Phaa.com

Bleeding at any stage of pregnancy should be a cause for concern and medical advice should be sought immediately. It is important to bear in mind that the first trimester is a ‘touch-and-go’ time in any pregnancy. A host of complications are possible in early pregnancy that can lead to a miscarriage or threaten the life of the mother. Vaginal bleeding is one of those important signs that should alert expectant mothers of a possible problem.

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is not always serious. Within the first few days after conceiving, you will experience a little spotting or light bleed. This is known as the implantation bleed and is perfectly normal. Apart from the implantation bleed, mild spotting and light bleeding in early pregnancy can occur with no danger to the mother or child. Some women even experience a light bleed at the time of their period although they are pregnant. However caution in early pregnancy is always advisable and if you are experiencing any vaginal bleeding, speak to your gynecologist.

Causes of Bleeding in Early Pregnancy

The most common cause of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy is a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. This may occur for a number of reasons and it is usually associated with abdominal pain. Every pregnant woman is at risk of a miscarriage, especially in the first 12 weeks as this is a very delicate stage in the pregnancy. If you have any of the risk factors associated with a spontaneous abortion, you should be even more weary of any sign of a vaginal bleed. These risk factors include a history of previous miscarriage(s), repeated fertility procedures, cigarette smoking, drug abuse or excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy, adhesions and uterine fibroids.

Other causes of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy include a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, which is very dangerous for the health of the mother. Bleeding in early pregnancy may also arise as a result of :

• Trauma – injury, fall, assault.
• Inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis).
• Inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis).
• Rupture of an ovarian cyst.

Other less common causes of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy will be discussed with you by your gynecologist after he/she has excluded the most serious and common causes.

Warning Signs

Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy is not uncommon. It should be investigated by your gynecologist or the attending doctor and in many cases, it is not serious. However if there are other signs and symptoms present, a case of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy should be taken very seriously. These signs and symptoms include :

• Abdominal or pelvic pain with/without tenderness of the abdomen.
• Vaginal discharge that is yellow, brown or almost black or contains spots of blood, especially if there is a smelly vaginal odor.
• Dizziness, light headed feeling and/or fainting spells.
• Changes in blood pressure and or pulse.
• Fever.

Danger in Early Pregnancy

The main danger in early pregnancy is not taking any action when there are signs and symptoms present that should alert you to a possible problem. If you are feeling unwell in your early pregnancy, even if there is no signs or symptoms of any condition, rather consult with your gynecologist and put you mind at ease. While many of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy make a pregnant woman feel unwell, there are other possibilities that could be an indication of complications that could put both you and your baby at risk.