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Periods and Pregnancy - Bleeding During Pregnancy

March 14th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

A pleasant benefit of pregnancy is no monthly period for nine months. Upon conception, your body begins to produce a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG. This hormone signals your body to stop ovulation which also stops your monthly period. Most home pregnancy tests work by testing your urine for HCG, if the hormone is present you’re pregnant. It is impossible to experience your period and pregnancy at the same time. You may however experience spotting and/or period like bleeding during pregnancy for other reasons. Whenever you experience bleeding during pregnancy, keep a record and consult a Pregnancy Guide and/or your doctor if needed. Never be afraid to ask your doctor about any symptoms you experience, they may be important.

Does a Missed Period Always Mean Pregnancy?

A missed period is not always a sign of pregnancy. There are many other reasons why you might miss your monthly period including:

extreme physical and/or mental stress or fatigue;
extreme and/or rapid changes in your weight;
hormone problem or imbalance;
extreme changes in your diet or lifestyle; and
changes in the type or use of various birth control methods, etc.

In addition to the above reasons, some women have irregular menstrual cycles so irregular bleeding is normal for them. If you missed your period, check to see if you are experiencing other early pregnancy signs such as morning sickness. If you are still unsure or worried consider buying a home pregnancy test.

Home pregnancy tests are fairly reliable, can be purchase at your local pharmacy and are inexpensive. Pregnancy tests today can detect the pregnancy hormone very early. If you realize you have missed a period, purchase a pregnancy test and read the directions carefully before using. If the test is negative but you have doubts, ask your doctor to perform a blood test. Your doctor can test your blood for pregnancy hormones. The blood test is extremely sensitive and much more reliable than the store bought urine tests.

Why do I Have my Period While Pregnant?

As we discussed, it is impossible to have your period during pregnancy. However, you and many other women experience period like bleeding during early pregnancy, this is perfectly normal. This bleeding is called implantation bleeding and occurs when the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. This does not signal a problem with the pregnancy and is not your period. If you mistake this bleeding as a period, the pregnancy may be affected with respect to your due date and prenatal care.

Implantation bleeding usually lasts for just a few days. The normal bleeding during early pregnancy usually differs from your monthly period in two respects: the bleeding spans a shorter period of time than your period and the blood flow or discharge is much ligher than your period.

What Is Spotting - Why am I Bleeding?

There may be multiple times during your pregnancy that you experience bleeding. Roughly 30% of all pregnant women experience period like bleeding and/or a discharge called spotting. Although bleeding and spotting are normal pregnancy symptoms, you should always monitor bleeding during your pregnancy. Maintain a pregnancy journal to record the following: when the bleeding began, when the bleeding ended, how heavy the bleeding was, accompanying symptoms such as cramping, what you were doing when the bleeding first occured, etc. This information is useful when talking with your doctor or using a Pregnancy Guide.

Droplets of blood on your underwear or when using the bathroom are typically referred to as spotting. Spotting during early pregnancy is fairly common and is usually associated with implantation bleeding. If the spotting becomes heavier, similar to your period, the pregnancy could be in danger. Call your doctor immediately.

During the later stages of pregnancy, you may experience bloody show. Bloody show is not a period and is common in pregnancy. Heavy period like bleeding in late pregnancy can indicate problems such as: the placenta has detached from the uterus wall or the placenta is erroneously located at the bottom of the uterus. Both of these situations are considered medical emergencies.

Rectal bleeding is also common during pregnancy due to tears in the rectal tissue caused by severe constipation. Unfortunately constipation is a common pregnancy symptom. You may mistake rectal bleeding for vaginal bleeding, try and verify the blood source before you call the doctor.

Nervous About Your Pregnancy?

It is normal for all mothers (especially first time mothers) to worry or be anxious about pregnancy. Education is the best way to reduce fear, gain confidence and ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby. There are some really good Pregnancy Guides available. If you’re still unsure, call your doctor for clarification. Don’t worry, you’re not the first pregnant mom to call with questions.

To Your Health,

MyPregnancyStages.com