Is spotting normal during pregnancy? Spotting is light bleeding from the vagina similar to, but lighter than, a period. It varies in colour from red to brown. While it's not exactly normal, light bleeding or spotting during pregnancy -- particularly during the first three months -- is fairly common. Usually it turns out to be caused by something minor or "just one of those things".
What should I do if I notice spotting?
Call your doctor straightaway, even if it eventually stops within the first day. Spotting may not always indicate a serious problem, but your doctor will be able to assess if it is a sign of some other underlying problem or complication. You'll probably need an examination or an ultrasound scan to rule out any complications and to make sure you and your baby are fine.
Be specific about your symptoms. Do tell your doctor:
• if the discharge was light pink, brown or bright red.
• if the flow was light, heavy or accompanied by clots or tissue.
• if you experienced pain, dizziness, fever or chills.
• if you have had to use sanitary napkins to soak the discharge, do let your doctor know how many.
All this information provides a fairly good indication of how heavy or light the bleeding has been, and your doctor will be able to advise you accordingly.
What causes spotting?
There are many causes for spotting early in pregnancy. For instance, when the fertilised egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus, you may experience some implantation bleeding, which is usually light and lasts a day or two.
Spotting also takes place if you have a vaginal infection (such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis) or a sexually transmitted infection (such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, or herpes).
Spotting may also be due to a somewhat irritated or inflamed cervix (you may bleed a bit after sex, an internal examination or a cervical smear, for instance). A cervical polyp, or a benign growth may also cause spotting.
But spotting can also be an early sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, especially if accompanied by abdominal pain or cramping.
Bleeding can also signal a molar pregnancy -- a relatively rare condition in which abnormalities in the fertilised egg at conception make it impossible for the embryo to develop or survive.
First trimester bleeding may also be a sign of an underlying problem with the placenta. Research shows a link between early pregnancy bleeding and an increased risk of later complications, such as preterm delivery or placental abruption, particularly if the bleeding is heavy.
And in the third trimester bleeding or spotting can signal a condition called placenta previa, placenta abruptio (whereby the placenta separates from the uterus), or premature labour.
If you notice spotting after 37 weeks, it's most likely to be just a sign that the cervix is beginning to soften, maybe even dilate in preparation for labor, and you may observe a blood-tinged mucus discharge. You should still report any bleeding or spotting at this point to your doctor.
As scary as all this may sound, spotting is more often a harmless mystery. About 20 weeks into her first pregnancy, a BabyCenter mum discovered she was spotting. Her doctor was concerned so he suggested that she give up exercising, stop having sexual intercourse and avoid lifting heavy objects for three weeks.
After a week the spotting stopped. Her doctor never figured out why it had happened and she delivered a healthy baby boy at full-term.
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