Early Pregnancy Spotting – All You Need to Know

Spotting during early pregnancy

Early pregnancy spotting is light vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Spotting is usually light and the color may be brown, red or pink. Spotting can occur in viable pregnancies and so there is nothing to worry about. It is an early pregnancy symptom. A woman with early pregnancy spotting will occasionally notice a few drops of blood in her underwear. She may also see a little blood when she wipes herself with tissue.

About 30% of women may experience spotting at some point during pregnancy. Therefore, it happens normally during pregnancy. However, it may also be a symptom of imminent miscarriage.

Also, 20% of women may have spotting during their first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Though spotting during early pregnancy may not signify any danger, it is important to think about the possibility of miscarriage. However, it is important to emphasize that most women that experience spotting still have healthy pregnancy and baby.

It is important to note, at this juncture, that heavier bleeding is different from spotting. For example, in heavier bleeding, you will need to use pad to prevent blood from staining your clothing.

Talk to your doctor immediately you experience heavy bleeding during pregnancy.

In fact, tell your doctor if you notice bleeding or spotting during pregnancy. Your doctor will know when to monitor or treat you. You may be asked about other symptoms such as fever or cramp that may occur alongside spotting.

If women with certain blood types experience vaginal bleeding anytime during their pregnancy, they will require medication. Therefore, if you experience vaginal bleeding, notify your doctor immediately.

Most importantly, seek emergency care if you experience bleeding in your second or third trimester.

During early pregnancy, spotting can occur for a variety of reasons.

First trimester spotting

A study in 2010 shows that spotting occurs commonly in weeks 6 and 7 of pregnancy.

As highlighted above, spotting does not always mean that something went wrong.

However, in the first trimester, spotting may be due to implantation bleeding, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Other causes include cervical irritation following sexual intercourse, cervicitis, cervical ectopy, and cervical polyp.

Here is what you need to know about the causes of early pregnancy spotting in the first trimester:

Implantation bleeding

Implantation bleeding can be defined as bleeding occurring about 6 to 12 days after conception. This is a sign of an embryo getting implanted into the uterine wall. It is usually one of the first symptoms of pregnancy.

However, not every woman will experience implantation bleeding. But if you do experience it, do not panic. You can talk to your doctor about that.

Implantation bleeding color is usually dark brown or light pink. Blastocyst implantation causes a light spotting which differentiates implantation bleeding from your usual menstrual period.

Once again, implantation bleeding is so light that you do not need to use a sanitary pad or tampon. Also, there are no blood drops when using the restroom.

Implantation bleeding usually stops on its own after a few hours to 3 days following its onset.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs in the fallopian tubes when the fertilized egg develops outside the uterus. It is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately.

Light spotting or heavy vaginal bleeding is an important symptom of ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy bleeding or spotting occurs along with abdominal pain, pelvic pain, rectal pressure, weakness, fainting or dizziness.

It is important that you contact your doctor if you experience early pregnancy spotting or vaginal bleeding. Your doctor will be able to make proper diagnosis and treat you accordingly.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage, simply put, is early pregnancy loss. Most miscarriages take place in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. About 50% of early pregnancy spotting is due to miscarriage.

So, if you are pregnant and you experience bright red or brown bleeding with or without abdominal cramps, talk to your doctor about that.

Miscarriage may occur along with the following symptoms:

• Contractions
• Abdominal cramps
• Weight loss
• Passage of mucous plug per vagina
• Passage of clot-like material from the vagina
• Decline in pregnancy symptoms
• Back pain

When miscarriage is inevitable, it becomes difficult to save the pregnancy as there is very little that can be done.

However, you still need to talk to your doctor who will rule out complications including ectopic pregnancy.

To establish miscarriage, your doctor will check your pregnancy hormone levels with two or more tests. S/he will check for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels on two or more occasions.

The tests will be done 24 to 48 hours apart to determine if your hCG levels are decreasing. A reduction in the levels of your hCG indicates a loss of pregnancy.

Having early pregnancy loss does not mean it will be difficult for you in the future to get pregnant. Also, it does not in any way increase your risk of miscarriages in the future, unless you have already had multiple miscarriages.

Studies have shown that miscarriages occur in 20% of pregnancies. Therefore, miscarriage is neither caused by something you did not do nor something that you did.

Without requiring any medical procedure, your body may expel fetal tissue on its own. However, you still need to talk to your doctor if you experience miscarriage. Your doctor makes sure all of the tissue is evacuated and that all is fine.

You may need emotional support.

If inevitable or incomplete miscarriage has occurred, you will need an evacuation of products of conception, or dilatation and curettage to stop bleeding and prevent infection.

Going through miscarriage requires that you take care of yourself emotionally.

It may be devastating to experience miscarriage. You can leverage the support of your family and friends during this difficult time. Do not see it as due to a fault of yours.

Take note that many women have healthy pregnancies following a miscarriage.

Miscarriage can also occur in the second and third trimester.

Late pregnancy miscarriage symptoms occurring after 13 weeks of pregnancy include:

• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Absence of fetal movement
• Abdominal cramping
• Back cramping
• Fluid drainage per vagina
• Tissue passage from vagina

Speak with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Your doctor will check if the fetus is still alive. If not alive, s/he may give you some medications to help you expel the fetus and placenta vaginally.

Your doctor may also decide to remove the dead fetus surgically via dilatation and evacuation.

As rightly pointed out above, you require physical and emotional care for a second or third trimester miscarriage.

Let your doctor know if you need more time to recover emotionally. Ask your doctor when you can go back to work. Your doctor will help you explain to your employer the need to take time off.

Ask your doctor how long you can wait before you start trying to conceive again.

Cervical irritation

Irritation of the cervix can occur following pelvic exam, transvaginal ultrasound scan or sexual intercourse.

During pregnancy, the cervix is highly vascularized and so can bleed on minimal contact.

Spotting arising from such contact may make you panic and think that something could be wrong.

However, it is important to note that this early pregnancy spotting is not dangerous.

It is therefore not necessary to avoid sexual intercourse, pelvic exams or ultrasounds for fear of bleeding in early pregnancy.

Cervical ectopy

Cervical ectopy occurs when cells normally present in the cervical canal or uterus invade the surface of the cervix.

These uterine or cervical canal cells are more delicate than those present on the surface of the cervix. So, they tend to bleed with very little irritation.

Cervical ectopy occurs more commonly in women with stretched cervix due to childbirth. Therefore, women who have had vaginal childbirth are likely to have cervical ectopy.

Also, cervical ectopy can occur in women who have used birth control pills for a long period of time.

You can assess your risk of cervical ectopy and talk to your doctor who will help you deal with it.

Cervicitis

Cervicitis is the infection of the cervix. It is an inflammation of the cervix caused most commonly by infections.

Infection of the cervix may be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, genital herpes, or chlamydia.

Non-sexually transmitted infections such as bacterial vaginosis can also cause cervicitis.

Cervicitis may also be caused by an allergy from the latex in condoms or an irritation from a diaphragm.

Treatment of cervicitis may require the use of pregnancy safe medications. Therefore, speak with your doctor when you suspect you have cervicitis.

Early pregnancy spotting during the second trimester

Spotting or light bleeding during the second trimester may also be caused by cervical irritation due to cervical exam or sex. This is usually not a cause for worry.

Cervical polyp

A cervical polyp is a benign growth on the cervix. It is an important cause of spotting in the second trimester.

Cervical polyp increases the number of blood vessels in the area of the cervix the polyp is situated. This increases the likelihood of light bleeding from the cervical polyp during early pregnancy.

Ensure you enroll in an antenatal care (ANC) class when you confirm you are pregnant. ANC provides a good opportunity for proper care, and treatment of cervical polyp if present.

Placenta previa, premature labor and late miscarriage

Placenta previa, premature labor and late miscarriage are medical emergencies that may occur during the second trimester.

It is important to note that heavy bleeding during pregnancy is an important symptom of these medical emergencies.

Therefore, if you experience any vaginal bleeding that looks like a menstrual period, talk to your doctor immediately.

Early pregnancy spotting during the third trimester

Spotting or light bleeding during late pregnancy may result from a cervical exam or sexual intercourse. Do not worry when it occurs because it is not dangerous and it will stop.

Spotting during the third trimester can be due to a sign that labor is about to start, or what is called bloody show.

Vasa previa, placenta previa and placental abruption

Vasa previa, placenta previa and placental abruption are medical emergencies and should be taken seriously.

If you experience heavy vaginal bleeding during late pregnancy, it could be due to any of these medical emergencies.

Timely emergency care is required to save your life and that of your baby.

Therefore, seek emergency medical care if you experience heavy bleeding in late pregnancy.

Moreover, even if it is light spotting or lighter flow, make sure you call your doctor immediately. S/he will assess you and, depending on other symptoms, may decide to evacuate you.

Conclusion

Late or early pregnancy spotting that is not implantation bleeding requires your doctor’s attention. Also, talk to your doctor if you experience spotting that fails to stop on its own after a few hours.

Your doctor will assess the amount of bleeding via vaginal exam and do an ultrasound scan to confirm fetal viability.

You may need to do an hCG blood test during early pregnancy. This test can help rule out potential miscarriage or diagnose ectopic pregnancy.

If you experience spotting, there is no cause for alarm. However, talk to your doctor about it. Many women have implantation bleeding at some point during early pregnancy. For example, it is normal to experience spotting after sex.

If you spot and it does not stop after a few hours, or it gets heavier, speak with your doctor. Also, your doctor should know if you experience other symptoms such as fever, cramps or backache along with spotting.

It is worth remembering that many women will experience spotting and still go on to have healthy pregnancies.

Finally, your doctor is in a good position to assess your symptoms and help you manage early pregnancy spotting.

Was this post helpful? Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section.