Bleeding in early Pregnancy? Here are 4 causes & what to do about them
Hello Mum to Be!
Here to talk about vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy.
Congratulations on your positive pregnancy test. There is so much to talk about pregnancy and bleeding is often the scariest topic for all Mums.
At a guess, your pregnancy is possibly 4 going on 6 weeks old depending on your cycle length.
At this time, you may get the spotting which persists after a day or two and starts to get worse with heavier bleeding with or without clots. The worry and anxiety is tremendous.
This piece will help explain some of the features and guide you to getting formal help if it’s needed.
Bleeding with or without Discharge
The odd spotting in very early pregnancy without vaginal discharge can be normal. This is regarded as Implantation bleeding, when the newly fertilised egg is settling within the muscle walls of the womb. This settles after a few days and it's nothing to worry about.
Some women may experience it as a normal, shorter period without actually realising they are pregnant for another few weeks.
Many women who are pregnant will experience a discharge which is different to their ‘normal type’. If it is not heavy, smelly, itchy and discolored, this is possibly simply related to the pregnancy and the hormone changes occurring.
If a discharge is present, heavy and smelly, a sexual health screen at the doctor’s or family planning clinic is advised.
It is particularly important to detect and treat any Infections that may or may not be sexually transmitted quickly to prevent any harm to both yourself and your growing baby.
Heavy Bleeding and Is Pain always a sign of Miscarriage?
In cases of heavier bleeding, a check scan preferably done after 6-7 weeks to identify the position and viability of the pregnancy, is important.
Some women may have low abdominal pain that is described as cramp like - feeling like a period, while some have no pain.
It is important to discuss any form of bleeding with your clinician whether accompanied by pain or not.
If large clots or tissue have come away from the vagina, a quick exam by your doctor / ObGyn may help to identify if an inevitable or incomplete Miscarriage is occurring and advise accordingly. Sometimes an ultrasound scan or blood test may help confirm whether you are having a miscarriage.
The presence of severe pain increases suspicion of an Ectopic Pregnancy. This means the fertilised egg has planted outside the womb and in a location it is unlikely to survive - usually within one of the fallopian tubes.
This can be life-threatening but if quickly detected, it can be treated with medication and blood tests to monitor you carefully or surgically to remove the pregnancy and (usually) the damaged fallopian tube. Presently we do not know the cause of ectopic pregnancy, but in a lady who has experienced it in the past; it is still possible to have healthy and successful pregnancy outcomes in the future.
I hope this helps.
And do have a happy, joyful pregnancy.
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practicing Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner. To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly through info@askawayhealth.org
