Bleeding during pregnancy

The last thing you want to see when you are expecting are spots of blood. You automatically assume that the worst is about to happen. While you might have every reason to worry, sometimes bleeding during pregnancy is not necessarily dangerous but could be the body’s natural response to pregnancy. It’s estimated that one in four women experience some form of non-fatal bleeding during pregnancy and the causes of bleeding that happen early in pregnancy are different from the bleeding in late pregnancy. “It’s not only the type or amount of bleeding, but when the bleeding occurs that needs to be taken into account,” says gynaecologist, Dr Haynes van der Merwe.

When should you see a doctor?

According to a maternity and infant expert Professor Robert Pattinson when a pregnant woman bleeds, whether light or heavy, it should be taken seriously because the causes could be a miscarriage, placental abruption, placenta praevia, bleeding and the source is unknown or it could even be the onset of labour.“If heavy, persistent bleeding is followed by strong stomach cramps, this is cause for concern,” he says adding that, it could be an ectopic pregnancy (where the embryo’s implanted on the outside of the uterus) or a molar pregnancy (where a benign tumour or mass forms in the place of a foetus), which is quite rare.

Possible causes for spotting

• Light spotting can sometimes happen when the embryo is implanted into the uterine wall. This is often around the time you would usually expect your period. This is why some women think they are having their period, without realising they’re pregnant.
• Changes in the cervix can also cause light bleeding in early pregnancy. This is due to the increased amount of blood flow in the area.
• Having sex or internal examination can cause bleeding
• A sexually transmitted infection (STI) cervical or vaginal infection like bacterial vaginosis) can also cause bleeding.

Possible causes of heavy bleeding

• In some instances, there may be a clot in the placenta that causes bleeding. This often heals by itself.
• An incompetent cervix can also cause heavier bleeding, so can placenta praevia, which is an obstruction complication, where the placenta in inserted partially or wholly in the lower uterine segment.
• As the body prepares to deliver the baby, you may bleed.
• Some women bleed throughout their pregnancy for unknown reasons. Yet the baby’s still fine and unaffected. But whenever in doubt, call the doctor.