Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is bleeding
coming through the vagina during pregnancy, for any reason. It is very common.
It does not mean your baby’s danger. It happens especially during the first
trimester. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy has many causes, some are serious,
some aren’t. It would be better to consider bleeding during pregnancy as
abnormal condition therefore you need to get checked out by your doctor to
ensure that you and your baby are healthy.
Bleeding in the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Approximately one-forth of all pregnant women
experience spotting or bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy, and
approximately half of those who bleed will miscarry. Vaginal bleeding during
first trimester may vary from light spotting to severe bleeding with clotsIt is
important to fully understand the cause of bleeding, because maybe it indicates
the presence of gynecology health issue, an ectopic of pregnancy, etc.
Implantation
Bleeding
Implantation bleeding is a bleeding that
usually occurs at the first trimester of pregnancy. It can be a small amount of
spotting associated with the normal implantation of embryo in the uterine wall.
Some women don’t realize they are pregnant because they mistake this bleeding
for a light period. This is a normal part of pregnancy and no cause concern.
This bleeding will last from a few hours to a few days.
Ectopic
Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs
outside the womb (uterus), most often in fallopian tube. Bleeding from an
ectopic pregnancy is the most dangerous cause of first trimester bleeding. As
the fertilized egg grows, it can rupture the fallopian tube and cause
life-thretening bleeding. The baby also cannot survive because of lack of
supply of nutrients. This condition occurs in 3% of all pregnancy.
Position of ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is often caused by a
condition that blocks or slow the movement of fertilized egg through falopian
tube to the uterus. Such causes include:
- Complication of a ruptured appendix
- Endometriosis
- Birth defect in the fallopian tube
- Having an ectopic pregnancy before
The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy may include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Low back pain
- Mild cramping on one side of the pelvis
- No period
- Pain in the lower belly of pelvis area
- Low blood pressure
- Fainting
- Pain in the shoulder area
- Severe and sudden pain in the lower abdomen
Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening
condition. The developing cells must be removed to save the mother’s life.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage is one of the biggest concerns of
bleeding during first trimester of pregnancy. As already mentioned earlier,
about a half of women who experience bleeding during pregnancy eventually
miscarry. Other symptoms of miscarry are strong cramps in the lower abdomen and
tissue passing through vagina. An ultrasound may be used to determine if the
fetus is still alive.
Miscarriage can be divided into three types:
- Threatened miscarriage: the signs are bleeding and cramping. The fetus is still inside the uterus but the outcome of your pregnancy is still unknown. The causes are infection, such as urinary tract infection, dehydration, or physical trauma
- Completed miscarriage: the signs is if your bleeding and cramping have slowed down and the uterus appears to be empty based on ultrasound evaluation. This is the most common cause of bleeding during first trimester of pregnancy
- Incomplete miscarriage: if the pelvic exam shows your cervix is still open and you are still passing blood, clots, and tissue. The cervix should not remain open for very long. If it does, it indicates the miscarriage is not completed
Molar pregnancy, known as gestational trophoblastic
disease, is another cause of bleeding during preganncy. Molar pregnancy
involves the growth of abnormal tissue instead of embryo.
Signs of molar pregnancy are:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Blood tests reveal unusually high hCG levels
- Grape-like clusters are seen in the uterus by an ultrasound
Among those causes of bleeding during
pregnancy, some women experience bleeding after intercourse. Any bleeding you
notice after having intercourse could be a sign of cervical erosion where your
cervix is softening and is more fragile than normal.
Bleeding in The Second and Third Trimester of
Pregnancy
Any vaginal bleeding during second and third
trimesters of pregnancy must always considered a serious and potentially
life-threatening condition.
The most common cause of bleeding in the second
and third of pregnancy is problem with the placenta. Some bleeding can also be
due to an abnormal cervix or vagina.
After 28 week, vaginal bleeding is known as
antepartum hemorrhage. It will be treated as an emergency and will typically
prompt hospitalization to ensure the safety of the mother and baby.
Placental
Abruption
Placental abruption is a serious cause of
bleeding during pregnancy occuring when a normal placenta separate from the
wall of womb (uterus) prematurely and blood collects between the placenta and
uterus. Only 1% of pregnant women have this problem. Risk factors for placental
abruption include:
- High blood pressure (140/90 or greater)
- Trauma (usually a car accident)
- Cocaine or tobacco use
- Abruption in prior pregnancy
Placenta
Previa
Placenta previa is an abnormal location of the
placenta. In most pregnancies, the placenta attaches at the top or side of the
uterus. In placenta previa, the placenta attaches to the lower area of the
uterus. Painless vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks is the most important symptom
of placenta previa.
Even if the placenta is discovered later in
pregnancy, the placenta may still move away from the cervix. As your pregnancy
progresses, your placenta is likely to migrate farther from your cervix and no
longer a problem. If you have placenta previa when it’s time to deliver your
baby, you’ll need to have C-section.
Women who are at higher risks for this
condition include:
- Previous caecarean birth
- Other surgery on uterus
- Carrying twins or triplets
Light bleeding during late pregnancy
can be a symptom of preterm labor. Other symptoms of preterm labor include:
- Contraction every ten minutes or more often
- Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid of bleeding from your vagina)
- Pelvic pressure
- Low, dull backache
- Abdominal cramps
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Bleeding during pregnancy
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