How to Handle Bleeding During Pregnancy

First there is discovering you are pregnant. Whether it was a planned pregnancy or not, there is still that period of adjustment when you finally accept that you are carrying new life. Then one day, you go to the bathroom, and there its – blood. What could it mean? Could you be losing this new life you’ve come to love?

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Basic Things to Know

1. Don’t panic. It’s hard I know, but take comfort in knowing studies show that anywhere from 20-30 percent of women experience some degree of bleeding in early pregnancy. Approximately half of pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages.

2. Wear a pad or panty liner so that you can monitor how much you are bleeding and what type of bleeding you are experiencing. The color of blood can signal different things. Dark brownish blood is usually old blood, while red or pink could signal something different.

3. Never wear tampons, use a douche or have sexual intercourse if you are bleeding. Actually, it’s never a good idea to douche when pregnant.

4. Call your doctor or midwife even if the bleeding stops, and call immediately if you have cramping.

Common Reason for Bleeding During The First Half Of A Pregnancy

5. Miscarriage – unfortunately 15-20 percent of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage, with the majority occuring during the first 12 weeks.

6. Ectopic pregnancy where the implant is somewhere outside the uterus. It occurs in 1 of 60 pregnancies

7. Implantation bleeding. It’s one of many normal pregnancy symptoms.

8. An infection in the pelvic cavity or urinary tract.

9. Sometimes because the cervix is tender and sensitive, intercourse may cause bleeding. Discontinue intercourse until you have been seen by your doctor.

During The Later Part of the Pregnancy

10. Placental Abruption – where the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before or during labor. About 1 percent of women experience this problem. It usually occurs during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.

11. Placenta Previa – the placenta lies low in the uterus partly or completely covering the cervix. It occurs in 1 in 200 pregnancies and requires immediate care.

12. Preterm Labor – a few weeks before labor begins, the mucus plug may pass. If it occurs earlier, you could be entering preterm labor and should see your physician immediately.