10 Causes of Vaginal Spotting During Pregnancy
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Pregnancy can cause some confusing symptoms, even if you’ve had multiple pregnancies already. When bleeding occurs, people often assume it’s an automatic sign of a miscarriage. These are the other causes of vaginal spotting during pregnancy you should know about if you plan to become pregnant or already are. If you experience any bleeding, talk with your OB-GYN to get advice tailored to your medical history.
Causes of Bleeding During the First Trimester
Bleeding may occur during the first trimester for some people. These are some of the most common causes of vaginal spotting during pregnancy while you’re still waiting for your full baby bump.
1. Uterine Implantation
Fertilized eggs must implant themselves in the uterus to begin fetal development. Researchers found successful implantation occurs in the upper uterine cavity, but some eggs attach lower in the uterus.
When this happens, the egg may not develop successfully, causing some light pregnancy spotting in the first few weeks of a pregnancy. It may even detach and leave the uterus during your next menstrual cycle if your body doesn’t recognize it due to improper implantation.
2. Miscarriage
Vaginal spotting during the first trimester may indicate a miscarriage if it happens along with cramping and heavier bleeding. Your OB-GYN can help you strategize the best ways to support your health and your pregnancy to reduce the odds of this outcome.
Improving your diet with essential nutrients is an excellent way to do both. Nutrients like lutein support cognitive function throughout all stages of fetal development. Antioxidants are also powerful dietary resources that reduce the risk of fetal loss for people who have had multiple miscarriages. Targeting nutrients that are currently lower in your diet could improve your pregnancy’s outcome by strengthening the fetus during each trimester.
3. Subchorionic Hematoma
Sometimes, an embryo only partially attaches to the uterus. It may continue to develop and bleed through the detached membranes unless you get treatment. An ultrasound will help your OB-GYN determine if this is the cause of your vaginal spotting.
If they diagnose you with a subchorionic hematoma, monitoring and bed rest will likely be the best way forward. Some cases require immediate hospitalization. It depends on what your OB-GYN finds during your ultrasound.
4. Ectopic Implantation
If your first trimester bleeding occurs with pain on one side of your pelvis, it might be due to ectopic implantation. Fertilized eggs can attach themselves to the fallopian tubes. As they grow, the pregnant person experiences bleeding and lightheadedness alongside cramping because the tube must expand until it ruptures due to improper implantation.
Although many pictures of spotting during pregnancy happen due to ectopic implantation, you won’t see the ectopic embryo in the blood. Doctors perform numerous types of surgical procedures to remove this type of pregnancy, depending on the development and their patient’s unique condition.
5. Cervical Polyps
Although researchers consider cervical polyps uncommon during pregnancies, they can occur. The typically benign masses grow off the uterine wall and can rupture, causing more severe blood loss. After diagnosing a patient with an ultrasound, an OB-GYN may recommend a premature C-section or medically-induced miscarriage to save the pregnant person’s life.
Reasons for Vagina Spotting During the Second and Third Trimesters
Bleeding or spotting during the final two trimesters of a pregnancy doesn’t automatically indicate preterm labor. It may also happen due to these conditions.
1. Premature Dilation
Naturally shorter cervixes sometimes cause second- or third-trimester bleeding because they can’t maintain the structural integrity necessary to stay closed. It stretches beyond what it can manage as the fetus grows, resulting in premature dilation that leads to early deliveries.
You may not find pictures of spotting during pregnancy involving this dilation because it’s challenging for the untrained eye to spot. You’ll know if this condition is causing your bleeding after your OB-GYN performs a pelvic exam or transvaginal ultrasound.
2. Placental Abruption
A fully developed fetus detaches from the uterine wall as part of the birthing process. When this happens before the end of the third trimester, pregnant patients experience placental abruption. The detachment from the uterine lining causes spotting. Without quick medical care, placental abruption causes 10% of perinatal deaths due to severe bleeding, even in developed countries.
3. Placenta Previa
When fertilized eggs attach at the lower part of the uterine cavity, it may lead to placenta previa in the second or third trimester. This condition causes vaginal spotting during pregnancy because the fetus grows while attached to the cervix. The increasing size of the fetus eventually rips the cervix and uterus, causing severe hemorrhaging, organ damage and hysterectomies.
4. Bloody Show
Anyone experiencing pregnancy spotting in their third trimester should check the blood for mucus. If mucus is present, it may be a condition known as a bloody show. The mucus occurs after the cervix starts to dilate and might be a sign of labor. Get immediate medical assistance to prevent an unintended at-home birth.
5. Miscarriage
The chance of a miscarriage gets lower after the first trimester. Second-trimester miscarriages have a less than 3% chance of happening, which decreases further in the third trimester. However, vaginal spotting during pregnancy in the second or third trimesters could indicate a miscarriage is happening. Always call for immediate medical assistance if this occurs.
Talk With Your OB-GYN About Any Concerns
There are numerous causes of pregnancy spotting, so you should always call your OB-GYN if you experience any bleeding. If they’re unavailable, find a non-emergency clinic or go to your local hospital’s emergency room. Early medical intervention will give you the best possible outcome.