Can you bleed heavily during early pregnancy

Placenta previa occurs where the placenta is either wholly or in part inserted into the lower part of the uterus and covering the cervix. One of the signs of placenta previa is bleeding after 28 weeks.

Diagnosis of placenta previa is by ultrasound. If you are diagnosed with placenta previa, your baby will usually be born by caesarean section. This is when part or all of the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before the birth of your baby. The amount of bleeding varies, as does the impact on your baby. Treatment may involve monitoring you and your baby, bed rest, or, in more serious cases, the early birth of your baby.

It can take some time for your doctor to be sure of what the bleeding means. You may need a number of tests, which could include:. Both placenta previa and placental abruption can cause heavy bleeding of bright red blood from the vagina.

A vaginal examination is often used to help diagnose placental abruption, but could trigger heavier bleeding in the case of placenta previa. Therefore, an ultrasound scan should always be taken first, and digital finger vaginal examinations should be strictly avoided in the case of placenta previa.

Tests used to diagnose placenta previa include:. Having ruled out placenta previa using the tests above, a digital vaginal examination may be used to identify placental abruption. The bleeding may be light and stop in a day or two. Many people go on to have a healthy baby at full term after such a bleed. However, sometimes the bleeding becomes heavy and a miscarriage is likely to happen. While you still need to see a doctor, in such circumstances there is no emergency care that will save your pregnancy.

Sometimes, during a miscarriage, some of the pregnancy tissue may remain inside the uterus. This can lead to very heavy bleeding if it is not treated. Your doctor will tell you if you need further treatment. If you are Rhesus Rh negative if you have a negative blood type , you may require an injection of anti-D immunoglobulin to prevent problems related to possible blood incompatibility in future pregnancies.

You may feel a range of emotions over this time. Your body will be going through changes in hormone levels and this can make you feel very emotional. It may help to talk to family or friends. While there is no specific treatment to prevent a miscarriage, things you can do that may help include:. If you are finding your mood remains low for an extended period of time, you may be experiencing depression and require the assistance of a professional.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. In Victoria, you can have two types of abortion: surgical and medication. Both types are safe and reliable. You can have a medication abortion up to nine weeks of pregnancy. You can have a surgical abortion from around six weeks of pregnancy onwards.

Pregnant women with asthma need to continue to take their asthma medication as it is important to the health of both mother and baby that the mother's asthma is well managed.

Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period, not from the date of conception. If you have bleeding or any of the symptoms above, contact your midwife or GP straightaway. An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb — for example, in the fallopian tube. It can cause bleeding and is dangerous because the fertilised egg can't develop properly outside the womb.

The egg has to be removed, which can be done through an operation or with medicines. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy tend to develop in the 6th week of pregnancy but can happen later. This is when the plug of mucus that has been in the cervix during pregnancy comes away, signalling that the cervix is getting ready for labour to start. It may happen a few days before contractions start or during labour itself. Find out about the signs of labour and what happens in labour.

This is a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the womb wall. Placental abruption usually causes stomach pain, and this may occur even if there is no bleeding. This is when the placenta is attached in the lower part of the womb, near to or covering the cervix. Bleeding from a low-lying placenta can be very heavy, and put you and your baby at risk.

You may be advised to go into hospital for emergency treatment, and a caesarean section will usually be recommended. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has more information on placenta praevia. This is a rare condition where the baby's blood vessels run through the membranes covering the cervix. When your waters break, these vessels may be torn and cause vaginal bleeding.

Abstaining from sex for a few weeks after a miscarriage due to a risk of infection is also a good idea. A simple blood test can be used to detect potential issues with your hormones or immune system. Other blood tests can be done on you and your partner to see if genetics are a factor.

Testing for uterine problems may also be recommended. But staying healthy while trying to conceive — and while pregnant — is definitely the best approach. By the end of week 12, your chances of miscarriage drop considerably. Wellness Articles. Experiencing spotting or bleeding during your first trimester?