Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy can occur at any gestational age, for a variety of reasons. If you do experience fresh vaginal bleeding you should seek medical advice.

In early pregnancy, around the time that your period would have been due, light bleeding or spotting can be as a result of the developing embryo implanting. This is usually harmless. In the first trimester of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) vaginal bleeding can be a sign of threatened miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy although many women who have bleeding at this stage of the pregnancy go on to have a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby. Most cases of vaginal bleeding do no harm to you or your baby, although may cause you to become anaemic. That is why iron supplements are often advised for women with recurrent or heavy vaginal bleeding.

Pregnancy can sometimes cause changes to the cervix which result in more chance of bleeding with sexual intercourse. It should be noted that sex in pregnancy is perfectly safe, provided you have not been diagnosed with placenta praevia (low lying placenta) nor ruptured your membranes. Later in pregnancy, bleeding can come from the edge of the placenta (a marginal bleed). This usually causes no harm, however you will need to be assessed to exclude more serious causes of bleeding.

More serious conditions associated with vaginal bleeding in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

These include:

1. Placental abruption. This is an uncommon event, however it can be an emergency for you and your baby. It occurs if the placenta starts to come away from the womb wall. Mostly this is associated with quite severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, but not always. If you experience unusual pain or bleeding you should phone 0300 013 2004 so that we can advise you and arrange for you and your pregnancy to be assessed. 
2. Vasa praevia is a rare condition where a blood vessel from the umbilical cord runs through the membranes covering the cervix. If your waters break, the vessel can tear to cause vaginal bleeding. This is a dangerous situation for your baby and urgent review by an obstetrician is advised.

If you experience bleeding, call us on 0300 013 2004. 

For heavy persistent bleeding posing a threat to life call 999.

Further sources of information