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Light amounts of vaginal bleeding early in your pregnancy can occur. In most cases, it’s not serious. It can happen in the first 20 weeks for different reasons. It can be the result of something serious or non-serious. Continued bleeding throughout the pregnancy is not common. Call your doctor immediately if you are bleeding heavily. Go to the emergency room if you have severe pain.
Vaginal bleeding can happen from conception to delivery. Spotting is a type of light bleeding. You may see just a few drops of blood in your underwear. Heavy bleeding is more noticeable. It will require a sanitary pad to protect your clothing. Call your doctor whenever you experience bleeding of any kind. Call your doctor if you have vaginal bleeding or spotting. This is important even if an ultrasound test confirms your pregnancy is normal. An ultrasound is where a technician moves a wand around your stomach to see an image of the baby. Non-serious reasons for bleeding early in your pregnancy can include: More serious causes of vaginal bleeding during the early part of pregnancy can include: In later pregnancy, the following serious medical conditions can cause vaginal bleeding: Bleeding may be just one sign of preterm labor. Preterm labor also can include vaginal discharge, pressure in your pelvis or abdomen (lower stomach), a dull backache, cramps, contractions, and your water breaking. If you are bleeding early in your pregnancy, your doctor will want to know how long and how much. If you have cramps and pain early in the pregnancy, he or she will order tests. This may include an ultrasound, blood, and urine tests. If continued bleeding is not serious, your doctor may treat it by recommending that you rest, relax, stay off your feet, and not have sex. Keep your body healthy. Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid daily while pregnant. Take it earlier if you plan to get pregnant. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking illegal drugs. Talk to your doctor before taking prescription medicine. When you are pregnant, you should never douche (use vaginal cleansing products) or use tampons. Serious bleeding may need to be treated with a long-term bed rest, hospitalization, or surgery. You cannot prevent a miscarriage after it has started. The exact cause is usually unknown. It’s rarely something the mother did wrong. Most women can have healthy pregnancies in the future. If you have lost more than 3 pregnancies, talk to your doctor.
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: Vaginal bleeding is usually blood without clots or tissue. If you see something other than blood, call your doctor immediately. Try to collect the discharge in a container and bring it with you when you see your doctor. It may mean you have miscarried. If that is the case, your doctor will provide additional care. If not all the tissue from the miscarriage has passed, your doctor may need to perform a procedure. This procedure is called a dilation and curettage (D and C). It involves opening (dilating) the cervix. Your doctor will gently suction out the remaining tissue from the miscarriage.
Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
Bleeding during pregnancy happens for many reasons. It’s common to have bleeding at some point in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. However, vaginal bleeding at any time in pregnancy could indicate a complication or an underlying condition. It’s always a good idea to share your symptoms with your healthcare provider so they can determine if the bleeding is caused by something serious. Try not to panic and know that many people who experience bleeding during pregnancy have healthy babies. Am I bleeding or just spotting?There's a difference between bleeding and spotting (light bleeding) during pregnancy. Spotting is when you notice a few drops of blood in your underwear. If you put a panty liner on, the blood won't fill it. Spotting during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, is usually not concerning. Bleeding describes a flow of blood that's greater than a drop here and there. If you need a pad to keep it from ruining your underwear, it’s usually considered bleeding. Call your healthcare provider if you experience spotting or bleeding. They may want to examine you or perform an ultrasound to determine the cause. It’s better to be overly cautious to ensure you and your fetus (unborn baby) are healthy.
Bleeding or spotting in the first trimester can be common and doesn’t always mean there is something wrong. Try not to worry. Take notes of the type of bleeding you see and call your healthcare provider to let them know your symptoms. Some causes of bleeding in the first part of pregnancy are:
What are the most common causes of bleeding in the second or third trimester?Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy is often associated with more serious conditions, so contact your healthcare provider immediately so they're aware of your symptoms. Some conditions that can cause bleeding in the second and third trimesters are:
What are other causes of bleeding during pregnancy?Sometimes bleeding isn't caused by any medical conditions and your healthcare provider won't be concerned. However, it’s always better to discuss any spotting or bleeding with them to make sure. Other reasons you may bleed during pregnancy are:
How much bleeding is normal in pregnancy?Spotting in early pregnancy (the first trimester) is usually normal and not a sign of a serious issue. However, you should still let your healthcare provider know, especially if you're unsure if it’s spotting or bleeding. There are several causes of first-trimester spotting that are not worrisome, but some are. Is period-like bleeding during pregnancy normal?Bleeding that resembles menstruation is not usually a symptom of pregnancy. Menstrual bleeding is a steady flow of blood lasting several days. If you experience anything more than light bleeding (spotting) or your bleeding lasts longer than 24 hours, you should contact your healthcare provider right away. Bleeding is not always a sign that something is wrong, but heavy bleeding or bleeding that's accompanied by pain might indicate a complication. What does vaginal bleeding during pregnancy look like?Bleeding during pregnancy can look different for everyone. Your healthcare provider will want to know what your blood looks like so they can evaluate your symptoms. Some details you will want to track include:
All of these details can help your healthcare provider determine the level of care you need and how urgent your symptoms are. Because bleeding at any time in pregnancy could indicate a problem, it’s always recommended to call your provider.
Your healthcare provider will want to perform an ultrasound and physical evaluation to determine the cause of your bleeding. They may order blood or urine tests and perform additional imaging tests like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Some treatments for vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can include:
What can I do at home to stop my bleeding during pregnancy?It’s always best to follow the recommendations of your healthcare provider after you're examined. In most cases, they'll recommend more rest. Avoiding things like rigorous exercise or lifting heavy objects can also help. You can also use a panty liner to contain your bleeding.
Your healthcare provider should know of any bleeding or spotting during pregnancy. Even if it’s not serious at that moment in your pregnancy, they'll want to make notes of your symptoms. Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms. Heavy bleeding.
If your provider’s office is closed, you should go to the nearest emergency room (ER). What questions should I ask my doctor about bleeding during pregnancy?Bleeding during pregnancy can be scary. It’s natural to have questions for your healthcare provider. Some questions to ask your provider are:
What questions will my doctor ask me about bleeding during pregnancy?Your healthcare provider may ask you several questions to find the cause of your vaginal bleeding and understand your symptoms. Some questions you may be asked are:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Bleeding at any point in pregnancy can be scary. Sometimes bleeding during pregnancy is serious, but other times it isn’t. It’s important to contact your healthcare provider to discuss any vaginal bleeding you experience while pregnant. They'll want to rule out any complications, find the cause of your bleeding and make sure you and your fetus are healthy.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/17/2021. References
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