It is common to worry about bleeding during pregnancy, and many people bleed at some point during their pregnancy. Here we go through the types of bleeding can occur and what they usually mean.

Bleeding during early pregnancy

Bleeding during pregnancy can feel scary, and it is common to start worrying about a potential miscarriage if you discover bleeding early in pregnancy. A small or sparse bleed in early pregnancy, however, usually occurs without affecting the pregnancy or there being anything with the pregnancy. For example, it could be that you are bleeding from the vaginal mucosa due to the pregnancy hormones, and it is not coming from the uterus. You may also bleed from the rectum if you are constipated or have problems with haemorrhoids.

If you have had vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy, it does not mean that there is any increased risk for the baby. All this is to say that bleeding can occur in an otherwise completely normal pregnancy, but it can also be the beginning of a miscarriage. Bleeding during pregnancy is not due to stress, heavy lifting or excessive exercise. Discuss the bleeding with your midwife and call your antenatal clinic if you are concerned.

Bleeding during late pregnancy

Bleeding during late pregnancy can have various causes. It can be completely harmless bleeding from the vaginal mucosa or cervix, but it can also be due to more serious pregnancy-related complications such as:

Placenta Previa (low-lying placenta)

In about one percent of all pregnancies, the embryo attaches to the lower part of the uterus and the placenta will therefore grow from there. This is often detected at the routine ultrasound in week 20, but the placenta often moves upwards as the uterus grows. Therefore, if you have a low-lying placenta, you often have to do an ultrasound later on in the pregnancy to see if the location of the placenta will be an obstacle to a vaginal birth. Bleeding caused by a low-lying placenta usually occurs after week 32. The bleeding is usually painless and can come on suddenly.

Ablatio placentae (placental abruption)

It is not yet clear why the placenta detaches during some pregnancies. The detachment can be complete or partial and occurs in approximately 0.5-1% of all pregnancies. This can range from a small bleed that stops on its own, to a total placental abruption that can be life-threatening for both the foetus and the pregnant person. You may have symptoms such as contractions, abdominal pain, pain when pressing on the abdomen (even between contractions), tense uterus and possible bleeding.

Contact your maternity clinic or the gynaecological emergency clinic if you notice bleeding during the second half of your pregnancy.