Bleeding at 7 months pregnant

Vaginal bleeding in late pregnancy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

One out of 10 women will have vaginal bleeding during their 3rd trimester. At times, it may be a sign of a more serious problem. In the last few months of pregnancy, you should always report bleeding to your health care provider right away.

You should understand the difference between spotting and bleeding:

Spotting is when you notice a few drops of blood every now and then on your underwear. It is not enough to cover a panty liner.
Bleeding is a heavier flow of blood. With bleeding, you will need a liner or pad to keep the blood from soaking your clothes.

When labor begins, the cervix starts to open up more, or dilate. You may notice a small amount of blood mixed in with normal vaginal discharge, or mucus.

Mid- or late-term bleeding may also be caused by:

Having sex (most often just spotting)
An internal exam by your provider (most often just spotting)
Diseases or infections of the vagina or cervix
Uterine fibroids or cervical growths or polyps

More serious causes of late-term bleeding may include:

Placenta previa is a problem of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix.
Placenta abruptio (abruption) occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before the baby is born.

To find the cause of your vaginal bleeding, your provider may need to know:

If you have cramping, pain, or contractions
If you have had any other bleeding during this pregnancy
When the bleeding began and whether it comes and goes or is constant
How much bleeding is present, and whether it is spotting or a heavier flow
The color of the blood (dark or bright red)
If there is an odor to the blood
If you have fainted, felt dizzy or nauseated, vomited, or had diarrhea or a fever
If you have had recent injuries or falls
When you last had sex and if you bled afterward

A small amount of spotting without any other symptoms that occurs after having sex or an exam by your provider can be watched at home. To do this:

Put on a clean pad and recheck it every 30 to 60 minutes for a few hours.
If spotting or bleeding continues, call your provider.
If the bleeding is heavy, your belly feels stiff and painful, or you are having strong and frequent contractions, you may need to call 911 or your local emergency number.

For any other bleeding, call your provider right away.

You will be told whether to go to the emergency room or to the labor and delivery area in your hospital.
Your provider will also tell you whether you can drive yourself or you should call an ambulance.

Baeseman ZJ. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2021. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier 2021:1227-1229.

Francois KE, Foley MR. Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 18.

Hull AD, Resnik R, Silver RM. Placenta previa and accreta, vasa previa, subchorionic hemorrhage, and abruptio placentae. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 46.

Salhi BA, Nagrani S. Acute complications of pregnancy. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 178.

Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda Center for Fertility, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Vaginal bleeding in late pregnancy Information | Mount Sinai

What Causes Bleeding Later in Pregnancy?

When labor begins, the cervix starts to open up more, or dilate. You may notice a small amount of blood mixed in with normal vaginal discharge, or mucus.

Mid- or late-term bleeding may also be caused by:

Having sex (most often just spotting)
An internal exam by your provider (most often just spotting)
Diseases or infections of the vagina or cervix
Uterine fibroids or cervical growths or polyps

More serious causes of late-term bleeding may include:

Placenta previa is a problem of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix.
Placenta abruptio (abruption) occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before the baby is born.

What to Tell Your Health Care Provider

To find the cause of your vaginal bleeding, your provider may need to know:

If you have cramping, pain, or contractions
If you have had any other bleeding during this pregnancy
When the bleeding began and whether it comes and goes or is constant
How much bleeding is present, and whether it is spotting or a heavier flow
The color of the blood (dark or bright red)
If there is an odor to the blood
If you have fainted, felt dizzy or nauseated, vomited, or had diarrhea or a fever
If you have had recent injuries or falls
When you last had sex and if you bled afterward
If you're feeling the baby move
If you've had other complications during the pregnancy

What Should Happen Next?

A small amount of spotting without any other symptoms that occurs after having sex or an exam by your provider can be watched at home. To do this:

Put on a clean pad and recheck it every 30 to 60 minutes for a few hours.
If spotting or bleeding continues, call your provider.
If the bleeding is heavy, your belly feels stiff and painful, or you are having strong and frequent contractions, you may need to call 911 or your local emergency number.

For any other bleeding, call your provider right away.

You will be told whether to go to the emergency room or to the labor and delivery area in your hospital.
Your provider will also tell you whether you can drive yourself or you should call an ambulance.

Baeseman ZJ. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2023. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier 2023:1273-1276.

Henn MC, Lall MD. Complications of pregnancy. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 173.

Hull AD, Resnik R, Silver RM. Placenta previa and accreta, vasa previa, subchorionic hemorrhage, and abruptio placentae. In: Lockwood CJ, Copel JA, Dugoff L, et al, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 43.

Last reviewed on: 11/21/2022

Reviewed by: LaQuita Martinez, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Alpharetta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Bloody discharge during pregnancy ᐈ Blood during early pregnancy

Seeing bloody discharge, a pregnant woman is always frightened. They are considered a symptom of miscarriage and other equally serious pathologies. At the same time, in some cases, the appearance of a small amount of blood is considered the norm and does not pose a threat to the life and health of the fetus or the expectant mother.

In early pregnancy, bloody discharge occurs in 25% of women. In most cases, they are associated with the implantation of the fetal egg to the wall of the uterus. Also, scanty spotting may appear on the dates of the expected menstruation. If they end quickly, are not accompanied by pain, and the woman has not had miscarriages or pregnancy complications before, most likely she has nothing to worry about. However, it is necessary to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist and undergo an examination.

Why bloody discharge can appear and when it is dangerous, said Elena Petrovna Domnich, obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category, gynecologist-endocrinologist, ultrasound specialist of the ADONIS medical center.

Elena Nikolaevna, tell me, can a woman have periods during pregnancy?

- Sometimes during pregnancy, a woman may experience spotting, but this should not be interpreted as menstruation. Menstruation occurs at the end of the menstrual cycle, during which the endometrium changes, first proliferative, then secretory. During the cycle, the endometrium prepares for pregnancy, and if it does not occur, then menstruation begins.

In the event of pregnancy, menstruation is not possible, although bleeding may occur at the expected time. Because of this, some women do not immediately know that they are pregnant. However, when the obstetrician-gynecologist at the reception asks them about the nature of the discharge, it always turns out that they are different from menstrual. As a rule, they are more scarce, pass faster and are not accompanied by other symptoms. Sometimes a woman says that her period was very recent, but at the time of examination and examination, we find that she is already 8 or 12 weeks pregnant.

How often does this happen? Is spotting during pregnancy an exception or a fairly common occurrence?

- Bloody discharge is not common in pregnant women, but still it cannot be said that these are exceptional cases.

Tell me, if a woman is planning to conceive a child, and during the expected period she has atypical discharge, should she take a pregnancy test?

– Yes, but it is better to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist. There are cases when a woman is pregnant, but the test strip shows a negative result. To accurately determine whether there is a pregnancy, allows a blood test for the level of hCG.

So bleeding during pregnancy is not menstruation, but bleeding? Why can it appear and why is it dangerous?

- Yes, that's right. This is bleeding, not menstruation. It can be a symptom of a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other pathology. For diagnosis, you must consult a doctor.

Tell me more, if a woman has a discharge and thinks she is menstruating, but a previous pregnancy test came back positive, could it be wrong?

- A pregnancy test is sometimes positive even if it is not. This happens if a woman has formed luteal cysts or developed a thyroid disease.

Bloody discharge during pregnancy requires contacting the antenatal clinic or the medical center where the woman was registered for pregnancy management. Sometimes they may not be dangerous, but without diagnosis, it cannot be ruled out that this is a symptom of a serious disorder.

Bleeding may occur with:

threatened miscarriage;
ectopic pregnancy;
infectious diseases of the reproductive system;
cysts;
myomas;
cervical erosion;
placental abruption;
threatened preterm birth.

You can watch the video version of Elena Petrovna Domnich's interview here. More helpful videos on our YouTube channel.

The question is asked by Anya, - a question-answer from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

10/23/2014

Hello! I have a second pregnancy (my son is 1 year 2 months), the term is 13-14 weeks. At the 11th week, heavy bleeding began (until that time, nothing bothered) and I was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of “beginning miscarriage.” Heavy bleeding lasted from 13.00 to 16.00, then it bled a little all the next day, and on the third day the discharge began to darken and disappeared. The next morning after admission, I had an ultrasound scan (06/04/05), which showed: The uterus in anteflexio, with clear, even contours, rounded, enlarged due to pregnancy and according to its duration. Meometrium of normal structure and echogenicity, without nodules and retrochorial hematomas, in which one live embryo is visualized. The placenta is formed on the right side with the transition to the anterior wall of the uterus, up to 1. 2 m thick. The amount of water is normal. The internal os of the uterus is completely closed. The results of the analyzes: Cl. blood test: Er - 4, 15; Hb - 124; Ht - 35, 8; L-9, 4; P - 6; C - 73; L - 18; M-3; E-0; ESR - 22. General analysis of urine: Specified weight -1010, PH - Neutral; Protein, Glucose, erythrocytes - neg; L - 1-2-1; epithelium singly. Biochem. blood test: Common. Protein - 65.0; Urea - 3, 2; Creatinine - 76; Bilirubin - 12-0-12; Alat - 23; AsAt - 59; Glucose - 3, 4. Gr. Blood A (II) Rh - factor positive. RW, HIV, HBs Ag - negative, DHA - 1.88. Treatment was prescribed: No-shpa 2, 0-3 times / m, papaverine 2 times, utrozhestan 1 t - 2 times, Vite 1-3 times, dicynone 2, 0 - 2 times / m, valerian 1 - 3 times, dexamethasone ½ tab. H night, magneB6 2-3 times, Materna 1. a day. While I was in the hospital, I bled a little bit a couple of times, and every day there were periodically pulling pains and tingling in the lower abdomen. She was discharged after 2 weeks, the medications were the same (except for decinone). The next day after discharge, dark brown discharge appeared again, on the same day I did a new ultrasound (06/20/05) results: Pregnancy 14 weeks, One live embryo is determined in the uterine cavity, the size of the fetus is proportional and corresponds to a period of 12 weeks. Rhythmic heartbeat 10 beats/min. Motor activity is determined by malformations not identified. Chorion along the anterior wall of the uterus On the degree of maturity. The thickness of the placenta is 16 mm. The tone of the myometrium is slightly increased along the anterior wall. The cervix is not shortened. The cervical canal is closed. I have a few questions: How might such a threat affect a child's development? What additional tests should be taken to clarify the cause of the threat? How long to take the prescribed medication in this amount? Could the short period between pregnancies be the cause of the threat? Thank you for your advice

Clinic "Mother and Child" Kuntsevo:

01/27/2021

The presence of short-term bleeding during pregnancy with normal blood tests and ultrasound data (adequate fetal development, absence of detachment of the placenta) does not have a negative effect on the fetus.