Bleeding during early pregnancy, i.e. in the first three months of pregnancy (1st trimester), occurs in an average of one in five women. Many women eager to know, How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? They can be different and do not necessarily indicate an imminent miscarriage.
From light pink discharge to period-like bleeding:
Bleeding is particularly common in the first and early second trimester. In more than half of the cases, they do not affect you and your baby. However, they can also be a sign of miscarriage and complications. A quick examination by the gynecologist is therefore essential and brings clarity.
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How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy
Bleeding during pregnancy is not uncommon and not always a cause for concern. Statistically speaking, It occurs particularly during early pregnancy, i.e. in the first trimester. Before the end of the second trimester.
Bleeding affects 20 to 30% of pregnant women before SSW 21 and is harmless in half of the cases. Unfortunately, the probability of miscarriage is also highest in the first weeks of pregnancy, which often begins with bleeding. Early abortion is the cause of bleeding at the beginning of pregnancy in almost 50% of cases. You should also learn Can sex during first trimester cause miscarriage?
That’s why it’s essential to know, How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? You should have a medical examination at the first sign of bleeding – and to take a deep breath first. There may also be quite harmless causes that do not require treatment. And early detection increases the likelihood of preventing further complications.
What types of bleeding occur during early pregnancy?
- Light pink discharge
- Brown discharge
- Bright red bleeding
- Deep red bleeding
- Haemorrhage involving tissue fragments
Many women bleed from time to time at the beginning of pregnancy; the bleeding is usually very light and does not last longer than one or two days. In general, however, the type and strength of the bleeding is not a reliable indicator of whether it is harmless or dangerous.
A slight pink or brown discharge may also indicate a complication, so an immediate examination is essential. The colour of the discharge helps to determine how old and strong the bleeding is.
Light pink suggests very weak bleeding; brown indicates older blood and light red indicates fresh blood. Heavy bleeding is usually dark red with or without tissue parts (these can also be just coagulated blood).
Abstract:
Bleeding during early pregnancy is not uncommon but should be medically clarified.
There are several possible causes.
- In the first weeks of pregnancy, slight bleeding is usually caused by the so-called implantation bleeding.
- Light, painless bleeding is often harmless, but – like all bleeding that occurs in the course of pregnancy – must always be clarified immediately by a gynecologist.
How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy
The causes of bleeding during early pregnancy are varied and cannot always be determined retrospectively. There is a high probability that harmless reasons are responsible for your bleeding. More rarely, they are also a symptom of dangerous complications that require immediate treatment.
Less serious causes of bleeding during pregnancy:
Although bleeding during early pregnancy is an alarming sign yet in some cases bleeding is less dangerous. Here are a few conditions form you can understand, How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy?
- Embedding bleeding: The embedding of the egg around SSW 3 and SSW 4 can irritate the uterus. Hormonal changes: The hormone balance must first settle in the first trimester. Spotting at the time of the period is therefore frequent.
- Haematomas of the uterus: Small tears in the lining of the uterus, which are usually harmless (see below).
- Endometriosis: Uterine tissue in the abdominal cavity can bleed easily. Medical supervision is essential.
- Intercourse: Slight contact bleeding is frequent and harmless.
- Gynecological examination: A vaginal ultrasound almost always leads to harmless contact bleeding.
- Physical exertion: Overexertion and stress sometimes cause light contractions or uterine hematomas.
- Constipation: Even hard stool can irritate the mucous membranes in the vagina and uterus, which are actively supplied with blood. I
- Infections: The vagina and cervix are more susceptible during pregnancy.
Signs and symptoms of bleeding in early pregnancy
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Bleeding during pregnancy should always be examined medically, even if it is only very light or you are not in pain. You must have to pay particular attention to the following symptoms, as they indicate possible complications:
- Abdominal pain
- fever
- chills
- Dizziness and fainting
- discharge
How are bleeding in early pregnancy clarified?
A gynecological examination should always be carried to know How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? Ultrasound plays a significant role as a central diagnostic measure. The recording of pregnancy is possible from the 6th week of pregnancy. At this time, sometimes the heartbeat of the embryo is already visible.
Besides, the measurement of the pregnancy hormone beta-hCG can be helpful in specific suspected diagnoses. Beta-hCG is produced approximately from the fifth day after fertilization and is responsible for maintaining the pregnancy in the first trimester.
In a natural course of pregnancy, the beta-hCG levels in the blood double every two days and reach their maximum between the 8th and 10th week of pregnancy. After that, they fall off again slowly and continuously. If the cause of the bleeding is unclear, the course of the pregnancy can be monitored using regular beta-hCG determination and appropriate medical measures can be taken if necessary.
How quickly should bleeding in pregnancy be clarified?
In case of heavy bleeding or pain occurring at the same time, it is advisable to go to a clinic immediately. The respective gynecologist can clarify mild bleeding and spotting. How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? and How quickly bleeding should be defined also depends on its appearance.
Bright red bleeding in period intensity
Bright red, heavy bleeding should always be a reason to go to the hospital immediately. It applies to any time of pregnancy.
Dark brown bleeding
Dark, brown bleeding with possible mucous admixture speaks for “old blood”. These often appear like a weak menstrual period, sometimes even less stable. This form of bleeding also requires clarification. Consult your gynecologist.
Bleeding and pain
If bleeding occurs in combination with pain, it is essential to go to a clinic immediately. It could be a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.
Slight spotting
This form of bleeding should also be clarified – just to make sure that there are no severe causes behind it.
What causes or reasons for bleeding during pregnancy
Nidation or Implantation bleeding can occur when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This process takes place about ten days after fertilization and is based on the fertilized egg damaging small blood vessels in the womb. The implantation bleeding is harmless and is characterized by the fact that – in contrast to menstrual bleeding – it is continuously weak and subsides after a short time (often after a few hours). The blood is rather bright and emerges in the form of droplets or streaks.
Bleeding after sexual intercourse
Since the blood supply to the genitals is particularly useful during pregnancy, bleeding can also occur after sexual intercourse. How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? It is spotting which subsides very quickly. You should also ready about When to stop sex during pregnancy.
Bleeding after PAP smear
A smear of the uterine lining (cancer smear) is usually only taken during pregnancy if HPV infection is suspected. This can also lead to short-term bleeding due to a slight injury to the mucous membrane.
Haematomas in the uterus
Haematomas (bruises) in the uterus can also manifest themselves in the form of bleedings that come out. The detection of a haematoma is done by ultrasound examination, and the findings are harmless in most cases. Ruptures of blood vessels can cause haematomas in the uterine lining, and rarely a premature placental detachment is responsible.
Extrauterine pregnancy
An extrauterine pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg has implanted itself outside the uterus. In most cases, implantation takes place in the area of the fallopian tubes (ectopic pregnancy). It may lead to being serious complications such as rupture of the fallopian tube wall, which can cause blood to leak into the abdominal cavity and therefore require immediate medical attention. Ectopic pregnancy should be considered, mainly if bleeding occurs in combination with pain.
In an extrauterine pregnancy, ultrasound usually reveals the image of an “empty uterus”. Besides, the beta-hCG is within a reasonable range corresponding to the duration of the pregnancy. This is a further indication of the presence of extrauterine pregnancy. It requires immediate emergency medical measures in the form of curettage.
Other causes of bleeding during pregnancy
In some cases, there are regular “pseudo-non-menstrual bleeding” at the beginning of pregnancy, which occurs in the previous rhythm of the menstrual cycle. In most cases, these bleeding is weaker than before pregnancy. For some women, this means that they notice their pregnancy late.
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Abnormal implantation in the uterus
Even if the fertilized egg is implanted in its intended “destination”, the uterus, complications can occur that lead to bleeding and pain. For example, in women who have already given birth once or more often by Caesarean section, the fertilized egg may implant itself in the scar left by a previous Caesarean section. The resulting bleeding can be life-threatening. Early recognition of the situation requires the trained eye of an experienced gynecologist.
Incomplete/complete miscarriage
A miscarriage is called an “abortion” in technical terminology, whereby a distinction is made between two types:
The incomplete miscarriage
An “incomplete miscarriage” is characterized by the fact that only part of the dead fruit material is shed; the rest is still in the uterus. In this case, the performance of a curettage to remove the dead cell material is unavoidable.
Besides, in the case of a “complete miscarriage”, no fruit material is detectable in the uterus. For this reason, a curettage is not necessary.
An impending miscarriage is described by the term “abortus imminent”. The finding “abortus imminent” is given for almost all bleedings of unclear origin and does not always mean that a miscarriage will take place.
An impending miscarriage often manifests itself in the form of bleeding in combination with abdominal pain. Diagnostically, an ultrasound examination is performed to detect the heartbeat of the unborn child, and the beta-hCG level is determined.
Even in the event of more severe bleeding, which is accompanied by the excretion of blood clots, the pregnancy can continue without complications, provided that no abnormalities in the ultrasound or beta-hCG levels falling from the normal range are detected during the regular subsequent then don’t waist you time to know How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? go for your gynecological check-ups.
Bladder mole
A bladder mole is an abnormal proliferation of specific cells (trophoblasts) that are intended to form the placenta. Bladder mole can also lead to bleeding and pain. If a mole is present, a characteristic pattern can be seen in the ultrasound. Besides, the beta-hCG values are abnormally elevated.
A mole of the bladder can, but need not, be associated with a live pregnancy. Should an embryo develop, it is not viable and must – together with the abnormal cell proliferation – be removed by curettage. The bladder mole is one of the rare complications that can occur during pregnancy.
What can I do myself to prevent a miscarriage?
The cause of a miscarriage can only be determined in rare cases. Although late mothers indeed have a higher risk of miscarriage due to an increase in the number of eggs with chromosomal defects, examinations of aborted foetuses often do not show a definite cause for the miscarriage.
Against this background, it is not possible to make any generally valid recommendations for avoiding miscarriage. In the current literature, a “normal” lifestyle is recommended as far as possible, whereby unnecessary stress of a physical or psychological nature should be avoided if possible. If you are bleeding then don’t wait for How much bleeding is normal during early pregnancy? just visit your gynecologist as soon as possible.
The hormones beta-hCG and progesterone (corpus luteum hormone) are often prescribed in cases of imminent miscarriage – studies have not yet been able to prove that this can prevent a miscarriage.
Can I have sex while bleeding during pregnancy?
As mentioned above, bleeding can occur during sexual intercourse. Once the cause is identified, you are free to have sex.
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