Spotting in early pregnancy
If in the early stages of pregnancy you have a discharge interspersed with blood, then it fits the definition of spotting. Their color varies from pale pink to brown. If they are dark red or brown, they are easy to spot. But if they are slightly colored pink, you can miss the moment.
Therefore, you should always use unscented panty liners so that you can immediately see deviations in the color of the discharge against a white background.
Is spotting dangerous during pregnancy?
The first thing you should immediately understand is that the appearance of any discharge with blood is not considered normal . Some people think that at the very beginning of pregnancy, the uterus is simply cleared of what was not released during menstruation. But that's not true. The endometrial layer covering the uterus has already prepared for the attachment of the embryo, so the body performed all the necessary manipulations before pregnancy.
So spotting during pregnancy is the first signal that you urgently need to see a doctor for a consultation, and maybe even call an ambulance.
In the first trimester, spotting warns that a miscarriage is occurring.
Why does this happen?
Implantation process
The embryo is not just in the uterus. He needs to attach to one of its walls, and not just any, but to a place rich in blood vessels. It is through them that he will receive everything he needs for his further development. During immersion in the mucous membrane, in the place desired by the embryo, endometrial tissue and surrounding microvessels melt. Otherwise, he simply will not be able to breathe and eat.
But sometimes such an invasion can damage the macrovessel. The stream of blood coming out of it is quite capable of damaging the fertilized egg, which will lead to its fragmentation. In this case, most patients require urgent hospitalization.
There are also safe spotting during pregnancy, in which blood is released in microscopic quantities. You may not even notice that you had them. This occurs when a small vessel is slightly damaged during the attachment of the embryo. Some expectant mothers are so sensitive that even such a process as the implantation of a fertilized egg into the wall of the uterus is felt by them as pain in the lower abdomen. Doctors are skeptical about this, believing that the embryo is so small that it is simply impossible to feel anything. Therefore, such pain cannot in any way be a symptom of pregnancy.
When the pregnancy stops...
Frozen pregnancy is another reason for the appearance of spotting. The consequences of this situation can be a genetic pathology, a lack of vitamins and minerals in the expectant mother, or even a simple accident.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to immediately recognize a frozen pregnancy. To do this, you need to wait 1.5 months from the moment of conception. Only then will an ultrasound machine be able to show whether the fetus’s heart is beating. If not, then the woman is sent for a cleaning procedure. Of course, you can have a spontaneous miscarriage, but waiting for it is dangerous because of the inflammation that can begin in the uterus.
Medical examination
If after an examination by a gynecologist you have spotting, then it’s not scary. The doctor cannot do without the necessary manipulations, and the mucous membrane is very vulnerable at the initial stage. So she was slightly injured - spotting appeared.
Ectopic pregnancy
This is the most unpleasant situation. The fertilized egg, instead of reaching the uterus, gets stuck in the fallopian tube or comes out into the abdominal cavity. And there he has no conditions for development. A crash occurs. If you are under the supervision of a doctor, then an ectopic pregnancy is difficult to miss. It will be quickly identified, and you will be provided with all the necessary assistance. But if you have not registered yet, then if bloody discharge appears, immediately consult a doctor.
In any case, to avoid troubles, it is better to always prepare for future motherhood: monitor your health, walk more in the fresh air, and undergo the necessary tests. Then you will definitely have a better chance of carrying and giving birth to a healthy baby!
In the second trimester
In the second trimester, brown discharge is a sign of the development of one or another pathology of fetal development and requires mandatory contact with a gynecologist for timely diagnosis and treatment. The main reasons are listed below.
Placental abruption
It is the most common cause of bloody discharge ranging from light brown and brown to bright red, from scanty and spotting amounts to heavy discharge. Abruption of a normally located placenta threatens the lives of both the mother (risk of extensive blood loss) and the developing baby (lack of nutrition and oxygen). May occur against the background of:
- stress;
- poor environmental situation in the place of residence;
- eating disorders;
- excessive physical activity;
- concomitant pathologies in women, etc.
The placenta can detach in areas of varying sizes:
- from a small area - with spontaneous development of a hematoma (practically does not affect the course of pregnancy and does not require serious treatment measures);
- to large areas - with continued progressive development of the condition (requires immediate treatment, up to cesarean section).
important This condition is most often accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen of varying severity, discomfort in the lumbar region, dizziness, fainting, etc.
Placenta previa
This is a condition of the pathological location of the placenta, when it completely or partially covers the uterine os (the area where the uterine cavity connects with the vagina - the place where the baby comes out during birth naturally). This leads to the fact that as the fetus grows, the load on the placenta and its vessels increases, which can cause periodic, spotting, brown discharge.
Presentation is most often accompanied by:
- intermittent, nagging or pain in the sacrum or lower abdomen;
- weakness;
- increased uterine tone;
- in rare cases - abruption of the low-lying placenta.
Throughout the entire period of gestation, it is necessary to carefully monitor the woman and baby to prevent the premature birth of an unformed child, bleeding, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and intrauterine hypoxia.
Delivery with placenta previa is almost always carried out by cesarean section.
Premature birth
dangerous Starting from the 20th week of gestation, premature onset of labor is possible.
Most often it occurs due to infections in the mother and fetus, frequent stressful situations, concomitant pathology in women, etc. Brown discharge may occur when the cervix opens and precedes the appearance of red bloody discharge and the release of amniotic fluid.
This condition is also accompanied by severe cramping pain in the abdominal area and nagging pain in the sacrum. Requires immediate medical attention, hospitalization in an obstetric hospital and delivery. In an extremely rare case, with an immediate response from a pregnant woman, premature birth can be stopped and the gestation of the fetus can be extended as much as possible until it is more ready for independent life.
https://youtu.be/epzOtOVCx_g
Spotting in early pregnancy
Almost all women's periods begin with light spotting. Therefore, when they appear, we usually mean the beginning of menstrual bleeding. Such discharge is normal during this period, but with the onset of pregnancy it is very frightening and alarming, because hormonal processes after conceiving a child occur differently, in particular, menstruation normally stops for the entire period of gestation.
This is why spotting in the early stages of pregnancy causes fears and concerns, and for good reason. But it is not at all necessary to immediately think about the worst: spotting at the beginning of pregnancy is very often normal and does not pose any danger.
Spotting in early pregnancy
The term “daub” is not a medical one, but a common one. But it turned out to be so successful that gynecologists also use it in their vocabulary. By spotting we mean spotting discharge, not abundant, scanty, which only stains the laundry - nothing more.
Most often, when they talk about spotting, they mean brown discharge - bloody, brown, dark brown or light. But other options are also possible when light, beige, scarlet daub appears in the early stages of pregnancy.
Let’s make a reservation right away that in most cases whitish, light or brownish discharge is considered the most “normal”. If you notice traces of red, fresh blood on your underwear, or if the discharge is greenish, contains impurities of pus, or has an unpleasant odor, then most likely it is pathological. The likelihood of wild suspicion increases if the daub is accompanied by pain, itching, and burning in the genital tract.
But all this is in general terms. More specifically, spotting in the early stages of pregnancy is very often a sign and usual companion.
Implantation bleeding during pregnancy
When the fertilized egg reaches the uterine cavity for attachment, it begins to scrape out particles from the uterine endometrium, forming a nest for planting. During its implantation, microdamages are formed on the surface of the uterus, as a result of which droplets of blood may appear in a pregnant woman’s normal vaginal discharge.
This process can last for one or several days, from time to time the fertilized egg activates its work, and therefore spotting in a woman during this period can be observed sporadically: appearing and disappearing.
Spotting in early pregnancy
Spotting in the early stages of pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence, in most cases it does not pose a threat of miscarriage. Spotting refers to vaginal bleeding that is more than a few drops, but less than a period. The discharge may be brown, red, brown or cream in color.
Spotting occurs for several reasons:
During pregnancy, spotting may occur during periods when menstruation should occur. This corresponds to every fourth week in a 28-day menstrual cycle. At this time you need to be very careful, it is advisable not to worry and get plenty of rest.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, brown spotting may occur due to chorionic detachment or placental abruption. Blood accumulates under the detachments, which is later found on the underwear. If the detachments are small in area and do not progress, this is not dangerous. However, any woman with spotting during pregnancy should not engage in sexual activity, limit physical activity, and take medications Utrozhestan or Duphaston to avoid miscarriage. When used vaginally, Utrozhestan is considered a more effective remedy.
An ultrasound is required to see the development of the fertilized egg and the size of the detachment.
Spotting in early pregnancy is not a rare occurrence in the first trimester. The most common cause is chromosomal abnormalities that are incompatible with life in the embryo. In addition, the cause may be acute infections that a woman contracted during pregnancy, or taking large amounts of alcohol or toxic medications.
The main sign of a frozen pregnancy is the absence of a heartbeat in the embryo and the discrepancy between its size and the gestational age. A frozen pregnancy is diagnosed by ultrasound. A woman may also notice changes - pain may occur in the lower abdomen, the mammary glands become softer, and toxicosis disappears. When taking a blood test for hCG, the indicator will be underestimated compared to what is noted during fetal development. When the diagnosis is confirmed, the woman undergoes curettage to avoid a possible inflammatory process.
Cervical erosion is a fairly common pathology, but for the most part, it only requires observation. In some cases, erosion bleeds, which occurs when there is mechanical impact on the cervix during sexual intercourse, a gynecological examination with a mirror, or even masturbation.
During pregnancy, the vaginal mucosa is very vulnerable, so even an unsuccessfully inserted suppository can cause microtrauma and, accordingly, spotting.
Spotting in early pregnancy is observed in cases of egg development outside the uterus - in the ovary, fallopian tube or abdominal cavity. Features of this phenomenon can be noted already in the first weeks - ultrasound does not show the fertilized egg in the uterus, and hCG is above 1500 mU/ml. A woman notices pain in the lower abdomen, usually on one side, and perceives spotting as a threat of miscarriage. If appropriate measures are not taken in time to remove the fertilized egg, organ rupture may occur, since the fertilized egg should develop only in the uterus throughout the entire pregnancy.
Sometimes a gynecologist registers a woman for pregnancy, relying only on her experience. If there are no periods, the uterus is enlarged, the mucous membrane of the cervix and vagina is bluish, and the cervix is deviated posteriorly, then pregnancy has occurred. But these conclusions can be erroneous, and spotting in the early stages of pregnancy is nothing more than a delay in menstruation for some reason, which is confirmed by an ultrasound of the uterus and an analysis for hCG.
What to do
The appearance of ichor during pregnancy is a serious reason to consult a doctor. You should sound the alarm if you have the following symptoms:
- acute pain in the abdomen;
- dizziness and muscle weakness;
- stretching in the lumbar region;
- the presence of blood clots in the vaginal secretion;
- vomit;
- increase in body temperature.
But even in the absence of these signs, you should not delay a visit to a specialist. Diagnostic tests will help determine why the pale red discharge occurs. These include a blood test for hCG, a blood test to check for infections, and ultrasound monitoring.
If the pregnancy is terminated, the hCG will not meet the established standards. Ultrasound can detect various pregnancy anomalies.
Drug treatment
The main way to stop scanty or heavy bleeding is to take medications. If small mucous discharge is the result of an infectious disease, then the woman is advised to take antibacterial agents. The drug is selected based on the causative agent of the disease. Treatment begins in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, since there is a risk of negative effects of aggressive substances on the fetus. For fungal infections, medications based on clotrimazole or natamycin are used.
Medicines based on its synthetic analogue will help maintain pregnancy by increasing progesterone levels. These drugs include Duphaston and Utrozhestan. Duphaston is taken orally, 1-2 tablets per day, depending on the severity of the pathology. Utrogestan is inserted into the vagina or taken orally. The dosage of medications is selected by the gynecologist.
Treatment is carried out in a hospital setting. The woman is advised to limit physical activity and avoid stress. After therapeutic manipulations, additional diagnostics are carried out. If the problem is resolved, the woman is discharged from the hospital. Progesterone-containing drugs continue to be taken.
Photos on the Internet will help you determine what pathological ichor looks like in the first trimester. They can be found by looking at any medical forum.
Reviews
Reviews posted on Internet sites dedicated to motherhood indicate that the ichor indicates problems with pregnancy. Most women managed to maintain pregnancy by following the recommendations of the gynecologist.
Only in rare cases does a pathological secretion appear during erosion, polyps and implantation and does not pose a threat.
https://youtu.be/q2qEVzWmzP0
Discharge in the early stages of pregnancy - should you be happy or seek help?
May 30, 20144104726 Category: Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not only a long-awaited miracle, but also a completely new and unknown period in a woman’s life. Too many changes are happening in her body at this time. This also applies to the genitals. The most difficult period of pregnancy is considered the first trimester, especially the first weeks, when the embryo is fixed in the endometrium, and organs such as the placenta and amniotic sac are not yet formed. It is at this stage that you need to be especially attentive to your body.
Do pregnant women experience discharge in the early stages? Discharge accompanies a woman throughout her life, so why should it be absent during pregnancy? Moreover, the nature of discharge may change in early pregnancy before the delay. Some of the discharge is a variant of the norm, some is a harmless deviation from the norm, but some still indicate serious diseases and pathologies, so it makes sense to discuss any changes in the discharge with a doctor. But there is no need to get nervous ahead of time; most of the problems associated with discharge are easily solved.
The expectant mother does not need any unnecessary stress. Sometimes, faced with incomprehensible discharge, young mothers panic, begin to get nervous and look for a solution to the problem. And after a visit to the doctor, it turns out that there is simply no reason to worry, and the woman was needlessly tormenting herself and those around her.
Variants of normal discharge in early pregnancy
Discharge in the early stages of pregnancy is most often normal. Firstly, under the influence of progesterone, the natural secretion of the vagina increases: whitish or transparent discharge, sometimes with a slight yellowish tint. The purpose of these secretions is to moisturize the mucous membranes of the vagina, and without them the woman will feel severe discomfort. In addition, immediately after conception and attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus, mucus begins to be produced, which forms a mucus plug. Naturally, some of this mucus may be released from the vagina. Such mucous, transparent, slightly similar to egg white discharge is also normal.
In general, normal discharge in the early stages of pregnancy can be very varied in both color and consistency; most often, transparent and white discharge occurs in the early stages of pregnancy. The main thing they have in common is that they do not cause the woman any inconvenience. Except, perhaps, for the natural anxiety due to sudden changes. If the discharge has a neutral odor or is absent at all, the woman does not feel pain, itching or burning, then there is nothing to worry about. However, it’s not superfluous to go to the doctor for your own peace of mind.
Pathological discharge in the early stages of pregnancy
Brown spotting in pregnant women
Spotting brown or beige discharge during early pregnancy can be either completely harmless or indicate serious problems in the pregnant woman’s body. In any case, if you find brownish marks on your underwear, you must first contact your doctor and arrange a visit. Still, in most cases, they are symptoms of severe pathologies.
Thus, the cause of bloody brown discharge in early pregnancy may be detachment of the ovum , accompanied by rupture of blood vessels. This pathology requires prompt medical intervention and continuation of pregnancy.
In addition, such discharge may indicate an ectopic pregnancy , that is, a situation where the embryo is attached not inside the uterus, but inside the fallopian tubes and completely outside the reproductive system. Spotting may turn into scanty bleeding, and is also accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen. This condition threatens not only a woman’s reproductive ability, but also her life. Unfortunately, if the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, you will have to get rid of it. Read more about the signs of an ectopic pregnancy>
, uterine erosion may make itself felt by spotting . Erosion is an inflammation of the uterine epithelium, accompanied by the formation of small wounds and ulcers. Many people talk about a direct connection between cervical erosion and cancer. In fact, erosion itself has no connection with oncology, however, if you are late in treating this problem, the risk of developing a cancer tumor increases.
As a rule, cervical erosion is asymptomatic. However, in some cases, slight bleeding may occur, for example, after rough sex, or after an examination by a gynecologist, in general, if the injured cervix is disturbed.
Cervical erosion is usually treated by cauterization with electricity. However, it is not recommended to carry out such a procedure before childbirth, as this will complicate the birth process. During pregnancy, they resort to drug treatment.
Spotting and spotting in the early stages of pregnancy may indicate a threat of miscarriage, but more on that later.
Heavy bleeding
Excessive bleeding in pregnant women in the early stages causes even more concern. This is understandable; everyone has long known that bleeding during pregnancy is one of the most alarming symptoms. The main thing is not to panic, but to immediately take action: get to the hospital yourself, or, which is much better, call an ambulance and lie down and wait for the doctors to arrive.
What can heavy bleeding during early pregnancy ? Most often, this indicates a real threat of miscarriage; as a rule, bleeding in this case is accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen. It is very important to take measures as soon as possible to maintain the pregnancy. However, you absolutely cannot do this on your own. All procedures are prescribed only and under the supervision of a physician.
To confirm the diagnosis, doctors prescribe a number of tests, including ultrasound and blood and urine tests for hCG levels. A decrease in the level of this hormone may indicate serious problems.
Treatment can take place on an outpatient or inpatient basis. The method and method of treatment is determined depending on the severity of the situation. The main thing in these circumstances for a woman is not to worry and not to put off visiting a doctor. According to statistics, in more than half of cases, pregnancy with a threat of miscarriage can be saved, provided that it is treated in a timely manner .
It is much sadder if the bleeding turns out to be a symptom of a rare pathology called “ hydatidiform mole ”. This name hides the result of a deviation in the process of fertilization of the egg. As a result of such a deviation, the fertilized egg is left with no maternal DNA, only duplicated paternal DNA. Naturally, the development of the embryo in this case does not occur, as well as normal placental tissue. The pathological placenta in this case develops in the form of many cysts on the wall of the uterus. On ultrasound, this pathology looks like bunches of grapes. Hydatidiform mole requires urgent surgical intervention.
Another cause of bleeding is more typical for women who have undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF), although it also occurs in some cases of natural multiple pregnancies. Sometimes one or more embryos are rejected and come out naturally. In this case, it is customary to talk about a vanishing twin .
However, bleeding is not always a warning sign. In some cases, it is caused by completely harmless processes, which, although they are deviations from the norm, do not entail any consequences.
If the bleeding is not too heavy and stops quickly, it may be a harmless consequence of the process of attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus . By this time, the endometrium is softened, and the number of blood vessels in it is slightly increased. Damage to one of them can cause bleeding. There are no other threatening symptoms for this disorder, including the woman does not feel pain. This phenomenon does not pose any danger, but this does not mean that you can neglect a visit to the doctor. Only a physician can make a diagnosis.
Some disruptions in hormonal levels can lead to the fact that in the early stages of pregnancy, in accordance with the previous menstrual cycle, bleeding similar to menstruation . By the way, such deviations in some cases prevent women from identifying their pregnancy. After all, some of them, especially those who are not planning a pregnancy yet, focus mainly on their cycle. This bleeding also does not pose a danger to pregnancy.
Thrush in the early stages
Changes in hormonal levels and other changes in the body of a pregnant woman often cause a decrease in immunity. In this regard, in the early stages, pregnant women encounter thrush; the medical name for this disease is candidiasis. The causative agent is the candida fungus, which is almost always present in the vaginal microflora, but does not normally develop. Thrush often begins while taking antibiotics, during other illnesses, or during pregnancy.
The symptoms of this disease are known to many women: white or greenish cheesy discharge, mild or severe itching, burning in the vaginal area. One of the common problems with thrush is that women are calm about this disease. Especially if you have already had it before. A high percentage of women self-medicate. However, the same drugs for thrush that are usually prescribed cannot be used during pregnancy, as they are harmful to the fetus. Read more about thrush>
When is brown discharge normal?
There are two conditions in a woman when brown discharge refers to the normal (physiological) course of pregnancy, and they occur in 5-7% of expectant mothers.
Implantation of fertilized egg
In the presence of a fertilized egg and favorable conditions, 7-10 days after sexual intercourse, the fertilized egg implants into the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) - implantation . During this process, several capillaries (the smallest vessels) may be damaged, releasing a minimal amount of blood, which, when combined with physiological vaginal discharge, gives a light brown or beige color. Normally, this condition lasts 1-3 days and is not accompanied by pain or discomfort, but by cramps in the lumbar or abdominal area. The discharge goes away on its own and does not require any action.
Removal of the mucus plug
Refers to the normal course of the third trimester of pregnancy and can occur 2-3 weeks before the onset of labor. This is due to the fact that the cervix is already ready for childbirth, loose, shortened, with increased blood flow. The mucus plug, which protects the uterine cavity and the baby from external infections, comes off on the eve of birth, touches the outer surface of the cervix and can cause irritation of several capillaries and a brownish discharge. The duration of such discharge can be no more than 1 day. In this case, the woman should not feel any discomfort.
additionally The same effect occurs with any gynecological examination late in pregnancy or after sexual intercourse.
