Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is a relatively common phenomenon that doesn’t always involve something serious, however, it’s important to be evaluated by a doctor as soon as it’s detected, as this can indicate a serious problem.
A slight loss of dark pink, red or brownish blood can be normal and result from changes occurring in a woman’s body; However, they can also be symptoms of serious situations, such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy that occurs outside of in severe situations like these, blood loss usually becomes more abundant and blood turns bright red.
The main conditions that can cause blood loss during pregnancy include:
As there are many causes of bleeding during pregnancy, which makes it difficult to distinguish between them, it is very important to consult an obstetrician as soon as possible so that the necessary tests and treatments can be performed quickly.
In addition, the causes of bleeding may vary depending on the stage of pregnancy:
Bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy is common within the first 15 days of conception and, in this case, bleeding is pink, lasts approximately two days, and causes cramps similar to menstrual cramps.
This may be the first symptom of pregnancy in some women, so it’s important to take a pregnancy test.
What it can be: even if this bleeding is normal at this stage of pregnancy, if the bleeding becomes severe, very bright red or is accompanied by nausea and cramps, this may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy outside the uterus.
What to do: It’s important to go to an obstetrician or go to the emergency room for control and diagnose the cause of the bleeding.
During the first three months of pregnancy, the mother may also experience a dark coffee-like secretion that appears on the same day because it is not related to a menstrual cycle. If so, it could be a subcorionic hematoma that can lead to miscarriage.
The second trimester of pregnancy includes the period between the fourth and sixth months of pregnancy, which begins at week 13 and ends at week 24 of pregnancy.
What it may be: After the first three months of pregnancy, pregnancy bleeding is not as common and therefore, if it occurs, may indicate placental detachment, miscarriage, placenta previa, cervictis or a uterine injury caused by contact.
What to do: Pregnant women are advised to consult an obstetrician or emergency service as soon as possible.
Severe blood loss is often accompanied by other warning signs, such as abdominal pain, fever, or decreased fetal movement.
When blood loss occurs after the first 24 weeks of gestation, this may be a sign that work has started, although it can also indicate a problem.
What it might be like: in some cases, blood loss may indicate a placenta previa or placental detachment; on the other hand, some women experience blood loss at the end of pregnancy due to the onset of labor, loss of the mucous layer and alteration of the membranes, which is usually accompanied by irregular contractions that show that the baby will be born soon.
What to do: The pregnant woman should go directly to the hospital and notify her obstetrician.
In the last three months, it is also common for a woman to bleed after sexual intercourse, as the birth canal becomes more sensitive and bleeds easily, in this case, the woman should only go to the hospital if the bleeding lasts longer from one hour.