If you’ve had bleeding early in your pregnancy, you’re not alone. Many other pregnant women have early bleeding, too. And in most cases, nothing is wrong. But your healthcare provider still needs to know about it. They may want to do tests to find out why you’re bleeding. Call your provider if you see bleeding during pregnancy. Tell your provider if your blood is Rh negative. Then they can figure out if you need anti-D immune globulin treatment. Show
What causes early bleeding?The cause of bleeding early in pregnancy is often unknown. But many factors early on in pregnancy may lead to light bleeding (called spotting) or heavier bleeding. These include:
If you see spottingLight bleeding is the most common type of bleeding in early pregnancy. If you see it, call your healthcare provider. Chances are, they will tell you that you can care for yourself at home. If tests are neededDepending on how much you bleed, your healthcare provider may ask you to come in for some tests. A pelvic exam, for instance, can help see how far along your pregnancy is. You also may have an ultrasound or a Doppler test. These imaging tests use sound waves to check the health of your baby. The ultrasound may be done on your belly or inside your vagina. You may also need a special blood test. This test compares your hormone levels in blood samples taken 2 days apart. The results can help your provider learn more about the implantation of the embryo. Your blood type will also need to be checked to assess if you will need to be treated for Rh sensitization. Warning signsIf your bleeding doesn’t stop or if you have any of the following, get medical care right away:
Questions you may be askedBleeding early in pregnancy isn't normal. But it is common. If you’ve seen any bleeding, you may be concerned. But keep in mind that bleeding alone doesn’t mean something is wrong. Just be sure to call your healthcare provider right away. They may ask you questions like these to help find the cause of your bleeding:
Monitoring your pregnancyBleeding will often stop as quickly as it began. Your pregnancy may go on a normal path again. You may need to make a few extra prenatal visits. But you and your baby will most likely be fine. Bleeding during pregnancy is relatively common and does not always mean there's a problem – but it can be a dangerous sign. Urgent advice: Call your midwife or GP immediately if:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) updateIf you're well, it's really important you go to all your appointments and scans for the health of you and your baby. If you're pregnant, hospitals and clinics are making sure it's safe for you to go to appointments. If you get symptoms of COVID-19, or you're unwell with something other than COVID-19, speak to your midwife or maternity team. They will advise you what to do. Find out more about pregnancy and COVID-19 Causes of bleeding in early pregnancyImplantation bleedingIn early pregnancy, you might get some harmless light bleeding, called "spotting". This is when the developing embryo plants itself in the wall of your womb. This type of bleeding often happens around the time your period would have been due. Cervical changesPregnancy can cause changes to the cervix, and this may sometimes cause bleeding – after sex, for example. Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancyDuring the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, vaginal bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. However, if you bleed at this stage of pregnancy it's likely you will go on to have normal and successful pregnancies. MiscarriageIf a pregnancy ends before the 24th week, it's called a miscarriage. Around 1 in 5 pregnancies ends this way. Many early miscarriages (before 14 weeks) happen because there is something wrong with the baby. There can also be other causes of miscarriage, such as hormone or blood clotting problems. Most miscarriages occur during the first 12 weeks (3 months) of pregnancy and, sadly, most cannot be prevented. Other symptoms of miscarriage include:
If you have bleeding or any of the symptoms above, contact your midwife or GP straightaway. Ectopic pregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb – for example, in the fallopian tube. It can cause bleeding and is dangerous because the fertilised egg cannot develop properly outside the womb. The egg has to be removed, which can be done through an operation or with medicines. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy tend to develop in the 6th week of pregnancy but can happen later. Other signs of ectopic pregnancy can include:
Call 111 if you have symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy. Causes of bleeding in later pregnancyCervical changesThese can lead to bleeding, particularly after sex. Vaginal infectionsYour midwife or doctor can discuss tests and treatment with you. A 'show'This is when the plug of mucus that has been in the cervix during pregnancy comes away, signalling that the cervix is getting ready for labour to start. It may happen a few days before contractions start or during labour itself. Find out about the signs of labour and what happens in labour. Placental abruptionThis is a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the womb wall. Placental abruption usually causes stomach pain, and this may occur even if there is no bleeding. Low-lying placenta (placenta praevia)This is when the placenta is attached in the lower part of the womb, near to or covering the cervix. Bleeding from a low-lying placenta can be very heavy, and put you and your baby at risk. You may be advised to go into hospital for emergency treatment, and a caesarean section will usually be recommended. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has more information on placenta praevia. Vasa praeviaThis is a rare condition where the baby's blood vessels run through the membranes covering the cervix. When your waters break, these vessels may be torn and cause vaginal bleeding. The baby can lose a life-threatening amount of blood. Finding out the cause of bleeding in pregnancyTo work out what is causing the bleeding, you may need to have a vaginal or pelvic examination, an ultrasound scan or blood tests to check your hormone levels. Your doctor will also ask you about other symptoms, such as cramp, pain and dizziness. Sometimes it might not be possible to find out what caused the bleeding. If your symptoms are not severe and your baby is not due for a while, you'll be monitored and, in some cases, kept in hospital for observation. How long you need to stay in hospital depends on the cause of the bleeding and how many weeks pregnant you are. Being in hospital allows staff to keep an eye on you and your baby, so they can act quickly if there are further problems. Find the answers to common health problems in pregnancy Video: What should I do if I start bleeding during early pregnancy?In this video, a midwife tells you what to do if you start to bleed during early pregnancy. Media last reviewed: 20 March 2020 Can you bleed like a period in early pregnancy and for how long?Hormonal bleeding is when some women experience a light bleed at around four to eight weeks of pregnancy, or around the time their period would have been due. This can be very confusing for women who are pregnant and is the reason many women do not realise they are pregnant for a while. Again, it is totally normal.
How long can bleeding in early pregnancy last?Only about a third of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding after they get pregnant, but it's considered a normal symptom of pregnancy. In most cases, implantation spotting only lasts from a few hours to a couple days, but some women report having implantation spotting for up to seven days.
Can you bleed heavy like a period in early pregnancy?It is common in the first trimester. The blood will be light brown or pink, similar to what you see at the end of a period. Bleeding is heavier. The blood is bright red and is more like the bleeding you experience when having your period.
Can pregnancy bleeding look like a period?A: Unfortunately, there's no way to tell the difference between implantation bleeding and menstrual bleeding. Implantation occurs 6-12 days after conception, which is around the same time you may be expecting your monthly period, and both can produce the same amount of bleeding.
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