Written by Because bleeding during all phases of pregnancy may be dangerous, you should call your health care provider if you have any signs of vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy.
Vaginal bleeding is any blood coming from your vagina (the canal leading from the uterus to the external genitals). This usually refers to abnormal bleeding not associated with a regular menstrual period.
- First trimester bleeding is any vaginal bleeding during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding may vary from light spotting to severe bleeding with clots. Vaginal bleeding is a common problem in early pregnancy, complicating 20-30% of all pregnancies.
- Any vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (the last 6 months of a 9-month pregnancy) involves concerns different from bleeding in the first 3 months of your pregnancy. Any bleeding during the second and third trimesters is abnormal.
- In the very early stages of pregnancy, as the fertilised egg implants there can be a day or two of light bleeding. Later, as the placenta embeds in the uterine lining, it causes slight bleeding. Sometimes a woman will experience ‘breakthrough’ bleeding.
- Pregnancy hormones cover up a woman’s usual hormonal cycle, but variations in those normal cycles still go on. Some women notice bleeding at around the time they would usually have had a period as a result of this ‘background’ variation in hormonal levels. Occasionally women will experience a cervical erosion (a softening of the cervix), which can cause bleeding in early pregnancy.
Many women notice bleeding or spotting throughout their pregnancy, particularly during their first trimester. This is a fairly common occurrence, with about 10% of all women experiencing some type of light bleeding during pregnancy. This bleeding, though, is not the same as getting your period.
During pregnancy, your body is focused on nurturing your baby so your brain sends signals to your uterus not to menstruate. Most of the time, light bleeding during pregnancy is normal and doesn’t present a danger to you or your baby. However, there are some risks associated with bleeding, especially in later stages of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, it is important to be aware of the factors that can cause bleeding, and the symptoms to watch out for.
