Is menstruation normal during pregnancy?
Menstruation is not possible during pregnancy. If the expectant mother experiences any bleeding, she can be sure that the problem is of another origin.
This question usually arises in two cases for women. When they want to get pregnant as their heart desires, and despite bleeding on or around the usual day, they hope that the pregnancy has occurred. This can be confirmed if the bleeding is a little delayed or of a weaker intensity. Or the question can come when they experience bleeding or brown spotting during a confirmed pregnancy.
It is important to know that any type of bleeding experienced during pregnancy – whether it is bright red, scarlet, brown, or pale pink – should be reported to a doctor. Because the symptom may be harmless, as it happens in most cases, but it could also be caused by the sensitivity of the cervix, or just as likely, it could be a hormonal problem or other abnormality that a specialist can immediately remedy.
Why can bleeding occur during pregnancy?
Bleeding can occur in any trimester, which often causes great fear, but there are expectant mothers who, on the contrary, do not attach much importance to the symptoms. Basically, a healthy pregnancy develops in most cases with these small bleedings, but it is definitely important to find out the causes.
Bleeding in the 1st trimester
In the first trimester of pregnancy, the discharge of a little blood tends to stress expectant mothers a lot. This is a common symptom and rarely a problem. If clotted blood is discharged - which can be very scary -, it may be due to slow bleeding, which collects and passes out all at once. A medical examination can accurately determine the real cause. He or she can prescribe the appropriate preparation or medication, if necessary.
Source: Dr. Zoltán Novák
- Implantation bleeding is completely harmless and can occur 10-14 days after fertilization. This is when the egg implants itself in the lining of the uterus. Since pregnancy is usually not detected at this time, this slight bleeding is not a cause for concern, and it also falls around the time of the next menstruation. This is why it is possible for the expectant mother to think she is menstruating while missing early pregnancy tests.
- Cervical lesions and infections can be detected by a specialist, and their treatment is important because this can prevent pathogens from reaching the fetus and potentially damaging it. Bleeding during sexual intercourse may also indicate that there are changes in the cells around the cervix.
- In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg begins to develop in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus, a condition that can be life-threatening.
- Bleeding and lower abdominal cramping may indicate a threatened miscarriage.
Bleeding in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters
During this period, you should pay even more attention to any bleeding-related symptoms, as they can pose several dangers.
- Cervical lesions and infections can cause bleeding during this time, just like in the first trimester.
- Straining or physical impact on the cervix (during sexual intercourse or after a vaginal examination) can also cause some bleeding, the latter of which is usually pointed out by the specialist during the examination.
- Unfortunately, spontaneous miscarriage can also be accompanied by bleeding, before the 24th week.
- If the cervix begins to open too early, it can lead to premature birth.
- In cases of threatened preterm labor, light bleeding is usually accompanied by contractions that manifest as lower back pain.
- If the placenta begins to separate from the uterine wall, it is not always accompanied by bleeding, sometimes it only appears as brown spotting, with pain. This is a serious, dangerous condition.
- The placenta may be attached to or covering the cervix. This essentially prevents vaginal delivery and can cause sudden, heavy bleeding.
- Separation of a scar from a previous cesarean section is associated with intense pain and bleeding, causing a life-threatening condition.
Apart from these reasons, there are of course other possibilities. Even the smallest amount of bleeding or brown spotting during pregnancy should be taken seriously and should not be delayed, but should be seen by a doctor immediately, because even if there are no other symptoms, they may indicate the beginning of a problem that a specialist can help with. To do this, it is important to pay close attention to the symptoms and state exactly when they first appeared and in what form.
If the expectant mother considers the situation serious, feels sick, has cramps, is bleeding heavily, or her pregnancy is at risk, she should call 112 and ask for an ambulance.
Source: Healthline , Maternity blog , Dr. Veronika Takács
Investigating the cause of bleeding
The specialist will examine the expectant mother manually, with a vaginal speculum, or with a vaginal or abdominal ultrasound, while determining the amount of bleeding and where it is coming from. He or she may also expect laboratory results as additional tests or use other imaging methods.
Source: Dr. Veronika Takács
Why can't you have real menstruation during pregnancy?
Menstrual blood is actually the shedding of the uterine lining, which does not occur during pregnancy, or may only occur in small amounts, as spotting. Therefore, when you are pregnant, it is not considered true menstruation, but bleeding of a different origin.
Source: Webbed, edited by Dr. Orsolya Osikóczki
Brown spotting also indicates bleeding.
Since the brownish color is formed when red blood cells come into contact with air, this suggests that a little more time has passed since the blood left the vessel and became visible on the underwear. So “browning” also means bleeding, albeit in a small amount, but it requires attention.
Hemorrhoids can be deceptive
Although hemorrhoidal bleeding does not come from the uterus, it can cause sudden fear, especially during and after going to the toilet. Many expectant mothers have never had a similar problem before, but during pregnancy they experience inflammation and even bleeding of hemorrhoids. These unpleasant symptoms usually subside after childbirth, but if they persist, it is worth visiting a proctologist.
Can the expectant mother do anything to prevent bleeding?
A gynecological examination before a planned pregnancy can reveal problems that may cause bleeding later, such as changes in the cells around the cervix.
It is best to avoid strenuous exercise during pregnancy. Most sports can be recommended even in the pregnant state, but the expectant mother should take into account how accustomed her body is to the given exercise and intensity. Under no circumstances should she start a new sport at this time that will put an extreme strain on her body. It may be worth seeking the advice of her doctor, especially in cases where there may be some risk. It is often said that “pregnancy is not an illness”. It is indeed not, but it does require increased attention and, in some cases, gentleness for the sake of health.
Sealing can occur rarely during married life, and there are also situations where a doctor forbids you from having sex, for example, when the placenta is close to the cervix. This condition may resolve as the pregnancy progresses. In the third trimester, the use of condoms may be recommended to avoid infections.
In many cases, preventing bleeding itself is not possible, as changes can occur during pregnancy that bring about this symptom.
