When is bleeding normal during pregnancy

Spotting is light bleeding. It happens when you have a few drops of blood on your underwear. Bleeding is when the blood flow is heavier, enough that you need a panty liner or pad to keep the blood from soaking your underwear and clothes. Call your health care provider if you have any kind of bleeding during pregnancy and do these things:.

Call your health care provider right away at any time during pregnancy or go to the emergency room if you have:. Bleeding or spotting in the first trimester may not be a problem.

It can be caused by:. Your treatment depends on what caused your bleeding. You may need a medical exam and tests. Most of the time, treatment for bleeding or spotting is rest. Your provider may also suggest treatments like:. Get expert tips and resources from March of Dimes and CDC to increase your chance of having a healthy, fully-term pregnancy and baby. Sign up for our emails to receive great health information and join us in the fight for the health of moms and babies. March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies.

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Causes of bleeding During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, vaginal bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy when the fetus implants outside the womb, often in the fallopian tube.

Changes in the cervix The cells on the cervix often change in pregnancy and make it more likely to bleed, particularly after sex. A 'show' The most common sort of bleeding in late pregnancy is the small amount of blood mixed with mucus that is known as a 'show'. Placental abruption This is a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the inside of the womb wall. Placenta praevia Placenta praevia , sometimes called a 'low-lying placenta', is when the placenta is attached in the lower part of the womb, near to or covering the cervix.

Vasa praevia Vasa praevia is a rare condition, occurring in about 1 in 3, to 1 in 6, births. Finding out the cause of bleeding To work out what is causing bleeding, you may need to have a vaginal or pelvic examination, an ultrasound scan or blood tests to check your hormone levels. Back To Top. This rare but serious complication happens in almost 1 in every 1, pregnancies. The fetus may not grow at all. A molar pregnancy can cause a miscarriage in the first trimester. Subchorionic hemorrhage , or hematoma, is bleeding that happens when the placenta slightly detaches from the wall of the womb.

A sac forms in the gap between the two. Subchorionic hemorrhages vary in size. Smaller ones are the most common. Larger ones cause heavier bleeding. Many, many women have hematomas and go on to have healthy pregnancies. But a large subchorionic hemorrhage may also increase the risk of a miscarriage in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Bleeding in the first trimester might have nothing to do with your pregnancy at all. An infection in your pelvic area or in the bladder or urinary tract can also cause spotting or bleeding. They may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. A serious yeast infection or inflammation vaginitis can also cause bleeding.

Infections typically cause spotting or light bleeding that is pink to red in color. You may have other symptoms like:. Bleeding in the second or third trimester of your pregnancy is normally more serious than first trimester light bleeding. Let your doctor know if you experience any kind of bleeding during pregnancy. Get immediate medical care if you have any of these symptoms :. A quick examination can usually tell your doctor what is causing your bleeding. You may need:. Your doctor will likely also look at pregnancy markers.

A blood test looks at your hormone levels. The main hormone in pregnancy — made by the placenta — is human chorionic gonadotropin hCG. The heartbeat can be checked with the ultrasound or Doppler scan as early as five and a half weeks of pregnancy. Path to improved health Vaginal bleeding can happen at any stage of a pregnancy, from conception to delivery. Non-serious reasons for bleeding early in your pregnancy can include: implantation as the egg settles in your uterus the first days sex infection hormones.

More serious causes of vaginal bleeding during the early part of pregnancy can include: An ectopic pregnancy a pregnancy that starts outside the uterus and will not survive. A miscarriage losing the baby early in a pregnancy. A molar pregnancy a fertilized egg that implants in the uterus that does not live. In later pregnancy, the following medical conditions can cause vaginal bleeding: Placental abruption the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus during birth.

Placenta previa the placenta is lying too low in the uterus and nearly covers the cervix. Preterm labor labor that starts before completing 37 of 40 weeks of pregnancy. Things to consider If you experience bleeding or spotting at any time during your pregnancy, your doctor will want to collect as much information as possible. That will include: How far along is your pregnancy? Have you had bleeding at any other time during your pregnancy?

When did the bleeding start? Is the bleeding heavy or spotting? Does it start and stop? How much blood is there? What color is the blood bright red or dark brown? Does the blood have an odor?

Do you have cramps or pain? Do you feel weak, tired, faint, or dizzy? Have you experienced vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea? Do you have a fever? Were you recently injured such as a fall or car accident? Have you engaged in any physical activity? Are you under extra stress? When did you last have sex?