Pregnancy can be a magical time for a woman, filled with promise and joy. It can also be a worrying one and have anxious moments. One of the biggest concerns for women during the first trimester is bleeding and what it may mean.
Bleeding in early pregnancy is not uncommon, and while it can be scary, it’s not always a sign that something is wrong.
Here’s what you need to know if you have bleeding in early pregnancy.
What causes bleeding in early pregnancy?
Bleeding in early pregnancy can be caused by a variety of factors. One of the most common causes is implantation bleeding. This occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus, and can cause light spotting or bleeding. Implantation bleeding typically occurs around the time of your expected period, and is usually very light.
Similarly, bleeding often happens as the placenta develops itself. Remember that the placenta is a blood-filled organ. This can cause bleeding in early pregnancy and even throughout pregnancy. This type of bleeding does not always result in blood being passed though. Often in early pregnancy scans there is evidence of this type of bleeding in and around the placenta which we call subchorionic haematomas.
Another common cause of bleeding in early pregnancy is cervical irritation. As your body prepares for pregnancy, your cervix can become more sensitive and easily irritated. This can cause light spotting or bleeding, especially after sex or a pelvic exam.
The other obvious cause of bleeding in early pregnancy can be a sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week, and ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
When should you be concerned?
While bleeding in early pregnancy can be common and not always a cause for concern, you should seek medical attention. If you experience spotting or very light bleeding and/or mild cramping then this does not generally require you to attend an emergency department for urgent assessment. Women who also have a history of miscarriage, pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancies or have had IVF may also find they need additional reassurance in pregnancy. In these instances coming into our Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic or seeing your GP/Obstetrician or midwife is very suitable.
Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour), severe abdominal pain, or passing large clots, could be signs of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy and you should seek medical attention immediately by presenting to an emergency department at a hospital.
What should you do if you experience bleeding in early pregnancy?
While bleeding can be scary and make you worried, it doesn’t always mean that something is wrong and that miscarriage will happen. At Haven we have designed the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic just for this reason. Haven has a team of very expert staff who are very experienced with early pregnancy complications and understand that this is an anxious and worrying time for many women. You will not only receive compassionate care but can rest assured that our highly experienced team will also be able to provide you with the best advice moving forward to ensure your health and wellbeing.
If you experience light bleeding, spotting or pain including cramping/pelvic pain during early pregnancy, you can call or drop into Haven. Firstly, you will see our Midwife or Nurse onsite who will consult and provide an initial assessment, if required pathology will be ordered and collected onsite with our pathology partner QML and then an ultrasound will be performed. Following this our onsite specialists and nurse will then provide a recommendation.
We do recommend you contact your obstetrician/ GP/ midwife to let them know what’s going on. They may want to schedule an appointment or have you come in to check on the health of your pregnancy.
In conclusion, bleeding in early pregnancy can be scary, but it’s not always a sign of impending pregnancy loss. Try to stay calm and contact us here at Haven where we can help assess your pregnancy, determine the significance of the bleeding and provide your obstetrician/GP/midwife with a report to ensure you get the care you need when you need it.
