Bleeding during pregnancy may not be a problem in the first few weeks of pregnancy but if bleeding happens in the second or third trimester, it can indicate a serious problem. If a woman suffers from bleeding during pregnancy, she should be careful and immediately meet a medical practitioner and get examined.
First Trimester
In the first trimester, the fetus is implanted and bleeding can happen in any of the following conditions.
1. Miscarriage: Pregnant women could have vaginal bleeding, which can cause pain and cramps. If the cramps are strong during the bleeding, it can be due to a tissue passing through the vagina. Sometimes, it can be a sign of miscarriage and it happens when the pregnancy is not healthy.
2. Ectopic pregnancies: If the fetus is implanted improperly outside the fallopian tube, it can cause miscarriage. Other symptoms are cramps in the lower abdomen and bleeding. It happens in case, the woman's fallopian tube was infected or if she previously had an ectopic pregnancy.
3. Molar pregnancy: Early bleeding can occur during molar pregnancy, as abnormal tissues grows inside the uterus, which can be shaped in the form of grapes like structure inside the uterus and it can be seen in an ultrasound. The condition is called gestational trophoblastic disease. The symptoms of GTD are absence of heart beat of the fetus and bleeding.
4. Implantation bleeding: It is faced by all women and it happens some six to twelve days after conception. It can be very light spot bleeding or it may happen for few hours.
5. Infection: Infections in the uterus can cause bleeding.
6. Sex during pregnancy: Women in the initial few months may bleed because the cervix is very sensitive in the initial months but a normal intercourse may not cause miscarriage.
Second trimester and third trimester
1. Inflammation of cervix: In the second trimester, minor bleeding happens if the cervix is inflamed. If a woman suffers from bleeding in the second or third trimester, she should immediately contact a medical practioner.
2. Detachment of the placenta from the uterine walls can cause bleeding and it is a problem faced by only one percent of women.
Cause of placenta abruption
1. Women above thirty-five years
2. Sickle cell anemia
3. Hypertension or high blood pressure
4. Injuries to stomach
5. Use of drugs such as cocaine
6. Women who has children previously
Placenta previa: It happens when the placenta is position too low. A Woman may suffer from placenta previa, if she
1. has children previously, or
2. underwent surgery of uterus, or
3. carries twins or multiple fetus, or
4. Had previous cesarean birth.
Preterm labor: Preterm labor can happen in the third trimester and bleeding can be caused by preterm labor. If the labor starts many weeks before the due date, the mucus plug may pass through the vagina and it may have blood.
Symptoms of Preterm Labor are
1. Vaginal discharge in the form of water, mucus or blood
2. Pain in lower abdomen, backache, cramps and contractions
