Once you learn that you are pregnant, you will be thrilled and your journey of pregnancy will start to begin. On the other hand, if you see any bleeding during your pregnancy, you will begin to worry. Early pregnancy bleeding is common, especially in the first trimester. Let’s examine further into the blog to have a detailed look at early pregnancy bleeding.
What is early pregnancy bleeding:
Early pregnancy bleeding is a distressing symptom for which the new mom and her family need reassurance and diagnosis.20% to 40% of pregnant women experience bleeding during the first trimester. If you are pregnant and have vaginal bleeding, you should consult your obstetrician at the early pregnancy stage and identify the cause of the bleeding. It is essential to consult your obstetrician because vaginal bleeding may be the first sign of a problem.
Causes of early pregnancy bleeding:
Some of the major causes of early pregnancy bleeding are
Miscarriage– When you first spot bleeding, you might assume it’s an indication of a miscarriage. However, bleeding during the initial trimester does not always indicate that you have miscarried or may miscarry. Hence consult your obstetrician for a clear view of the cause.
Ectopic pregnancy– The fertilized embryo implants outside of the uterus in an ectopic pregnancy, usually in the fallopian tube. The fallopian tube bursts as a result of the embryo’s growth in an ectopic pregnancy causing severe bleeding, which can be dangerous.
Molar pregnancy– It is a rare condition in which abnormal tissue develops inside the uterus rather than a baby. Sometimes this tissue can be cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body.
Implantation bleeding-This bleeding may be seen in the very early weeks of pregnancy and may be related to Endometrial implantation (implantation in the lining of the uterus). It is usually just spotting.
Additional causes–Rare cases include cervical and vaginal infection, cervical polyps, and very rarely malignancy(types of cancer found during pregnancy).
In rare cases, if there is no evidence of intrauterine or extrauterine pregnancy on transvaginal ultrasound(TVS) and no obvious retained products of conception then it is called pregnancy of unknown location.
How to manage early pregnancy bleeding:
When you spot bleeding, confirm your pregnancy first by β HCG(Blood test ) and USG(ultrasound scan). Follow-up β HCG and USG monitoring may be advised depending on the discriminatory zone. It is essential to locate the pregnancy and rule out ectopic pregnancy which when missed could be catastrophic. Rh-negative mothers can be taken into consideration for antiD (antibody injection)
Depending on the severity of the bleeding and the condition of the mother, further management is advised(either outpatient or inpatient). Based on the diagnosis, your obstetrician will devise an individual plan depending on the cause, and treatment will be given. Threatened miscarriage is treated expectantly, although they have an increased risk of future complications.
To conclude:
Thus, early pregnancy bleeding can cause tremendous stress and anxiety to the mom and her family. The situation can be managed safely in a sensitive way if you get help at the earliest and follow your obstetrician’s advice closely after understanding the risks of the situation, but approach your issue with an optimistic attitude.
