Pregnancy, Bleeding

Fetal Development Slideshow

• Bleeding During Pregnancy Overview
• Bleeding During Pregnancy Causes
• Bleeding During Pregnancy Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Bleeding During Pregnancy Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Bleeding During Pregnancy Overview

Because bleeding during all phases of pregnancy may be dangerous, you should call your health care provider if you have any signs of vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding is any blood coming from your vagina (the canal leading from the uterus to the external genitals). This usually refers to abnormal bleeding not associated with a regular menstrual period.

• First trimester bleeding is any vaginal bleeding during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding may vary from light spotting to severe bleeding with clots. Vaginal bleeding is a common problem in early pregnancy, complicating 20-30% of all pregnancies.

• Any vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (the last 6 months of a 9-month pregnancy) involves concerns different from bleeding in the first 3 months of your pregnancy. Any bleeding during the second and third trimesters is abnormal.

• Bleeding from the vagina after the 28th week of pregnancy is a true emergency. The bleeding can range from very mild to extremely brisk and may or may not be accompanied by abdominal pain. Hemorrhage (another word for bleeding) is the most common cause of death of the mother in the United States. It complicates about 4% of all pregnancies.