeding still deliver healthy babies.
It is not possible to judge the right cause for vaginal bleeding since many factors can cause the condition. The universal advice is you should not hesitate to consult your doctor.
Use a pad as it helps you keep a track on how much you are spotting or bleeding. Examine the type of blood (whether it is brown, red, pink or full of clots). Bring all your issues to the doctor and do not indulge in sex or use a tampon when you are bleeding during pregnancy.
Your doctor will check the vagina and may suggest you to go for an ultrasound scan. Vaginal and abdominal ultrasounds occur together to evaluate the reason. Your doctor may also perform a few regular tests like blood and urine. These tests would help check the hormonal levels of pregnancy. Also, check for any of the following symptoms. If you experience them, they could be signs of miscarriage or any other serious condition.
If you bleed during the initial stages of pregnancy, you should take it easy until your doctor checks and gives you instructions. At the moment, just rest and relax. Do not take any heavy stress or indulge in strenuous exercises. Avoid sex, using a tampon and or contraception. Always keep your body cool by drinking plenty of water. Also, keep a check on the amount of pads you are using.
If you experience heavy bleeding during late pregnancy, you need to consult your doctor immediately.
There are many diagnostic tests your doctor may take you through to evaluate the cause of the abnormal bleeding during pregnancy:
Any bleeding during pregnancy, no matter when you experience, you need to call your health care provider immediately, only to confirm nothing is wrong. You should be prepared to give out the answers in detail about the amount, color and period of bleeding to help your health care provider determine the cause.
Most of the time, a little spotting doesn’t pose any health risk to you and your little one, though, bleeding can sometimes specify a difficulty with your pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you need to be conscious about your bleeding. If you experience any irregular bleeding or period during pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately.
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Article written by Jayshree Bhagat
If you are pregnant, chances are, you probably get worked up about every little change in your body. While some changes are simply annoying, few can signal an underlying condition.
Vaginal discharge is quite normal during pregnancy, but the color of the discharge can tell you whether you need to consult a doctor or simply run down to the supermarket for some panty liners.
If you are worried about the color of your vaginal discharge, or you notice that it doesn’t look or smell normal, consult your doctor. In the meanwhile, read our post below to learn why the vividly colored vaginal discharge occurs.
When you are pregnant, you will notice an increase in your vaginal discharge, something you may have always experienced but haven’t noticed until now. Before you panic, understand that vaginal discharge is a part of pregnancy and is quite normal.
Here are some of the different types of vaginal discharge that you may experience while you are pregnant:
Here are a few reasons why you may notice a white colored discharge from your vagina while you are pregnant:
Here are a few reasons you may notice a green colored discharge from your vagina while you are pregnant:
Here are a few reasons you may notice a pink colored discharge from your vagina while you are pregnant:
Here are a few reasons why you may notice a yellow colored discharge from your vagina while you are pregnant:
While it is normal to have vaginal discharge while you are pregnant, there are certain situations that may require immediate medical attention and you should speak to a doctor about it. Here are a few such situations that you should take note of and make sure to call your healthcare provider to understand what needs to be done:
Vaginal discharge is extremely common and even normal during the time that you are pregnant, but there is no doubt that it can be very uncomfortable and may also feel very unhygienic. If you want to make things a little bit more comfortable for yourself and also want to ensure that you do not have the risk of catching any infection, try out the following tips that could be helpful:
No matter the type or color of vaginal discharge you experience while you are pregnant, make sure that you always keep your doctor updated about the same. Also, if you have any concern or feel any symptoms such as itching, burning, swelling, redness or anything else that is mentioned above, immediately speak to your doctor.
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Article written by Debolina Raja
