Bloody show during pregnancy
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| Bloody show during pregnancy |
Menstruation and other blood loss during pregnancy
One in four women experience bleeding, to a greater or lesser extent, during their pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester . While this bleeding is often harmless, vigilance is essential, as it can also be a sign of serious pregnancy complications... Explanations.
Bleeding early in pregnancy or later, and the fear of miscarriage immediately assails us. Don't panic. Bleeding is possible during pregnancy, and quite common. During the first few weeks, it affects one in four expectant mothers .
Is it dangerous to lose blood during pregnancy? When to worry?
What does light bleeding in early pregnancy mean?
Bleeding during early pregnancy is not necessarily the first sign of a miscarriage. There are a variety of causes for this bleeding, ranging from the most benign to the most serious, requiring immediate treatment.
This is why, in the event of any bleeding, we can only encourage you to consult your midwife or gynecologist as soon as possible , who will identify the cause.
Light bleeding during pregnancy
These mini-hemorrhages, which do not affect the continuation of your pregnancy , are most frequently of three distinct origins.
First, implantation of the embryo in the uterus, which occurs eight days after fertilization , can cause early bleeding . It is very light and brief.
Cervical weakening then. After a vaginal examination or sexual intercourse, light bleeding may occur. This is often due to an injury to the external mucous membrane of the cervix, weakened by pregnancy. It generally does not last more than a day or two .
A minor placental abruption can also cause a small amount of bleeding, due to a slight hematoma that has formed between the egg and the uterine wall. Most of the time, this resolves without any problems, provided that careful rest is observed.
What color is bleeding during pregnancy?
White or light discharge during pregnancy: don't panic
Unlike bleeding during pregnancy, which should prompt prompt medical attention, vaginal discharge is, in principle, physiological for the pregnant woman. The cervix is closed, and cervical mucus acts as a physical barrier to protect the uterus from infection. Creamy, milky, abundant, and thick discharge is normal for expectant mothers.
However, white discharge that is smelly, lumpy and/or accompanied by vulvar itching should prompt you to consult a doctor, as it may be a vaginal yeast infection.
Pinkish discharge (spotting) during pregnancy: this can happen after sexual intercourse
There's no need to worry about pink discharge. It's a sign that the embryo is implanting properly.
Furthermore, some pregnant women will continue to have light pink bleeding each month on the days when they should have had their period: this is called "anniversary period" .
Since the cervix is more vascularized, small pink or reddish spots may appear after sexual intercourse or a gynecological examination. These spots do not present any serious signs.
Brown Discharge During Pregnancy: What It May Mean
Brown discharge indicates "old" blood, which has oxidized in the uterus or vagina. While such blood loss can occur during pregnancy without it being a problem, it is best to consult a gynecologist or midwife about it, especially if this brown discharge is accompanied by pelvic pain . It can be a sign of poor implantation of the egg or placental abruption.
Dark blood loss during pregnancy
It happens, very rarely, that some women experience black discharge in the second or third trimester of pregnancy . You should consult your gynecologist quickly, because this indicates the presence of a retroplacental hematoma (RPH) , which is a collection of blood located behind the placenta. This is a life-threatening emergency, both for the mother and the unborn baby.
Heavy Bleeding in Early Pregnancy: Is It a Risk of Miscarriage?
If you experience heavy bleeding for several hours in a row, accompanied by clots and period pain, seek medical help quickly : you may be having a miscarriage. This condition affects one in five or six early pregnancies , with a risk twice as high at age 40 as at age 20. In nine out of ten cases, these early miscarriages are due to a chromosomal abnormality in the embryo. It may also be a blighted ovum , with an empty uterine sac.
Bleeding at the end of pregnancy?
Bleeding at the end of pregnancy is a sign that you should consult your gynecologist or midwife quickly. It could be caused by:
- the opening of the cervix before childbirth;
- a polyp in the cervix;
- inflammation of the vagina;
- placental abruption
- placenta previa, which is a placenta that has developed in the lower part of the uterus and can partially or completely block the exit from the uterus;
An emergency delivery may be necessary. If the embryo or fetus does not eject on its own, surgery will be required.
Ectopic pregnancy (EP), a cause of bleeding during pregnancy
Light, brownish bleeding , accompanied by sharp , persistent pain on the right or left side of the abdomen? See a healthcare professional without delay. Using a vaginal ultrasound, they can confirm or exclude an ectopic pregnancy. This unnatural implantation outside the uterine cavity – most often in the fallopian tubes, more rarely in the ovary or cervix – is less rare than you might think: around 1.7% of pregnancies in France, or 14,000 women each year, are affected.
Above all, it's a potentially very serious anomaly: once implanted in the fallopian tube, the egg continues to develop, risking cracking or even rupturing it. Rest assured : there are now several medical treatments available to stop an ectopic pregnancy.
Bleeding during pregnancy: the case of molar pregnancy
Bleeding accompanied by profuse vomiting, an excessive increase in the size of the uterus and an abnormally high level of the hormone beta-HCG are indicators of a possible molar pregnancy . Quite rare (1 case per 2,000 pregnancies, or 400 cases per year), this abnormal pregnancy is characterized by the unlimited development of the placenta – then called hydatidiform mole – to the detriment of the embryo. This disease requires rapid hospitalization , in order to remove the mole by aspiration. A careful one-year follow-up is then put in place, without being able to start a new pregnancy, in order to rule out any risk of recurrence. Indeed, in 10% of cases, molar pregnancy leads to the development of cancerous cells and must be treated with chemotherapy.
Blood in urine during pregnancy
Unlike small red discharge, which is often harmless, when it comes to blood in the urine, it will be necessary to consult a doctor at any stage of pregnancy. Indeed, although there is no direct impact on the unborn baby, it can be a sign of a kidney infection in the mother, also called pyelonephritis.
