Bleeding During Pregnancy
Unlike spotting, bleeding during pregnancy is a serious issue. Medical attention should be sought after, especially if you are bleeding heavily. If the coloring is bright red, has clots or is accompanied by cramps, it is definitely a sign that something is wrong. It doesn’t matter which trimester you are in; first, second or third. If you are bleeding while you are pregnant, you must find out the cause immediately.
If you are bleeding during your pregnancy, keep these things in mind:
- Always wear a panty liner or pad to keep track of the color and amount of blood loss
- Never insert anything into your vagina, such as a tampon, douche, etc
- Never continue sexual intercourse if you’re bleeding and pregnant
- Contact your healthcare provider immediately
Causes of Bleeding During Pregnancy
Unfortunately in most cases, bleeding during pregnancy is a good indication that something is going terribly wrong. Reasons and causes of bleeding include:
- Miscarriage (loss of fetus)
- Ectopic pregnancy (implantation occurs outside of uterus)
- Molar pregnancy (rare, it’s the growth of abnormal tissue instead of an embryo)
- Placental abruption (placenta separates from uterus, usually in 3rd trimester)
- Placenta previa (placenta covers part or all of the cervix)
- Preterm labor (when labor happens before the 37th week of pregnancy)
Miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies occur during the first trimester, while molar pregnancies, placental abruption, placenta previa and preterm labor happen during the second and third trimesters.
Other causes of spotting or bleeding during your first trimester that are considered normal or low risk are:
- Implantation
- Spotting after intercourse
- Losing the mucous plug
- Irritating cervix
Other Symptoms to Watch For
If you are bleeding during your pregnancy and you are experiencing other symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Cramps
- Back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Abdominal pain
- Vaginal discharge
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Fainting
- Excessive thirst
…it could be a bad sign. These other symptoms can accompany bleeding at any point during your pregnancy. But again, it’s very important that you contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any sort of bleeding, regardless if you’re experiencing other symptoms.
Treatment for Bleeding During Pregnancy
Unfortunately if you are bleeding, there is usually a bad reason. In most cases, bleeding can be treatable, however, it truly depends on the diagnosis from your healthcare provider before any sort of treatment can be recommended. Many doctors strongly insist an expectant mother remains unstressed during her pregnancy, and gets enough fluids, rest and proper nutrients every day.
As gross as this may sound, it’s important that you track the amount of blood loss via pads or panty liners. Bringing these items with you (yes, used) to your doctor’s appointment can help your doctor understand your specific situation more, and possibly help him or her diagnose you quicker.
