Bleeding during pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can often occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and may not be a sign of a problem. However, bleeding that occurs during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can often be a sign of a possible complication. Bleeding can be caused by a number of potential causes.

Some basic things to know about bleeding:

If you are bleeding, you should always wear a sanitary napkin or panty liner so you can control how much you are bleeding and what type of bleeding you have.
You should never wear a tampon or insert anything else into the vaginal area, such as douching or intercourse, if you are currently bleeding.
If you also experience any of the other symptoms mentioned below due to a possible complication, you should contact your doctor immediately.

First half of pregnancy

Miscarriage

Bleeding may be a sign of a miscarriage, but does not mean that a miscarriage is inevitable. Studies show that 20-30% of women experience some degree of bleeding during early pregnancy. About half of pregnant women with bleeding do not have a miscarriage. About 15-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and most occur within the first 12 weeks.

Signs of a miscarriage include:

Vaginal bleeding
Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (stronger than menstrual cramps)
Tissue passing through the vagina

Most miscarriages cannot be avoided. They are often the body's way of coping with an unhealthy pregnancy that hasn't progressed. A miscarriage does not mean that you cannot have a healthy future pregnancy or that you yourself are not healthy.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that implants somewhere outside the uterus. The fallopian tubes are the cause of most ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancy is less common than miscarriage, accounting for 1 in 60 pregnancies.

Signs of an ectopic pregnancy:

Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (usually stronger than menstrual cramps)
Sharp pain in the abdominal area
Low levels of hCG
Vaginal bleeding

Women are at a higher risk if they have had:

An infection in the tubes
A previous ectopic pregnancy
Previous pelvic surgery

Molar pregnancies

Molar pregnancy is a rare cause of early bleeding. Often referred to as a mole, a molar pregnancy involves the growth of abnormal tissue in place of the embryo. It is also called gestational trophoblastic disease.

Signs of cystic mole:

Vaginal bleeding
Blood tests reveal unusually high hCG levels
Absent fetal heart tones
Grape-like clusters are seen in the uterus by an ultrasound

What are the common causes of bleeding in the first half of pregnancy?

Since bleeding in the first half of pregnancy is very common, many wonder what causes it, in addition to some of the complications already mentioned.

Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy due to the following factors:

Implantation bleeding can occur 6-12 days after possible conception. Every woman will experience implantation bleeding differently: some will have light spotting for a few hours and others for a few days.

Certain types of infection in the pelvic cavity or urinary tract can cause bleeding.

Some women may bleed after sex because the cervix is very tender and sensitive. You should stop having sex until you have been seen by a doctor. This is done in order to avoid further irritation - normal sex does not lead to miscarriage.

Second half of pregnancy

Common conditions for minor bleeding include inflammation of the cervix or growths on the cervix. Late bleeding can pose a health risk to the woman or the fetus. See your doctor if you experience any type of bleeding during your second or third trimester of pregnancy.

Placental abruption

Vaginal bleeding can be caused by detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall before or during childbirth. This problem occurs in only 1% of pregnant women and it usually occurs during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Signs of placental abruption:

Bleeding
Stomach pain

Women who are at higher risks for this condition include:

Having already had children
Are age 35 or older
Have had abruption before
Have sickle cell anemia
High blood pressure
Trauma or injuries to the stomach
Cocaine use

Placenta previa

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta sits low in the uterus, partially or completely covering the cervix. This is serious and requires immediate treatment. It occurs in 1 in 200 pregnancies. Bleeding usually occurs without pain.

Women who are at higher risk for this condition include:

Having already had children
Previous cesarean birth
Other surgery on the uterus
Carrying twins or triplets

Premature birth

Bleeding from the vagina can be a sign of labor. A few weeks before the onset of labor, the mucus plug may come off. This is usually a small amount of mucus and blood. If this happens sooner, you may go into premature labor and you should contact your doctor immediately.

Signs of preterm labor include the following symptoms that occur before the 37th week of pregnancy: