Bleeding During Pregnancy

Bleeding or spotting during pregnancy can be scary, but it's common and not always a cause for alarm.

Early in pregnancy, spotting can signal implantation of the fetus in the lining of the uterus, or it may signal a health issue. During mid- to late-pregnancy, bleeding or spotting can be a sign of a problem, or the beginning of labor.

Still, it's important to see your health care provider right away if you experience any vaginal bleeding or spotting during your pregnancy.

Looking for Care for Bleeding During Pregnancy?  

On this page:  

• What Is Bleeding During Pregnancy?  
• What Are the Symptoms of Bleeding During Pregnancy?  
• How Do You Diagnose Bleeding During Pregnancy? 
• How Do You Treat Bleeding During Pregnancy?  

What Is Bleeding During Pregnancy? 

Doctors define bleeding during pregnancy as any bloody discharge from the vagina. Bleeding or spotting can happen anytime during your pregnancy — from the time you get pregnant to right before you give birth.

It’s important to know the difference between bleeding and spotting so you can describe what’s happening to your health care provider.

How you can tell bleeding and spotting apart:

• Spotting — Light bleeding. Having a few drops of blood in your panties is considered spotting. Spotting is so light that the amount of blood wouldn’t cover a panty liner.
• Bleeding — When the blood flow is heavier. When you need to wear a panty liner or pad to keep the blood from soaking your panties, that's considered bleeding.

How common is bleeding during pregnancy?

Bleeding and spotting during pregnancy are common. Bleeding in the first trimester happens in up to 25% of pregnancies.

What causes bleeding during pregnancy?

The cause of bleeding and spotting during pregnancy may depend on how far along you are.

Causes of bleeding in early pregnancy

Some spotting or bleeding is normal in early pregnancy and may not be a problem.

Bleeding or spotting in the first trimester (weeks 1 through 12) can be caused by:

• Certain types of prenatal testing, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). These tests check for genetic issues passed down to the baby from both parents.
• Changes to your cervix, which is the opening to the uterus that sits at the top of the vagina.
• Having sex.
• Hormonal changes.
• Implantation, when a fertilized egg (embryo) attaches to the lining of the uterus (womb) and begins to grow. Implantation bleeding typically occurs 10 to 14 days after conception.
• Infection.
• Smoking cigarettes. It’s best to stop before or as soon as you know you’re pregnant.

But sometimes, bleeding or spotting in the first trimester can be a sign of a serious problem, like:

• Ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus.
• Miscarriage, when the baby dies in the womb before 20 weeks' gestation.
• Molar pregnancy, a rare condition causing an abnormal mass to form in the uterus after fertilization.
• Cervical issues, such as infection, inflammation, or growths.

Causes of bleeding in mid- to late-pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding in the second (week 13 through 27) and third (week 28 until birth) trimesters can also be caused by different factors.

These include:

• An internal exam by your health care provider.
• Having sex.
• Labor.
• Problems with your cervix, like infection, growths, inflammation (painful, swollen, red, or irritated cervix), or cervical insufficiency (when your cervix opens too early).

Bleeding or spotting in the second or third trimesters may be a sign of a serious problem, like:

• Cervical cancer.
• Intrauterine fetal death.
• Placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine wall.
• Placenta previa.
• Preterm labor.
• Uterine rupture, a rare condition that occurs when the uterus tears open along a scar line from a previous cesarean section (C-section).

It's normal to experience light vaginal bleeding, sometimes mixed with mucus, as labor begins.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bleeding During Pregnancy? 

Spotting and bleeding during pregnancy are common, so you'll need to keep track of your bleeding in case your provider wants to know.

You should note:

• How heavy your bleeding is.
• If it gets heavier or lighter.
• How many pads you are using.
• The color of the blood (brown, dark red, or bright red).

Don’t use a tampon, douche, or have sex when you’re bleeding while pregnant.

When should I see a doctor about my pregnancy bleeding symptoms? 

Call your women's health provider right away at any time during pregnancy or go to the emergency room if you have:

• Bleeding with pain or cramping.
• Dizziness and bleeding.
• Fever of 100.4 degrees (F) and/or chills.
• Heavy bleeding.
• Pain in your belly or pelvis.

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How Do You Diagnose Bleeding During Pregnancy?  

Tell your doctor about any vaginal bleeding you have. Give them the details you tracked because they'll want to know how much blood you lost, what it looked like, and how long the bleeding lasted.

Your doctor will perform a thorough examination of your symptoms and may do a pelvic exam to determine the cause of your bleeding. They may also run tests.

Tests to diagnose bleeding during pregnancy

Your doctor may need to order tests to find the source of the bleeding.

Tests may include:

• Ultrasound — To check the condition of the baby.
• Blood tests — To check your hormone levels.

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How Do You Treat Bleeding During Pregnancy?  

Treatment for vaginal bleeding depends on what's causing it. In less serious cases, your doctor may not be able to determine the source, or it may go away on its own. In more serious cases, you may need treatment.

Treatments for bleeding and spotting during pregnancy include:

• Bed rest.
• Restrictions on exercise and/or activity.
• Surgery.
• Medications to prevent further bleeding or preterm labor.
• C-section delivery.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05.