What week does spotting occur in pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body changes. A lot. And in early pregnancy, you may deal with some pretty substantial hormonal shifts. Between mood swings, exhaustion and morning sickness, you might not feel your best. But there’s another symptom that can happen in early pregnancy that you might not be thinking about — bleeding or spotting.

Table of Contents Show

Potential causes of first trimester bleeding
Implantation bleeding
Cervical changes
Miscarriage
Ectopic pregnancy
When to call the doctor about bleeding
Healthy parent, healthy baby
Next steps:
Spotting During Pregnancy Versus Bleeding
What Causes Spotting During Pregnancy?
When to Worry About Spotting During Pregnancy?

“Bleeding in early pregnancy happens to 20 to 40% of women,” says Deidre Heber, DO, OB-GYN at Geisinger. “Most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about.”

Potential causes of first trimester bleeding

Bleeding during the first trimester can look different for everyone. The amount can range from light to heavy. For some, it can be intermittent. Others may have more constant bleeding or spotting. And it may or may not be painful.

Here are a few things that might be behind it.

Implantation bleeding

Early in pregnancy (sometimes before you know you’re pregnant), you may have some spotting when your period is due. This common occurrence is called implantation bleeding. “It happens between 6 and 12 days after conception as the fertilized egg implants into your uterus,” Dr. Heber says. This bleeding is typically light and may last for a few days.

Cervical changes

During pregnancy, there’s increased blood flow to your cervix. Having sex or getting a Pap smear, which cause contact with the cervix, can trigger light bleeding. Other cervical changes that can trigger bleeding include:

Polyps
Minor infections
Cervical ectropion (when cells from the inside of the cervix move to the outside)

Hormones

In the early weeks of pregnancy, your body starts making the hormones you need to sustain a pregnancy. This change can cause your progestin levels to drop. That drop may lead to spotting or light bleeding.

Miscarriage

Since miscarriages are most common during the first trimester, worrying about bleeding is normal. Light bleeding or spotting doesn’t automatically mean you’re miscarrying. But if your bleeding is heavy, bright red or you’re passing clots and in pain, contact your healthcare provider. They can explain next steps.

Most women who miscarry go on to have healthy pregnancies. But having a miscarriage is a loss that families may need help handling. Don’t rush the grieving process, and find a support group or counselor if you feel you need it.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, like in your fallopian tube. When that happens, it can lead to heavy bleeding, pain and other serious symptoms. “An ectopic pregnancy is an emergency,” says Dr. Heber. “If you have symptoms, contact your provider immediately.”

When to call the doctor about bleeding

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of these symptoms:

Severe pain or cramps low in the abdomen
Severe bleeding, soaking greater than one heavy pad per hour, with or without pain
Passage of blood clots or tissue
Dizziness or fainting
Chills
Fever higher than 100.4° F

If you’re pregnant and bleeding heavily, don’t use a tampon. Wear a pad instead. “Doctors need to know how much you’re bleeding to gauge the severity,” says Dr. Heber.

And if you’re passing tissue, consider bringing it in for testing.

Your doctor may use an ultrasound to determine the cause of your bleeding. Once they find the cause, they’ll work with you on a treatment plan.

Healthy parent, healthy baby

Building good habits now can help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible. Dr. Heber makes these suggestions to help you (and your baby) feel your best.

Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet
Exercise regularly
Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs and cigarettes
Reduce caffeine intake to 1-2 cups a day
Attend regular prenatal visits
Take your prenatal vitamins

Next steps:

Meet Deidre Heber, DO
Learn about pregnancy care at Geisinger
Separating fact from fiction: 6 pregnancy myths

Spotting is when you see a light or trace amount of pink, red or dark brown blood. It will be lighter than your menstrual period and there won’t be enough blood to cover a panty line. Spotting during pregnancy isn’t always a sign that something is wrong. It’s actually a common concern that many pregnant women experience during their first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The majority of women who experiencing spotting during pregnancy go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Spotting During Pregnancy Versus Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is any discharge of blood from the vagina. It can happen anytime from conception (when the egg is fertilized) to the end of pregnancy.

Light bleeding, or spotting, during pregnancy is common, especially during the first trimester. It is considered spotting when you notice a few drops of blood occasionally in your underwear, or if you wipe yourself with tissue and see a little blood on the paper. There should not be enough blood to fill a panty liner.

Bleeding is a heavier flow of blood. With bleeding, you will need a liner or pad to keep the blood from soaking your clothes. Whether you are bleeding or spotting, it is best to contact your healthcare provider and describe what you are experiencing.

What Causes Spotting During Pregnancy?

Implantation bleeding is a common cause of spotting early on in pregnancy. Implantation bleeding happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This can trigger a few days of light bleeding or spotting. This spotting occurs before a woman even knows she is pregnant and is often mistaken as a pending period. Bleeding that occurs after the day a woman expects her period is typically too late to be considered implantation bleeding, and is more likely related to early pregnancy in general.

Another common cause of spotting is a cervical polyp (a harmless growth on the cervix), which is more likely to bleed during pregnancy due to higher estrogen levels. This may occur because there is an increased number of blood vessels in the tissue around the cervix during pregnancy. As a result, contact with this area (through sexual intercourse or a gynecological exam, for example) can cause bleeding.

Even without the presence of a cervical polyp, there are a few things that may cause some spotting in the couple days after:

Sexual intercourse
Gynecological exam, such as a vaginal ultrasound
Heavy lifting/excessive exercise

When to Worry About Spotting During Pregnancy?

Spotting or bleeding during pregnancy is not expected and may be abnormal, but it is not always a cause for concern. However, it is important to contact your healthcare provider to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing. The good news is that 50% of women with bleeding during pregnancy go on to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Any spotting or bleeding in the second or third trimesters should be reported to your healthcare provider immediately. In the first trimester, spotting is somewhat more common, but should also be reported to your doctor or midwife.

Call your obstetrician especially if you notice heavy bleeding similar to a menstrual period to make sure the bleeding is not a result of pregnancy complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy. Abnormal bleeding in late pregnancy may be more serious because it can signal a complication with you or your baby. Call your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any bleeding in your second or third trimester. Your healthcare provider will most likely check for cervical polyps, and make sure your cervix is closed.

To help manage your spotting during pregnancy and to increase the probability of continuing with a healthy pregnancy, your healthcare provider may encourage you to do the following:

Bed rest or more naps
More time off your feet
Staying well hydrated
Limit your physical activity
Elevate your feet when possible
Avoid lifting items over 10 pounds

Remember, the good news is the majority of women who experience spotting during pregnancy go on to have a healthy pregnancy. However, do not let this fact keep you from contacting your healthcare provider. It is important to discuss spotting and bleeding with your doctor.