Spotting During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is that period during which all vaginal bleeding due to menstruation stop. If you are spotting or bleeding during pregnancy, it is not a normal phenomenon. However, spotting during pregnancy in the first trimester maybe considered normal in some cases. Do not take any kind of bleeding or spotting when pregnant lightly, as it may prove to be harmful for your fetus's life and even yours. Let's have a look at the different causes of spotting during pregnancy to understand when it is time to hit the panic button.

Spotting During Pregnancy ~ First Trimester

Spotting during early pregnancy is fairly common in women. It has been found that 1 in 4 women experiences spotting during early pregnancy. This light spotting during pregnancy in the first trimester occurs about 10 to 14 days after fertilization. This brown spotting during pregnancy is called implantation bleeding. This bleeding may occur for a day or two and is nothing similar to regular menstrual bleeding. It is very light and brown in color. However, if this bleeding continues for more than 2 days and turns into a more heavy bleeding at any time, contact your doctor immediately.

Miscarriages generally occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you suffer from spotting during pregnancy that is accompanied along with stomach cramps, fever, chills, and feelings like you are having your menstrual periods, it may indicate a miscarriage. Seek medical attention immediately and ask your healthcare provider to conduct a pelvic examination. This will help understand the chances of survival for the fetus. Other reasons for spotting during pregnancy in the first trimester include bleeding after sex. Pregnancy causes more blood to reach the cervix and thus, sex may cause one to have light spotting.

Ectopic pregnancy is one serious cause that can lead to spotting in early pregnancy. The fertilized egg gets attached to some place outside the uterus and leads to many complications for the mother as well as fetus. A sonography test will help determine ectopic pregnancy signs and take corrective measures to save the life of the mother.

Spotting During Pregnancy ~ Second Trimester

Spotting during pregnancy in the second trimester is a serious cause of concern. It is very abnormal to have spotting during pregnancy in the second trimester. Especially, if the mother has no history of bleeding or spotting during the course of pregnancy. The causes many include placental abruption. This condition occurs when the placenta is separated from the uterus due to a sudden trauma like fall, accident, etc. It can also occur in women over 35 years of age, suffering from high blood pressure or sickle cell anemia and have a history of placental abruption. Women who are cocaine users also suffer from this serious condition. This is a medical emergency that needs immediate medical help.

Other reason may include placenta previa, wherein the placenta covers the cervix. This includes bleeding that is painless and occurs after the mother exerts herself or sex. The placenta places itself low in the uterus and requires immediate medical care. The woman is kept under observation in the hospital depending on the severity of the condition. This condition commonly occurs in women who are carrying twins or triplets, had a cesarean section before or underwent a surgery of the uterus previously.

Spotting During Pregnancy ~ Third Trimester

Spotting during pregnancy in the third trimester may include all the causes mentioned above for spotting during pregnancy in the second trimester. Apart from these causes it may include incompetent cervix. This is a condition when the cervix begins to open up before it is time for labor. This is a risky condition and the mother is kept under high-risk observation as it can lead to miscarriage bleeding. Secondly, spotting during pregnancy in the third trimester occurs due to a mucus plug that is passed out trough the cervix. This spotting may indicate an early sign of labor. This spotting consists of mucus and blood and occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy. One may also experience pain in the lower abdominal region as well as dull backache. One may even develop stomach cramps with or without diarrhea. Also, regular contractions and uterine tightening maybe experienced. You need to call your doctor right away and get wheeled into a hospital immediately.

This is all about spotting during pregnancy. As you can see, sometimes brown spotting during early pregnancy may not indicate a very serious condition. It may just be a sign of implantation spotting. However, never take any spotting and bleeding lightly and makes sure you contact your doctor. Hope, you have found some useful information related to spotting during pregnancy from the above paragraphs.