subject: 9 Reasons About Bleeding In Pregnancy [print this page] Bleeding in pregnancy can be a scary experience, but it doesnt necessarily mean you are having a miscarriage. In fact, one in ten women experience some spotting and more often than not the cause isnt serious. But contact your midwife or GP immediately if you do experience bleeding in pregnancy.
Some women looking anxiously for pregnancy signs think they have not conceived if they see blood, but here are some reasons why you might be bleeding in pregnancy...
Implantation bleed
An implantation bleed is caused when a fertilised egg attaches to the uterine lining, resulting in light spotting often around the time that your first period after conception would have been due. Many women dont realise this could be pregnancy sign and mistake it for their menstrual period, but it is usually pink or brownish in colour and lasts only a day or two.
Bleeding after sex
One of the typical pregnancy signs is for a womans cervix to become tender and engorged with blood vessels. Occasionally this can become irritated during sexual intercourse and cause some spotting. There is no need to give up sex while you are pregnant.
Infection
An infection of the vagina or cervix causing inflammation can result in bleeding in pregnancy. Consult your GP if you suspect you have an infection.
Ectopic pregnancy
This is when foetus starts to grow inside your fallopian tubes instead of your womb and occurs in around one in 100 pregnancies. As well as bleeding, other symptoms are a severe pain down one side of your abdomen, a general pain which leaves you doubled up and feeling faint and nauseous.
Subchorionic bleeding
This is when there is an accumulation of blood under the outer fetal membrane, next to the placenta. It is very rare for this to cause complications.
Cervical ectropion
Bleeding can occur due to harmless changes in the neck of the womb (cervix). Its the most common cause of bleeding during the later stages of pregnancy.
Placental abruption
This is a serious condition when the placenta starts to come away from the inside of the womb wall. Stomach pain can be a symptom, even if there is no bleeding. If its close to your babys due date, you may be induced early.
Placenta praevia
This occurs when the placenta is lying low in the womb and partially or completely blocking the babys path to the cervix. The placenta usually moves gradually upwards during pregnancy, but if it is still low when the baby is due to be born, you may need a caesarean section. Bleeding in pregnancy can be a sign of placenta praevia.
Miscarriage
The most common symptom of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. This can vary from light spotting or brownish discharge, to heavy bleeding and bright red blood and may come and go over several days. Other symptoms include cramping and backache. Light vaginal bleeding is common during the first trimester of pregnancy and doesnt necessarily mean that you have had a miscarriage.
