Spotting During Early Pregnancy 101 - The What, Who, Why, When & How!

Pregnancy, for most women I know or have met, is usually a time when they are at their most excited. This is usually as a direct result of the anticipation of new life. This anticipation and excitement can be short-lived and overshadowed by the fear that spotting or light bleeding causes. Although this spotting is usually indicative of complications like miscarriages and ectopic pregnancy, it is not usually affirmative, and as such should not be worsened by the development of anxiety as a first course of action. This article will discuss the various aspects of spotting during early pregnancy so that you can have well-rounded knowledge about what it really entails.

1. The Misunderstanding...
Allow me to state from the get go that; the fact that quite a number of women become certain that they are experiencing a miscarriage once they begin spotting, the appearance of light bleeding is not an automatic conclusion or indication that a miscarriage is unavoidable. The fact is this; during pregnancy over 1 in 10 women will experience non-malignant spotting at some point in their pregnancy term. When evaluating spotting you should consider the when and the how - that is, when it occurs, and how it presents itself.

2. The Nature...
Not all spotting is alike - this is an important point to note. For example; implantation bleeding is a type of spotting that many women experience. This type of bleeding is characterized by a light "period-like" flow of blood which usually occurs around a time when a woman would normally see her period. This fact makes it a very confusing condition for most women as they usually mistake it for their periods and become worried because of its dissimilarity to the said period. This implantation bleeding usually occurs 5 - 12 days after the fertilization of the egg, a term referred to commonly as "conception". It does not last for long and has a light texture and color. This is the most common cause of spotting during early pregnancy.

3. Time Frame...
It is entirely common to spot during your fist trimester. You must endeavor to report all sightings of vaginal discharges (light pink, brownish, yellowish etc) to your health care provider; doctor, midwife, nurse, whoever. Just make sure you do not get into a panic as that won't be beneficial in any way. Due to the fact that your body is adjusting to the changing levels of its hormones, you are more prone to these kinds of spotting, especially if you are a first-time mother. As the blood vessels on the cervix' surface become more engorged and sensitive, you may begin to experience post-coital bleeding which may remain throughout the rest of your pregnancy term.

4. Other Considerations...
Bleeding during the second and third trimesters can be indicative of health issues that are more grievous to you or your unborn baby. Examples of these include, but are not limited to, the following; pre-term labor, placental previa, or ectopic pregnancy.

5. Significance...
Unfortunately, over 50% of spotting which occurs during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is indicative of an impending loss of pregnancy. If you experience cramping and the passing of clots accompanying slight bleeding which progressively becomes heavier, you might actually, unfortunately be experiencing a miscarriage. Regrettably, this can rarely be avoided or prevented. This is because your body is naturally dealing with ectopic, molar or an otherwise unhealthy pregnancy and this is its way of doing it, theoretically.

6. Caution...
Whatever the type or kind of spotting, spotting during early pregnancy should be reported to your health care giver so that they can professionally evaluate your condition and advise accordingly. Avoid wearing tampons and go for pads instead. Pads help you monitor the frequency and volume of the spotting so that you can track its severity and determine what type it is. Ensure that you keep your doctor in the loop at all times.

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