Menstruation During Pregnancy
Facts about Menstruation During Pregnancy
Is it possible to have menstruation during pregnancy? You might have heard a woman say that she had her period throughout the early months of her pregnancy, or even during the duration of it. So what is this all about and what does it mean?
Menstruation during pregnancy is not uncommon, although if it continues throughout the pregnancy then it's probably not really menstruation. In the early stages of pregnancy, many women continue to have their periods. Or, they at least think that they are having their periods.
In the beginning of the pregnancy, implantation bleeding can be mistaken for a period. Some women only bleed a little bit during their periods and the small amount of blood that can occur during implantation can be mistaken as an actual period.
Later on, some women have spotting. It's not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. In fact, the spotting is not usually coming from the uterus at all. Still, if the spotting happens regularly enough, it can look like a period. The only time that there is any real danger involved is if the bleeding is enough o fill a sanitary napkin or if there is any pain involved, such as cramping.
An ectopic pregnancy sometimes occurs and a woman is not even aware that she is pregnant. During an ectopic pregnancy, the fetus grows outside of the uterus. It should be taken very seriously as it can cause complications that could be fatal. If you begin having sharp pains in your pelvic area and they are accompanied by heavy bleeding then you should see a healthcare provider immediately.
Placental problems can also cause bleeding, too, that can be mistaken for menstruation during pregnancy. Placenta previa and placenta abruption are very serious conditions. In placenta previa, the placenta covers the opening of the cervix. This can cause bleeding that appears like that of a period. In placenta abruption, the placenta is released from the uterine wall prematurely.
Placenta previa can be seen on an ultrasound. Although it is common for the placenta to be near the bottom of the uterus early on in pregnancy, if it doesn't move them complications can arise that can include severe bleeding. In some cases, the woman must be hospitalized and even given a blood transfusion.
Sometimes, bleeding can be a sign of a miscarriage. If there is a lot of bleeding that comes on suddenly and is accompanied by pain and cramping, then medical attention should be sought. Most miscarriages occur during the first trimester. Sometimes, a miscarriage can occur and the woman never even knew that she was pregnant.
If a woman conceives right before her period is due, she might go ahead and have that period, too. This can be very confusing, especially considering that the due date is calculated from the date of the last period. Later on, ultrasounds can be used to determine the gestation date more accurately.
Although slight bleeding during pregnancy is usually harmless, there are signs that you should be on the lookout for. Heavy bleeding with cramps, a fever, pain when urinating, and other symptoms should be drawn to the attention of your doctor. If you find that with or without blood, you are passing gray tissue then you should seek medical attention immediately. Tissue will not look like blood, but will he slightly hard. It could be gray or pink.
For the most part, however, some light spotting is expected during a pregnancy. There isn't always a reason or a cause behind it. It just seems to be one of those things that the body does. Usually, the baby is not in any harm and everything turns out fine.