Bleeding During Pregnancy
What is Bleeding During Pregnancy?
Bleeding from the vagina and spotting are symptoms that can occur during pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding can look just like a normal menstrual period with bright, fresh blood or large amounts of old blood. Spotting is a smaller amount of bleeding and may be mixed with other fluids and appear light and sporadic. It’s crucial that you know the difference between spotting and bleeding when you become pregnant. Vaginal bleeding and spotting during pregnancy can be a sign of a serious health condition and needs to be brought to the doctor’s attention immediately for diagnosis. Bleeding or spotting may increase the risks of miscarriage or premature birth. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is far more common during the first trimester of pregnancy than many women believe. However, bleeding in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy are of far greater concern. Some bleeding issues may be normal, but others, especially in the late second and third trimester could be a problem.
Bleeding during the first trimester is a fairly common occurrence. First trimester bleeding can be associated with sexual intercourse, infection of the urinary tract or pelvic cavity, or implantation. Bleeding after sexual intercourse during pregnancy is often associated with the tenderness of the cervix. After conception occurs, the cervix softens for the duration of the pregnancy. Sexual intercourse can cause mild damage to the cervix resulting in spotting or light bleeding. Implantation bleeding normally occurs within the first 5 to 9 days after the fertilized egg has implanted onto the walls of the uterus. While some women may only bleed or spot for a few hours, others may bleed or spot for a few days.
