Spotting during pregnancy is common: Know what causes it

Spotting is not unknown among pregnant women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, ‘approximately 20 per cent of women report spotting during their first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes, bleeding happens in early pregnancy. The flow is usually lighter, and the colour can vary from pink to red to brown. But don’t panic. This kind of bleeding, called spotting, is common during the first trimester. You may notice drops of blood in your underwear sometimes.

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Spotting

Very light bleeding that happens during pregnancy is known as spotting and is usually common during the first few weeks or the whole of first trimester.

You might notice a few drops of blood on your underwear. The spots will be sparse and will not even cover your panty line.

It will be brownish in color and the discharge will usually be thin, light and watery.

Bleeding

Bleeding will be heavier as compared to spotting and can happen any time—from the time of conception till the end of the pregnancy.

The flow will be enough to require a sanitary pad.

It might be accompanied with clots.

It will resemble your menstrual period.

Can be accompanied with cramps

Common Causes of Spotting

During the early stages of pregnancy, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine lining, which can trigger a few days of bleeding. Usually, it happens very early in the conception stage, even before you may realize you are pregnant and is often mistaken as a pending period.

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 happen due to an increase in the blood vessels in the tissue around the cervix. Any kind of contact with this area (sexual intercourse for example) can result in bleeding. Here are other reasons behind bleeding during pregnancy.

When To Call A Doctor?

You should call your doctor any time you notice spotting or bleeding and be specific about your symptoms–the color of the spots, how heavy the discharge is, if there is any pain, if the spots are very small, if the spotting is limited, or if the bleeding is continuous.

Try the following tips to ease and manage it.

Cut down on physical activity.

Avoid lifting any heavy objects.

Keep your feet in an elevated position whenever possible.

Rest more and stand or sit less to take the load away from your feet.

Take a nap as and when you can.

Most women with spotting and bleeding during pregnancy go on to have a healthy pregnancy and a bonny baby. Do not panic if you notice these spots and speak to your doctor to understand how you can take care of the situation.

Text sourced from zliving.com

Published : December 7, 2019 5:19 pm

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