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Bleeding in pregnancy, no matter in what quantity or severity, requires a follow-up visit to the doctor in charge of the pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding may not always mean something bad, but nothing is obvious in pregnancy, so any disturbing changes should be monitored. What can bleeding in pregnancy mean? What could be its causes?
Bleeding in pregnancy does not always have to be a signal that something is wrong with the fetus, but even the slightest spotting should prompt the future mother to see her gynecologist.
Bleeding in pregnancy – causes
There can be many causes of bleeding in pregnancy, the most common ones being:
- in the first stage of pregnancy, so-called implantation bleeding occurs. It occurs about 6/7 days after conception. Most often, this is slight spotting, but it can also be heavy if the embryo is established in the place of a larger blood vessel. Implantation spotting does not have to occur in every woman.
- bleeding in pregnancy may result from congenital or acquired problems with the cervix or vaginal area. In such situations, the blood is bright red and clots appear. Most often, the changes resolve spontaneously, but it is imperative that the pregnant woman reports the bleeding to the gynecologist.
- in the first stage, bleeding in pregnancy may be a signal of cervical cancer, angina or trophoblast cancer.
- pregnancy is a hormonal revolution, especially in the first trimester. It happens that at the beginning of pregnancy, on the day of menstruation, there is a slight bleeding confused with the menstruation. In some women, bleeding continues for a long time due to a deficiency in the corpus luteum and too low levels of progesterone in relation to estrogen. Unfortunately, a deficiency in progesterone can increase the risk of miscarriage. In such a situation, the gynecologist recommends that the pregnant woman should take preparations containing progesterone. This type of bleeding in pregnancy can be heavy or sparse, taking on a bright red color.
- another cause of bleeding in pregnancy is the developing ectopic pregnancy. This is the situation when the embryo implants outside the uterus, most often in the fallopian tube, or more precisely in its bulbous part. Ectopic pregnancy manifests itself not only with hemorrhage, but also with unilateral pain, there may be pressure on the stool, fainting. It is a life-threatening condition for pregnant women, therefore hospitalization is necessary.
- in the second half, bleeding in pregnancy may indicate a prevalent placenta, but also its detachment.
- bleeding in pregnancy can cause hemorrhoids.
- spotting may be due to a loose mucus plug. The plug closes the cervical canal, before the upcoming birth, the expectant mother may notice a thick discharge that is stained with blood. This is not a pathological situation, but only a signal that a solution is approaching.
- spontaneous miscarriage is manifested by severe hemorrhage, but not only because there are also back pain and uterine contractions with a miscarriage.
Any bleeding during pregnancy, regardless of the amount, frequency and color of blood, must be reported to the doctor. In diagnostics, an ultrasound scan is performed, a blood test is performed, and the doctor orders a hormone measurement. In a situation where the bleeding does not stop, hospitalization of the pregnant woman is necessary, and in some cases it is also necessary to administer drugs to support the pregnancy.