During pregnancy, bleeding appeared. What to do if spotting appears in early pregnancy - doctor advises

Pregnancy becomes a special and joyful period that fills life with colors and pleasant moments. And all women who are expecting a baby do not want this time to be overshadowed by anything. But sometimes unpleasant events and unforeseen circumstances happen. One of these is the occurrence of bleeding.

Appearing quite unexpectedly, such a symptom makes a woman worry primarily about the condition of the unborn baby. And this is quite reasonable, since he can talk about a violation of the normal course of pregnancy. True, there are other reasons that are not related to pathology. But only a doctor can figure this out, so a woman should rely on a specialist.

With a slight discharge, bleeding can begin, which is a sign of serious violations in the course of pregnancy.

Causes

Discharge with blood can appear at various stages of pregnancy and are the result of many reasons. Although this is a rather dangerous sign, in certain situations, nevertheless, it does not pose a threat to the expectant mother and child. Nevertheless, there are much more real reasons for concern, so a woman in any situation needs to be vigilant and consult a doctor in time.

Bloody discharge in early pregnancy can result from:

• Physiological changes.
• Erosion of the cervix.
• Tumor formations (polyps, fibroids).
• infections.
• Trauma
• Varicose veins of the vagina.

This mainly applies to a period of up to 4 weeks. In the first trimester, under the influence of hormonal changes in the body, previously undetected diseases and pathologies that have been left without proper treatment sometimes appear. However, the most dangerous in any period of pregnancy are the following conditions:

• Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion, premature birth).
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Pathology of the placenta (abruption and presentation).
• Bubble skid (chorionepithelioma).

Since in many cases there is a threat to the life of the fetus, at the first appearance of spotting, you should consult a doctor, and if necessary, undergo an additional examination.

Symptoms

If a woman is concerned about spotting, it is necessary first of all to understand their causes. It is possible to identify the most likely factors provoking the appearance of such a symptom on the basis of a clinical examination with an assessment of all concomitant manifestations.

Discharge is one of the possible signs behind which both physiological changes in the early stages of pregnancy and serious violations during the period of bearing a child are hidden. Therefore, such a symptom should not be ignored, and a medical examination will never become superfluous, especially if the health and life of the unborn baby depends on it.

Physiological changes

The onset of pregnancy is accompanied by a metabolic and endocrine restructuring of the female body, aimed at the favorable bearing of the child and its proper development in the womb. By increasing the production of progesterone, the menstrual cycle changes - menstruation stops, the uterine mucosa prepares to receive the fetal egg.

Immediately after fertilization, there may be a small reddish discharge, but they should not become profuse and accompanied by other unpleasant sensations.

This is due to the reaction of the endometrium to the implantation of the embryo.

Sometimes women notice that smearing brownish discharge appears at the time of the next menstruation and regard them as a sign of a failed pregnancy. However, this may be the result of detachment of individual sections of the mucous membrane located below the attached fetal egg.

Any discharge during the onset of pregnancy should alert the woman, especially if they are quite plentiful and have a pronounced bloody character.

Miscarriage

The most unpleasant situation for a woman in early pregnancy is spontaneous abortion, which can lead to miscarriage. But, by paying attention to all the symptoms in time, it can be prevented. So, in the first 22 weeks, an abortion can proceed in the form of several stages:

• Threatening.
• Beginning.
• Abortion is on the way.
• Incomplete and complete.

Bloody discharge appears already at the stage of the threat of termination of pregnancy. At the same time, they will not be abundant, have a dark color and may appear even at the time of the expected menstruation. In addition, abortion is characterized by the appearance of other symptoms that you need to pay close attention to:

• Aching pains in the lower abdomen, which, as the process progresses, become stronger and acquire a cramping character.
• Feeling of pressure on the bladder and rectum.
• Increased urination and defecation.
• Increased tone of the uterus.
• Softening of the cervix and opening of the uterine os.

With an abortion starting, you can still save the pregnancy, but if the detachment of the fetal egg has begun, this will not work. In some cases, there is a delay of a non-viable embryo in the uterine cavity. Then the woman's body temperature rises, there is a risk of severe bleeding.

Preterm birth is accompanied by similar clinical signs, given that contractions appear, amniotic fluid is poured out and the baby moves through the mother's birth canal.

Miscarriage is a serious problem to be aware of when bleeding occurs.

Ectopic pregnancy

If the fetal egg is not attached where it should be, the so-called ectopic pregnancy develops. It can be either ectopic (tubal, abdominal, or ovarian) or cervical. Bloody discharge appears when the fetal egg begins to grow, penetrating into the surrounding tissues and stretching them. Often this becomes a sign of termination of an ectopic pregnancy.

Most often, the embryo is implanted in the lumen of the tube.

In this case, all signs of pregnancy are observed, however, as the size of the fetal egg increases, spotting appears, and later the woman notes pain in the lower abdomen on one side. In this case, there is a danger of rupture of the fallopian tube, when there is intense bleeding and symptoms of an "acute abdomen":

• The pains become diffuse.
• The abdominal muscles are tense.
• Symptoms of peritoneal irritation are noted.
• Palpation of the abdomen and gynecological examination are painful.

No less dangerous is cervical pregnancy, when the fetal egg begins to penetrate into the vessels. Since this part of the uterus is not intended for implantation of the embryo, a scarlet discharge occurs, which is associated with the danger of severe bleeding.

Early detection of ectopic pregnancy will allow for timely surgical intervention, which is the only way to preserve the health of a woman.

Pathology of the placenta

Bloody discharge during pregnancy can be the result of placental complications - its presentation or detachment. Such conditions are a complex obstetric pathology that requires timely medical intervention.

The location of the placenta in the area of ​​the uterine os is always accompanied by bleeding, the intensity of which depends on the type of presentation: complete, partial or marginal. Scarlet discharge, as a rule, appears among complete well-being or after physical activity (defecation, sexual intercourse). Recurrence of bleeding is characteristic.

In the case of premature detachment, spotting does not always occur.

This is most often observed in the peripheral type, when the edges of the placenta begin to be rejected. If the central part of the placenta exfoliates, the blood first collects in the formed pocket, and then soaks the uterine wall. In any case, the following signs will be characteristic:

• Pain at the site of detachment.
• Increased tone of the uterus.
• Violation of the condition of the fetus.
• Admixture of blood in the amniotic fluid.

With massive blood loss, there are signs of hemorrhagic shock and disorders of the coagulation system, and if more than half of the placenta exfoliates, fetal death.

Placental complications can cause life-threatening conditions for the life of the mother and fetus. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the pathology in time in order to take effective measures to eliminate it.

Bloody discharge during pregnancy can also be the result of another pathology - cervical erosion, trauma, tumors or inflammatory diseases. Most of them existed in a woman even before the conception of a child, but were not cured in a timely manner.

Depending on the disease, both slight brownish discharge (with erosion) and uterine bleeding (with injuries, tumors) are observed.

Treatment

With the appearance of spotting at any stage of pregnancy, it is necessary first of all to establish their cause.

If such a condition is not associated with physiological factors, it is necessary to begin treatment immediately after the diagnosis is established, since the life of the unborn child and the health of the woman may depend on this.

Taking into account the revealed pathology, conservative and surgical methods of treatment are applied.

conservative methods

Conservative methods mainly involve the use of drugs. The intake of drugs should be based on the standards of treatment of obstetric and gynecological pathology, the individual characteristics of the body of the pregnant woman and clinical expediency.

In all cases, it is necessary to take into account the effect of drugs on the condition of the fetus. Depending on the situation, the use of such drugs is justified:

• Antispasmodics (No-shpa).
• Hemostatic (Etamzilat, Aminocaproic acid).
• progesterone preparations.
• Tocolytics (Partusisten).
• Corticosteroids (Dexamethasone).
• Vitamins (E, folic acid).

With severe blood loss, plasma substitutes (Hemodez, Reopoliglyukin) are administered, and in case of anemia, iron preparations (Ferrum-lek, Globiron). If a woman is diagnosed with genital tract infections, antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin) are necessary.

Some medications during pregnancy are best used in the form of vaginal or rectal suppositories.

Any drug can be prescribed only by a doctor. Self-administration of drugs during pregnancy is unacceptable.

In addition to drug treatment, some physiotherapy procedures can also be used for miscarriage:

• Magnesium electrophoresis.
• Electrorelaxation.
• Acupuncture.
• Ozone and barotherapy.

Surgical methods

With the ineffectiveness or inappropriateness of conservative measures, surgical treatment is carried out. The decision on its necessity is made on the basis of the clinical situation. If an abortion is diagnosed in progress, the uterine cavity is scraped to extract the remains of the embryo.

In case of an ectopic pregnancy, endoscopic operations can be performed with the removal of the fetal egg from the abdominal cavity or the lumen of the tube. However, in case of severe internal bleeding, the intervention is carried out with open access - by lower laparotomy.

If a pregnant woman in the later stages has complications from the placenta, especially complete presentation or severe abruption, a caesarean section has to be performed, since in these cases natural birth is not possible.

Of particular danger is cervical pregnancy, the development of which can become a threat to the life of the mother due to massive and uncontrolled bleeding. In this case, unfortunately, it will not be possible to save the uterus.

If uterine polyps are detected in the first trimester, their endoscopic removal is possible without harm to the fetus. If a woman is concerned about spotting due to erosion, you can use the following minimally invasive techniques:

• Cryotherapy.
• laser treatment.
• Electrocoagulation.
• Radio wave therapy.

In many advanced cases, surgery becomes the only method of treating pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner, when it is still possible to achieve success from conservative therapy.

Bloody discharge in a pregnant woman is an insidious sign that requires a thorough examination to find out the true cause. Correct and timely treatment tactics will preserve the health of the mother and the life of the unborn baby.

The outflow of blood from the genital tract during the bearing of a baby is a very dangerous symptom, especially in the early stages. This clinical sign can be the first signal of the development of many pathologies.

What causes bleeding during pregnancy?

During its intrauterine development, the fetus shares a common circulatory system with the mother. This feature is inherent in nature. In the first months of its development, the baby does not yet have its own blood vessels that would provide its body with the necessary nutrients and oxygen. They will appear a little later.

At the beginning of pregnancy, the embryo undergoes a very important process, which doctors call organogenesis. During it, the child begins to lay all the vital organs and systems. During this period even minor impacts can lead to very dangerous consequences for its further growth and development.

In the normal course of pregnancy, bleeding from the genital tract in a woman should not be. The appearance of blood on underwear is a warning sign. In some cases, it may indicate the development of dangerous pathologies that may threaten the development of the embryo.

In the first weeks

The appearance of spotting spotting at 4-5 weeks of intrauterine development of the fetus may indicate its successful implantation to the uterine wall. Usually at this time, a woman may have droplets of scarlet blood on her underwear. This symptom for many expectant mothers becomes truly frightening, as they are not yet aware of their new status.

6-7 weeks of pregnancy is usually the time of the first visit to the doctor. During this period, the woman stops menstruating, which leads her to a consultation with a specialist. After a gynecological examination, the expectant mother may experience slight bleeding or separate blood clots. You should not be afraid of this. This symptom will disappear on its own in a couple of days. In this case, physicians It is recommended to limit physical activity and keep calm.

After intercourse

The appearance of blood at 7-8 and subsequent weeks of pregnancy may be after sexual intercourse. In this case, damage to the mucous membrane of the vagina occurs, which leads to the appearance of a small amount of blood on the underwear. Many mothers are afraid of this symptom. You shouldn't be afraid of him. During pregnancy, you should only choose the most gentle postures used during intercourse.

After transvaginal ultrasound

At 10-12 weeks of gestation, the first transvaginal ultrasound is usually performed. It is necessary to identify pathologies in both the developing baby and his mother. This study is carried out on the appointment of an obstetrician-gynecologist who observes a woman during the entire period of her pregnancy.

After this procedure, some women may also experience bleeding from the genital tract. It is usually mild and disappears on its own after a few hours. In certain situations, an ultrasound examination can be performed earlier - at 9-10 weeks of gestation.

The appearance of drops of blood on underwear after a transvaginal ultrasound is most often an independent symptom. Usually this condition occurs without pain. A woman may only have slight discomfort in the genital tract after the examination. It also disappears quite quickly in a few days.

bubble skid

Bubble drift is a pathology that also leads to the death of the fetus. It is characterized replacement of the embryo with connective tissue. The cause of the development of this pathology, unfortunately, the researchers have not yet found. This condition does not pose a threat to the life of a woman. The fetus dies.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a dangerous pathology, which is usually manifested by the development of severe bleeding. This pathology usually manifests itself in women during the first trimester of pregnancy. The extreme degree of this condition is a rupture of the fallopian tube where the fertilized egg is located.

The beginning of the development of tubal pregnancy practically does not differ in any way from the usual one, which takes place in the uterus. The woman also becomes positive pharmacy test for hCG, there is heaviness in the mammary glands and there is a change in mood. All these signs are due to changing hormones that begin to be produced after conception.

The peculiarity of this pathology is only that the embryo is not implanted in the uterine wall, but remains in the tube. Such growth of the fetus is not provided for by nature, therefore it does not have further development. This leads to the fact that the woman starts bleeding heavily, which leads to a further miscarriage.

This condition usually causes numerous adverse symptoms in a woman. Some patients even lose consciousness. The intensity of the pain syndrome can be very pronounced. To reduce pain, the administration of painkillers is required, preferably by the parenteral route.

In this case, timely hospitalization is indispensable. Delay in transportation to the hospital can lead to the development of extremely dangerous complications. In the hospital, doctors remove all components of the fetal egg from the epididymis. Quite often, the entire fallopian tube is removed.

"Frozen" pregnancy

Frozen pregnancy is another pathological condition that can develop in early pregnancy. Quite often, it manifests itself in the second or third month from the moment the baby is conceived.

This pathology is characterized by the embryo under the influence of any reasons simply ceases to fully develop. This can be determined using special hormonal tests, as well as during ultrasound.

During the termination of pregnancy, a woman's symptoms begin to change. She feels much less soreness in her breasts. In some cases, she develops pain in the abdomen, which only increases over time. This condition is also characterized by an increase in temperature. Usually its values ​​​​do not exceed 37.5 degrees.

Cervical erosion

Cervical erosion is one of the most common pathologies in the female population. It can occur even in women who have not given birth. Numerous factors lead to the development of this pathology.

Many cervical erosion doctors try to treat even before the onset of conception. Such therapy allows to achieve epithelialization of the mucous membranes and reduce the risk of possible complications during pregnancy. However, this does not always work out.

Many future mothers learn about the presence of this pathological condition in them only during pregnancy. In this case, any traumatic effects can contribute to the release of blood from the genital tract. These include: ultrasound, deep gynecological examination, sex, injuries, infections.

As a rule, doctors during pregnancy with cervical erosion are guided by expectant tactics, limiting the possibility of surgical treatment. If it is impossible to do without such therapy, then it is carried out only according to strict medical indications.

Polyposis

Polyposis is quite common in women. Many expectant mothers neglect the importance of treating this pathology before pregnancy. This is absolutely false! The background changing under the influence of hormones promotes the growth of polyps, which can lead to infection and even separation. Such situations, as a rule, are accompanied by bleeding.

Its severity depends on how large the detached formations were. Quite often, this pathology manifests itself at 11-13 weeks of pregnancy. It is still worth treating polyposis before pregnancy, as this is a rather lengthy process that requires mandatory rehabilitation time.

Phlebeurysm

Varicose veins are another pathology that leads to the development of bleeding from the genital tract. Usually its severity is moderate.

This pathology is accompanied by the development of other causes as well. In some women, varicose veins can also be seen on the legs. Rupture of the thin varicose wall of the uterine blood vessel and leads to the outflow of blood from the genital tract.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases can also lead to the development of erosive forms of pathologies. When exacerbated, they are accompanied by various types of bleeding.

During pregnancy it is essential immunity decreases, which leads to the activation of many sexually transmitted diseases and their rapid development. Treatment in this case is carried out in conjunction with a venereologist. Drug therapy may be required to eliminate adverse symptoms.

Spontaneous abortion

Spontaneous abortion is another, no less dangerous clinical situation. Usually it proceeds against the background of complete well-being. A woman has a strong pain syndrome, localized mainly in the lower third of the abdomen. The pain can also spread to the anal area, as well as to the thighs. The pain syndrome is usually unbearable. From pain, a woman can moan, scream.

If the bleeding is massive, then she may also faint or lose consciousness. A woman develops severe dizziness, and general weakness is rapidly increasing. In this case, emergency hospitalization is required.

In this case, it is impossible to do without removing the fetal egg from the uterus. This procedure is carried out by gynecologists. After the operation, the woman is given recommendations and prescribed medications.

Symptoms

The intensity of the severity of clinical signs may be different. It largely depends on the situation that caused the development of bleeding. The severity also determines the amount of blood lost.

There are a number of clinical situations where losses become chronic. This usually happens if a woman has any diseases of the reproductive organs.

Many infectious pathologies and erosive processes occurring in the uterus can also lead to the development of bleeding. In this case, blood accumulates between its layers and the future forming placenta. As a rule, in this situation, a woman notices only the appearance of drops of blood on the linen.

Persistent spotting causes her to develop an anemic condition, accompanied by a decrease in hemoglobin. This condition adversely affects the intrauterine growth of the fetus, and can also lead to the formation of a number of defects and developmental anomalies in it.

Quite often, it happens that bleeding from the genital tract begins in pregnant women after taking a bath or a hot shower. This leads to a strong expansion of blood vessels under the influence of high temperature.

Various traumatic effects or intense physical exercise can also provoke the outflow of blood. Some women noted that they had bleeding from the vagina after lifting weights.

In some cases, blood on linen also appears when visiting the toilet. In this case, it is imperative to determine the source of bleeding. If blood is released directly during urination, then the cause may be associated with pathologies of the kidneys or urinary tract. Often, an exacerbation of chronic cystitis leads to the appearance of blood streaks in the urine.

Severe bleeding leads to severe anemization of the woman. This is manifested even in the change in its appearance. The skin becomes pale, cold to the touch. Lips turn blue. The area under the eyes and the zone of the nasolabial triangle acquire a gray color.

The woman begins to feel a rapid heartbeat. It's getting harder for her to breathe. This is how the lack of oxygen is manifested, which is caused by anemia that has arisen due to severe blood loss.

When a fetus dies in the womb, a woman experiences pain in her stomach. Its intensity increases every minute. For some women, even taking painkillers and antispasmodics in this condition does not lead to an improvement in well-being. The severity of the condition progresses every minute.

During pregnancy, when the full attachment of the body begins, it often happens that bleeding occurs. Bloody discharge during pregnancy can occur both at an early and at a later date. Most often, this indicates that the pregnancy proceeds with some kind of deviation.

The main causes of pathology

The reasons for which there may be allocations are always different and they depend on how long this happens. If qualified and timely treatment is not carried out, then the consequences can be irreparable, such as premature birth, miscarriage, etc.

For the first time, blood clots can begin as early as the first day of pregnancy. This happens at a time when the fertilized egg strengthens in the wall of the uterus. They are usually scarce, they can go a week, ten days before the start of the expected menstruation, the next cycle.

When pregnancy spotting begins, a girl may be confused, thinking that her period is starting, she is not pregnant.

It's dangerous - go to the doctor

These discharges are usually dark brown in color. They can appear thick, scanty, do not last long, often they end earlier than normal periods. This can happen with hormonal disruptions in the body, but it happens even during pregnancy.

Blood may appear as early as the first day of the delay, this may mean a possible miscarriage. When a miscarriage occurs -. The more often and more abundantly blood appears, the less likely it is to keep the pregnancy.

Every woman should remember that when there is bloody, brown discharge, it is a threat or a miscarriage that has already begun. With timely assistance, there is a great chance of bearing a healthy child.

Another reason for spotting during early pregnancy is a frozen or non-developing pregnancy. It is quite difficult to diagnose such a situation, more often it can be determined only after the fourth, fifth week of pregnancy, when the heartbeat begins to be heard in the embryo.

Non-developing fetus

Therefore, on an ultrasound examination with such a diagnosis, the heartbeat will be absent. At this point, spontaneous miscarriage may occur. But if you wait for such an outcome, inflammation may begin in the uterus, so experts immediately prescribe a cleaning of the uterine cavity.

Also, the cause of spotting that begins during pregnancy can be an ectopic pregnancy. This is one of the worst reasons. It is urgent to contact the experts. If you are given just such a diagnosis, this suggests that the pregnancy will soon be terminated in any case. The fetus will develop, break through the fallopian tube. This creates a threat to the life of the mother. After such consequences, the pipe cannot be restored and this can lead to infertility.

This happens if implantation occurs incorrectly, as a result of which the fetal egg begins to exfoliate. It's not worth waiting for anything. If you are registered, the doctor will immediately determine what happened. If you have not yet registered, with the onset of bleeding, you should immediately seek help and clarify the causes of such phenomena.

Ectopic pregnancy

There can also be many reasons why spotting can begin during pregnancy in the third trimester. If blood appears in the later stages of about 39, 40 weeks, dark brown or mixed with mucus, you will soon need to prepare for childbirth. But in the second there are only a few reasons - it is either the placenta is in presentation, or its detachment has occurred. In the first case, the doctor during the examination and ultrasound during pregnancy detects placenta previa (this is approximately at the beginning of the second trimester, according to a routine examination).

Presentation is complete and partial. In both cases, bleeding occurs, and in the second and third trimester. If a partial presentation is found, then most likely the placenta will “move” into the uterus on its own to the desired level, as it grows. In the second case, placental abruption is likely to occur, this can be dangerous for both the expectant mother and the child, as it leads to large blood loss.

But it happens that there is no presentation, just when the PDR (estimated date of birth) approaches, there may be bloody streaks along with mucus, that is, a mucous plug comes out. For some women, it can go as early as three to four weeks before giving birth. At the same time, childbirth can continue throughout the day.

Another reason why there may be bleeding, we will consider in the table.

It makes no sense to be afraid of an examination on a gynecological chair, the doctor always carefully examines his patient. And if there are no pathologies during gestation, then examinations will be rare from one to three times during the entire pregnancy.

Bloody discharge at the beginning of pregnancy at about 4 - 5 and up to 10 weeks in women occurs very often, but this is not always considered a deviation from the norm. A similar situation occurs in 75% of pregnant women.

What happens to the female body?

Allocations in the first trimester are considered almost normal if the woman does not experience any additional unpleasant symptoms. There can be many reasons for the appearance of discharge. Active blood supply to the internal genital organs, their excessive sensitivity. This can happen when performing ultrasound examinations with a vaginal probe or when examining on a chair with a mirror.

It is also not uncommon to bleed after sexual intercourse. There is irritation of the cervix, the mucous membrane of the vagina. When a small detachment of the placenta occurs, a lot of blood accumulates around it, the discharge appears, and they are pink.

Bloody discharge in early pregnancy can happen at a time when menstruation usually occurs, the body has not yet fully got used to it. There may be pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen. With the release of a brown tint in the body, the formation of hematomas is possible.

One of the rarest cases when the cause of the discharge is a hydatidiform mole - the placental tissue grows. The discharge is profuse but not painful. After this, the fetus most often freezes.

How to avoid bleeding in some cases:

• wear comfortable clothes, underwear that does not hinder your movements;
• do not use scented, dye-containing personal care products;
• observe daily hygiene of the genital organs;
• see a doctor.

It often happens that the discharge is associated with infectious diseases. Consultation and subsequent treatment is necessary. Considering that in the middle of the cycle, spotting usually does not pose a particular threat to the baby and the pregnant woman, you should not neglect safety and it is better to contact specialists on time.

Further actions of the woman

In order to start any treatment, it is necessary to determine why the bleeding occurred, for what reason there was spotting during pregnancy (whether early or in the second trimester). In any case, you should immediately contact a gynecologist. He will conduct a series of diagnostic procedures to help you identify the cause.

1. The specialist will usually take a swab from the vagina.
2. A pregnant woman is invited to take a general, biochemical blood test.
3. Conducted coagulogram.
4. They take blood for HIV infection.
5. Hepatitis C, B.
6. Testing for infectious diseases.
7. Analysis of urine.
8. An ultrasound of the fetus, small pelvis is performed.

Can be detected with a blood test

Then, depending on what pathology the doctor found, additional tests and treatment are prescribed. If a miscarriage occurs, the following tests are performed:

• blood for the level of hCG hormone;
• TORCH infection (herpes, rubella, etc.);
• smear to detect infections that are sexually transmitted.

With a similar phenomenon in the last trimester, it is enough to conduct an ultrasound examination. In no case should you treat yourself, it can be dangerous. Even with a favorable set of circumstances, it is necessary to determine the cause in order to subsequently bear a healthy child.

Probably, almost every expectant mother is worried about spotting in the early stages of pregnancy, which does not always require medical treatment, and moreover, is not a pathology, because. some of them can even be considered normal for this period.

How to distinguish normal from pathological discharge at the beginning of pregnancy?

The first thing to do with the appearance of minor spotting in early pregnancy is to pay attention to their color and consistency.

The norm for the first weeks of pregnancy is mild, whitish, slightly pinkish, odorless discharge, which begins to be released as a result of the work of hormones responsible for maintaining pregnancy.

Often they are similar to menstrual, may be red or brown, but not nearly as abundant. In most cases, this is due to the fact that during this period the body still “remembers” the days when menstrual bleeding occurred, so spotting is possible. This is not dangerous, provided that you are not bothered by any pain.

Sometimes a woman may feel minor spasms, but in most cases this process is painless. If 1 week has passed since conception and you observe such discharge in yourself, there is no reason for concern. But going to the doctor is a prerequisite, because it is important to make sure the fetus is safe, and in many cases such discharge can be "harbingers"

Another "known" cause of spotting in early pregnancy can be called cervical erosion. The thing is that at this time, blood flow to the uterus increases, which provokes bleeding from the mucous membrane of her neck, which can, in principle, be compared with an inflamed ulcer. Sexual intercourse can also provoke the appearance of such secretions, but at the same time they are painless and pass quite quickly on their own.

Also among the known causes of spotting in early pregnancy may be the presence of polyps in the cervical canal. Also, as in the previous case, such discharge is insignificant in volume and absolutely painless. Their appearance is also possible with varicose expansion of blood vessels in the external genital organs.

What else can bloody mucous discharge in early pregnancy mean?

This kind of phenomenon at the beginning of pregnancy is very dangerous, both for the life of the expectant mother and for the fetus. As can be seen from the above, the reasons for their appearance are quite diverse. At the same time, discharge can be not only a manifestation of the pathology of the cervix, but also indicate oncological formations in the reproductive organs.

So, if in the first weeks of pregnancy you observe brown discharge (popularly known as "daub"), this may be a sign of a small so missed or ectopic pregnancy(often a miscarriage can start this way).

Often, to diagnose pathologies in the early stages, a transvaginal ultrasound is performed, after which spotting is observed, which is small in volume. They appear as a result of injury to the vaginal mucosa, therefore, they do not bear any negative consequences for the expectant mother.

Thus, before taking any action, the doctor must accurately determine the cause of spotting in the early stages. After all, they are not always a sign of a violation and require medical intervention.

For a non-pregnant woman, spotting is a normal and natural phenomenon, an indispensable component of the reproductive cycle. Every month, many blood and lymphatic vessels form in the endometrium of the uterus, thanks to which it becomes soft and thick. When the cycle is wasted, the thickened mucosa is no longer needed, so it is shed, causing bleeding. But if the egg was fertilized by a sperm, the endometrium turns into a cozy bed for the future embryo. And then the rules disappear until the end of pregnancy.

If blood from the genitals suddenly appears during the bearing of a child, this is a sign that the pregnancy is at risk.

In what situations does spotting occur during pregnancy?

When spotting during pregnancy is a normal option

In the first months, spotting during pregnancy can be a variant of the norm if the body still “does not know” about the conception that has occurred. This can happen for several reasons.

The most common of them is that the fetal egg simply did not have time to reach the endometrium, gain a foothold and produce hormones that give the body a signal of pregnancy. The body continues to function normally and starts the "program" of menstruation.

Another scenario is the lack of hormones that the placenta produces. In this case, menstruation occurs at the usual time, as if there is no pregnancy.

The third situation, although rare, occurs: two eggs ripen in the ovaries at once and one of them is fertilized, and the second is rejected and causes menstruation.

All three cases do not pose a threat to either the baby or the mother. In the first trimester of pregnancy, bleeding caused by the above factors is usually scanty and usually painless.

Frozen pregnancy and the threat of miscarriage

In the early stages, women are most afraid of a missed pregnancy or miscarriage. Allocations with an admixture of blood may indicate the presence of these pathologies.

A missed pregnancy is a variant of miscarriage, in which the embryo stops developing and dies. But it also happens that the development of the embryo does not occur, although extra-embryonic organs continue to form. As a result, an empty fetal egg is formed. The risk of a missed pregnancy is increased at 3-4, 8-11 and 16-18 weeks, of which the 8th week is considered the most critical.

In addition to spotting, during pregnancy of a frozen type, there are often no other external signs, but symptoms such as cramping pains in the lower abdomen, chills, feeling unwell, and fever are possible. In this case, the doctor performs an ultrasound and a blood test for hCG. As a result of stopping the development of the embryo, as a rule, a spontaneous miscarriage occurs, but if this does not happen, medical abortion, curettage or vacuum aspiration is used to expel the fetal egg from the uterine cavity.

There are situations when, during the normal course of pregnancy for some time, the mother’s body still begins to get rid of the embryo: uterine hypertonicity occurs, the fetal egg exfoliates, and a miscarriage occurs. The reason for this condition may be improper attachment of the embryo, low levels of hormones, extreme psychological and physical stress. In the event of a threatened miscarriage, spotting during pregnancy is the surest symptom, they are accompanied by pulling and stabbing pains in the lower back or lower abdomen. But practice shows that if a woman receives medical care on time, the child can be saved.

Bloody discharge during ectopic pregnancy

The most tragic course of events is associated with the development of an ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg does not descend into the uterine cavity, but is attached to its tube, ovary or abdominal cavity. Since these organs are not designed to carry a baby, excessive stretching and tearing of tissues occurs. In our country, this pathology occurs in one pregnant woman out of a hundred.

Bloody discharge during pregnancy of an ectopic type, as a rule, smearing, dark, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the anus. If the fallopian tube ruptures, the pain will be acute and unbearable, the woman may lose consciousness, and the discharge will turn into profuse bleeding.

Another scenario is internal bleeding, in which pressure drops, weakness, pain, and vomiting appear. This condition requires immediate surgery.

An ectopic pregnancy leaves no chance for the baby and threatens the life of the mother. With its symptoms, it is similar to a miscarriage, so it is important for a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. This is done using an ultrasound of the pelvic organs with a transvaginal probe.

With any spotting during pregnancy in the early stages, the uterus is examined for the presence of a fetal egg, and then, if necessary, diagnostic laparoscopy is performed. If suspicions are justified, the fetal egg is excised. Today, in some cases, this can be done without removing the fallopian tube and, accordingly, with the preservation of full reproductive capabilities.

Bloody discharge in the second and third trimester of pregnancy

Bloody discharge during pregnancy at this stage of fetal development requires urgent hospitalization, since their cause is usually partial or complete abruption of the placenta. Pathology is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and hypertonicity of the uterus. The good news for women is that with a small detachment, the pregnancy can still be saved and the baby can be carried to a safe term. But this is only possible with urgent medical attention.

Another possible cause of bleeding is placenta previa and exercise contractions. These two factors can cause rupture of the vessels connecting the fetal bladder and uterus. If bleeding during pregnancy is too heavy, the obstetrician may recommend a caesarean section. In itself, the low location of the placenta also often becomes an indication for operative delivery, since such a presentation often prevents the fetus from passing through the birth canal.

Based on this, it is quite simple to conclude: for any spotting during pregnancy, a woman should urgently consult a doctor and undergo an ultrasound examination. Her life and the life of the unborn child may depend on this.

Text: Marina Kudryavtseva

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