Spotting/Bleeding during Pregnancy

Every woman dreams of motherhood. It makes her complete. It is a time to be happy, but at the same time anxieties cannot be overruled. Spotting or bleeding during pregnancy is one of the biggest causes of anxiety. 'Have I aborted?', 'Is the baby in danger?' 'I hope everything is fine', these and similar such thoughts disturb you. It is indeed a cause of great concern but there can be many reasons for it, some of them less serious and some grave.

Some women continue to have slight spotting or bleeding in the first trimester, but it is no cause for grave concern as it is no threat for the baby. If this kind of bleeding continues in the third trimester, it can be a risky affair for both the mother and child. Some awareness regarding spotting or bleeding during pregnancy is essential for expecting mothers to avoid complications. Some reasons that might lead to bleeding during pregnancy may be due to:

Implantation Bleeding - when a fertilized egg implants itself on the walls of the uterus, it might cause slight bleeding. This may occur between 10 to 14 days of fertilization. There may be light bleeding for about 4 days but if you start bleeding heavily after that, you need to consult your gynaecologist immediately, as it might lead to miscarriages.

Miscarriages - they usually occur in the first trimester that is around 12 weeks from the time you conceive. If heavy bleeding is followed by cramps, chills or a rise in temperature, it might be a miscarriage. In that case contact your doctor immediately and ask for an examination.

Ectopic Pregnancies - when the fertilized egg implants itself in the Fallopian tubes, Ovaries, abdomen or the cervix and not on the uterine wall, it is called an ectopic pregnancy. These pregnancies might occur in 1 amongst 60 women, but it can be fatal for the child and the mother.

Infected Cervix - if women bleed during the second or third trimester of their pregnancy, then an infected cervix can also be one of the causes.

Preterm Labour - if the sac erupts prematurely then you are in for a preterm labour. There are many chances of a miscarriage or a stillbirth which means that the child stops responding. In such cases the amniotic fluid flows out along with blood and a premature baby is born.

Infections - at times spotting may not be directly related to pregnancy. A sexually transmitted disease or bacterial vaginosis may cause an irritation or inflammation in the cervix. This inflamed cervix when investigated for a Pap smear or any kind of invasive procedure or examination may lead to spotting or bleeding during pregnancy. A cervical polyp can also cause spotting after sexual intercourse or Pap smear.

However whenever there is spotting or bleeding during pregnancy it is advised that you meet your gynaecologist as an ultrasound and a thorough examination would be required to understand the cause of the bleeding and the condition of the child. The HCG hormone should be checked by a blood test.

If there is spotting or bleeding during the pregnancy after the onset of the 24th week then you need immediate help as that is a cause of great concern. The placenta at times covers the mouth of the cervix which might result in bleeding. In some cases the placenta attaches itself to the uterus and starts growing there.

Uterine rupture - is also a very rare cause of bleeding during pregnancy. There is severe pain accompanied with a feeling of your inside being torn apart followed by severe vaginal bleeding. This happens if the uterus splits, pushing the baby partially or entirely in the abdomen. Although such cases are very rare, they should be attended to immediately as they can prove fatal for the mother and the child. In such cases a caesarean is the only option. Uterine rupture can also be caused by use of drugs used for contractions like oxytocin, or the position of the child in the uterus.

Placental abruption - this is a very unusual condition in which the placenta detaches itself from the uterine wall prematurely, causing heavy, painful, uterine bleeding with heavy clots. The blood collects in the space between the uterus and the placenta. This happens in 1 out of 200 pregnancies. But the risk of placental abruption increases if the mother is hypertensive, uses cocaine or tobacco, has a previous history of repeated abruptions or meets with an accident.

The reasons for spotting or bleeding during pregnancy can be innumerable, but one should keep in mind that abnormality of any kind should be reported to your medical aid provider so that you have a nice healthy baby, and the mother and child are safe and secure.