There are many reasons for bleeding in early pregnancy, including possible miscarriage. A less common reason for bleeding in the early weeks of pregnancy is an ectopic (also called a tubal) pregnancy, but often there is an innocent cause for you to experience bleeding in early pregnancy
Spotting from the cervix can sometimes follow intercourse, straining on the toilet, or even after heavy lifting.
If you do have bleeding in early pregnancy – don’t panic.
Unless you have very heavy bleeding or are in severe pain, it’s not likely to be an emergency.
You should put on a pad, and call and make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will discuss your medical history with you, possible due dates, your last period dates and examine your abdomen. If you are more than 6 weeks gestation, I will conduct a vaginal ultrasound to check the heartbeat of your baby.
Before 6 weeks gestation, an ultrasound is of limited use as the heartbeat might not yet be present.
If you have early pregnancy bleeding, blood tests can help with checking for HCG levels. The blood tests are repeated over a few days to look at and review the HCG levels in your blood. This information can provide more information for your doctor.
If you are more than 6 weeks pregnant, a heartbeat will be present within a gestation sack inside your uterus. If no heartbeat is present, we will repeat the scan in a week – in case your due dates were not correct.
After this, we must suspect the possibility of ectopic or tubal pregnancy.
If you need an appointment to discuss any of these reasons for bleeding in early pregnancy, call the rooms or contact us today.
Author: Dr Peter England, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.
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