Bleeding in Early Pregnancy: When Should you Worry?

Light bleeding during the first trimester is common. In fact, about 20 percent of women experience it, so if it’s happening to you, don’t worry — everything is probably fine.

However, bleeding can sometimes be a sign of something serious, so it’s important to know what to look for and when to seek medical help.

Potential causes of bleeding during the first trimester

You may experience some spotting when you expect to get your period. This is called implantation bleeding and it happens around 6 to 12 days after conception as the fertilized egg implants itself in your womb. This bleeding should be light — perhaps lasting for a couple of days, but it’s perfectly normal.

Since miscarriages are most common during the first trimester, it’s normal to worry about bleeding early in your pregnancy. But as Dr. Alexis Svokos, an OBGYN at Geisinger explains, “Once a heartbeat is seen on an ultrasound, more than 90 percent of women who experience first trimester vaginal bleeding do not miscarry. ”

During pregnancy, extra blood is flowing to the cervix. Intercourse or a Pap test, which cause contact with the cervix, can trigger light bleeding.

What are the signs of a miscarriage?

Call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately if you have any of these signs of miscarriage:

• Severe pain or cramps low in the abdomen
• Severe bleeding, with or without pain
• Vaginal discharge containing tissue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Chills
• Fever higher than 100.4° F

“If you have heavy bleeding during pregnancy, don’t use a tampon. Wear a pad and don’t change it before heading to the emergency room,” says Dr. Svokos. “Doctors need to know how much you’re bleeding; whether the blood is pink, brown or red; and if it’s smooth or full of clots. Be sure to bring any tissue that passes through your vagina in for testing, too.”

Your doctor will use vaginal and abdominal ultrasounds to determine the cause of your bleeding. If a miscarriage does occur, it often means the baby wasn’t developing normally.

Most women who miscarry go on to have healthy pregnancies, but having a miscarriage is one of the most challenging things a woman and her partner can go through. Don’t rush the grieving process. Finding a support group or counselor can help a lot.

Getting pregnant after miscarriage

You can ovulate and become pregnant as soon as 2 weeks after a miscarriage, but many healthcare providers recommend waiting a bit longer. Abstaining from sex for a few weeks after a miscarriage due to a risk of infection is also a good idea. Ask your doctor what’s best for you.

If you experience two or more consecutive miscarriages, your doctor might recommend testing to determine if there’s an underlying cause. A simple blood test can be used to detect potential issues with your hormones or immune system. Other blood tests can be done on you and your partner to see if genetics are a factor. Testing for uterine problems may also be recommended.

Preventing miscarriage next time

“Since most miscarriages are caused by genetic abnormalities or other health factors that are beyond anyone’s control, it’s important for women to understand that it isn’t their fault,” says Dr. Svokos. “There isn’t much you can do to prevent miscarriages. But staying healthy while trying to conceive — and while pregnant — is definitely the best approach.” Her recommendations?

• Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs and cigarettes
• Reduce caffeine intake to one cup a day
• Get regular prenatal visits
• Take your prenatal vitamins 

By the end of week 12, your chances of miscarriage drop considerably. Entering your second trimester means you’ll probably be feeling better and (hopefully) worrying less.

Next steps:

Meet Alexis Svokos, MD
Learn about pregnancy care at Geisinger

It started with bleeding at 6 weeks

Story by Jessica, 

So about a month ago I had started feeling different and had some very light dark spotting and knew my period was late. I took 3 pregnancy tests and sure enough all were positive. My boyfriend and I have been together 6 years and had been trying for about a year.

When he and I first got together I had an abortion because he was struggling with addiction and neither of us were in any position to raise a child.

This time was like fate…he has been sober and things were looking up for us.

I was very excited to be pregnant

The excitement I felt was indescribable especially since my best friend was also pregnant. I immediately made a doctor’s appointment and got another positive test. And they checked my HCG levels.

At this point nothing could’ve brought me down, even the spotting I had been getting. They told me I was roughly 6 weeks and to just keep an eye on the bleeding. 

But a couple days later it got heavier and so my doctor advised me to go to Emergency.

I went to Emergency

They did a pelvic and internal and external ultrasound. Then ty sent me home telling me not to worry. My cervix was closed and the bleeding would probably subside. I should just take it kind of easy. My HCG had risen to 1690 and they said I should come back if anything got worse. I

I followed up with my doctor 2 days later to get my levels checked again, then while waiting for the results the next day I lay down for a nap.

When I got up I was cramping and my pad was almost soaked with blood. I started to freak out crying and called my doctro who told me to again go on to Emergency again.

They told me it was inevitable I would miscarry

I hit my knees and prayed hard for my baby to be OK. They tested my HCG and it showed my levels weren’t rising. With the heavy bleeding, cramping and the HCG levels not rising, they told me it was pretty much inevitable that I would miscarry.

I fell to pieces but I wanted to wait to see my doctor the following Monday. This was on a Friday.

I did everything to soothe myself but then as I got into bed that night the miscarriage started. The cramps were unbelievable and I was bleeding so badly. I could feel it when I passed the sac. It was horrible. I sat on the toilet the next hour broken and just cried every tear I had. The worst was the emptiness and shame I felt.

I am still dealing with the emotional part – and some of the physical given that all this happened about 2 weeks ago.

I’m still trying to pick up the pieces

I’m trying to pick up the pieces and move on but every baby I see, every pregnant woman I see, just everything baby or pregnancy related hurts like nothing else.

We had chosen not to tell anyone except a couple close friends so I went right back to work and had to pretend nothing happened.

I advise anyone to NOT DO THIS. Going back to work after a miscarriage is such a painful experience. I found myself locked in the bathroom multiple times a day trying to fight the crying episodes, trying to hide the cramping. It was so hard to just not fall to pieces.

Support is everything during a time like this. My boyfriend has been amazing through it but I should’ve told at least my mum. 

Was my miscarriage a punishment?

I just felt like God was punishing me for my decision all those years ago but I have learned that it happens. It’s nothing I should blame anyone for especially not God or myself for anyone out there going through this my whole heart is with you completely.

Talk it out, feel it because pushing it away is not dealing with it but number one to remember is it is NOT YOUR FAULT!!

Stay strong ladies and may faith and love be with you.

Vaginal spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy

Light bleeding, or spotting, during pregnancy is common and usually nothing to worry about. Spotting is similar to a period but much lighter, and can vary in
colour. You may notice anything from red to dark brown discharge. If you have brown discharge this just means the blood is a little older and no more a reason to worry than red spotting. Let your doctor or midwife know if you have red or brown discharge in pregnancy though even if it stops, just in case.

Will my baby be safe if I have red or brown spotting or discharge?

Your baby is likely to be fine, as spotting or light bleeding is often harmless (NHS 2015a, RCOG 2016a).

In the early weeks red or brown discharge, spotting or bleeding is very common. As many as one mum in four with a healthy pregnancy has some sort of bleeding or spotting in the first trimester (Hasan et al 2010, van Oppenraaij et al 2009).

Many pregnancies carry on, despite early bleeding problems (Norwitz and Park 2016, RCOG 2016a).

Sometimes, though, spotting can be a sign of something more serious, such as miscarriage. This is why it’s always best to tell your midwife or doctor if you have any type of vaginal bleeding, even if it stops.

If the bleeding signalled a miscarriage, you’d develop tummy cramps as well, and the bleeding would usually get heavier (Hasan et al 2010, Norwitz and Park 2016).

More often, though, spotting or light bleeding stops on its own and the pregnancy carries on as normal (Hasan et al 2010, van Oppenraaij et al 2009).

Spotting or light bleeding is likely to turn out to be no more than a worrying blip in your pregnancy (Hasan et al 2010, Norwitz and Park 2016) that you’ll soon be able to put behind you.

What causes red or brown discharge in pregnancy?

Light bleeding is likely to be caused by the developing placenta. Once you’re about six weeks pregnant, there’s a step-change in your pregnancy. The placenta takes over from your body the job of making pregnancy hormones (Hasan et al 2010, van Oppenraaij et al 2009) and this is thought to be associated with light bleeding.

You’re most likely to have spotting or bleeding when you’re between five weeks and eight weeks pregnant (Hasan et al 2010).

The bleeding is unlikely to last longer than three days (Hasan et al 2010). You may only realise you’re bleeding when you go to the loo and wipe, or notice spotting in your pants.

You may have heard that light bleeding is caused by menstrual hormones breaking through around the time you would have had a period. Another theory is that bleeding happens when the embryo implants in the womb wall.

While you may get some bleeding at the time you’d expect your period, it is unlikely to be anything to do with menstrual hormones or implantation. Most normal bleeding happens about five days after implantation (Harville et al 2003).

Aside from the placenta developing, there may be other things going on inside your body that have caused some bleeding:

• Irritation to your cervix. Pregnancy hormones can change the surface of the cervix, making it more likely to bleed, such as after you have sex.
• Fibroids, which are growths in the lining of your womb. Sometimes, the placenta embeds where there is a fibroid.
• A small, harmless growth on your cervix (cervical polyp).
• A cervical or vaginal infection. (Norwitz and Park 2016)

Inherited bleeding disorders, such as Von Willebrand Disease, that make it more difficult for your blood to clot, can also cause bleeding in pregnancy (Shahbazi et al 2012).

What does the placenta do?

Will I have any tests after early vaginal bleeding or brown discharge?

If the bleeding occurred early in your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor can refer you to your nearest early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU) for further tests. You can also see a doctor at your local hospital (RCOG 2016a).

Tests to check how your pregnancy is going may include:

• An ultrasound scan to check that your baby is well. Your baby will be tiny at this stage, so you may need to have a scan via your vagina to get a good image. The person doing the scan (sonographer) will ask your permission to gently insert a probe into your vagina. It’s perfectly safe for you and your baby.
• A vaginal examination. Your obstetrician will ask to check the neck of your womb for any cause of bleeding. She’ll insert a speculum, the same instrument that’s used during a cervical screening test, to gently widen your vagina to give her a view of your cervix.
• A test for chlamydia. Chlamydia can make ectopic pregnancy more likely to happen (NHS 2015b).
• Blood tests to check your blood group, rhesus status, and perhaps also the levels of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your blood (RCOG 2016a).

What are the more serious causes of brown discharge or bleeding in pregnancy?

Unfortunately, bleeding in early pregnancy can be a sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. In both cases, you also usually develop tummy or pelvic pain and cramps (Norwitz and Park 2016).

Early miscarriage usually happens when a baby is not developing properly, and the bleeding becomes steadily heavier (Hasan et al 2010, Norwitz and Park 2016).

Early miscarriage is a heartbreaking event, but it is common (NICE 2013, RCOG 2016a). It affects about one pregnancy in four (Tommy’s 2016).

An ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilised egg implants outside of your womb. Unfortunately, a baby can’t grow if this happens. The bleeding may continue, and may look dark and watery (RCOG 2016b).

An ectopic pregnancy can make you seriously ill, so you’ll need to see an obstetrician at your nearest hospital quickly (Elson et al/RCOG 2016, NHS 2016, RCOG 2016b).

You’re slightly more likely to have spotting if you conceived twins. Sadly, sometimes one twin can stop developing and eventually disappear altogether. This is called a vanishing twin (Anderson-Berry 2016), and it may trigger some bleeding (Anderson-Berry 2016, Norwitz and Park 2016).

A rare cause of bleeding is a molar pregnancy (Cancer Research UK 2016, RCOG 2010, 2011). A molar pregnancy happens when an egg is fertilised but a baby can’t grow, because the wrong number of chromosomes come together. A cluster of abnormal cells grows instead of a healthy baby (NHS 2017). A molar pregnancy must be treated to remove the abnormal tissues (NHS 2017, RCOG 2010, 2011).

It is also possible for a blow to your belly, perhaps after a fall, to trigger bleeding (Norwitz and Park 2016).

You may be offered extra care if you’ve had vaginal bleeding. Bleeding raises the chance of complications happening later in pregnancy (Saraswat et al 2010), especially if the bleeding was heavy or carried on into the second trimester (Norwitz and Park 2016).

Complications include premature birth, and having a baby with a low birth weight (Norwitz and Park 2016). Your medical team can keep a close eye on your pregnancy and your baby’s growth, with extra scans and clinic appointments.

Bleeding in late pregnancy is much rarer and more serious than early bleeding. Read more about bleeding in late pregnancy.

See these other pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore.

References

Anderson-Berry AL. 2016. Vanishing twin syndrome. MedScape. emedicine.medscape.com [Accessed January 2018]

Cancer Research UK. 2016. Gestational trophoblastic disease: risks and causes. www.cancerresearchuk.org [Accessed January 2018]

Elson CJ, Salim R, Potdar N, et al on behalf of RCOG. 2016. Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists / Association of Early Pregnancy Units joint guideline, Green-top guideline, 21. onlinelibrary.wiley.com [Accessed January 2018]

Elson CJ, Salim R, Potdar N, Chetty M, Ross JA, Kirk EJ on behalf of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. BJOG 2016;.123:e15–e55.

Harville EW, Wilcox AJ, Baird DD, et al. 2003. Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy. Hum Reprod 18(9):1944-7

Hasan R, Baird DD, Herring AH, et al. 2010. Patterns and predictors of vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy. Ann Epidemiol 20(7):524-31. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [Accessed January 2018]

NHS. 2015a. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed January 2018]

NHS. 2015b. Chlamydia. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed January 2018]

NHS. 2016. Ectopic pregnancy. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed January 2018]

NHS. 2017. Molar pregnancy. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed January 2018]

NICE. 2013. Miscarriage. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk [Accessed January 2018]

Norwitz ER, Park JS. 2016. Overview of the etiology and evaluation of vaginal bleeding in pregnant women. UpToDate 08 Nov

RCOG. 2010. The management of gestational trophoblastic disease. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Green-top guideline, 38. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed January 2018]

RCOG. 2011. Information for you: gestational trophoblastic disease. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed January 2018]

RCOG. 2016a.Information for you: bleeding and/or pain in early pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed January 2018]

RCOG. 2016b.Information for you: Ectopic pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed January 2018]

Saraswat L, Bhattacharya S, Maheshwari A, et al. 2010. Maternal and perinatal outcome in women with threatened miscarriage in the first trimester: a systematic review. BJOG 117(3):245-57

Shahbazi S, Moghaddam-Banaem L, Ekhtesari F, et al. 2012. Impact of inherited bleeding disorders on pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 23(7):603-7

Tommy’s. 2016. Miscarriage information and support. www.tommys.org [Accessed January 2018]

van Oppenraaij RHF, Jauniaux E, Christiansen OB, et al, on behalf of the ESHRE Special Interest Group for Early Pregnancy (SIGEP). 2009. Predicting adverse obstetric outcome after early pregnancy events and complications: a review. Hum Reprod Update 15(4):409-21. academic.oup.com [Accessed January 2018]

I’m pregnant and I’ve bled through half of it: The horrors of my first trimester | The Independent

There are no words to tell people you’re pregnant in a way that doesn’t sound desperately trite. In the past few weeks I’ve swung between the oblique (“what’s the deal with, er, children at your July 2020 wedding in Bordeaux?!?!”) and the casual (“I’m up the duff”) to the over-reaction (“never going on a nice holiday ever again”) and the obvious (“yeah I know I look fat”).

I haven’t yet posted a picture of my uterus-by-ultrasound on Facebook – too personal – or even posed in my oversized Greggs-imitation “Preggs” T-shirt that I assumed I’d be gasping to post on Instagram. (Don’t worry, I have told my family, friends and bosses before announcing it in a newspaper).

It’s my first time doing this: and I’ve got no idea how to handle it.

The first trimester is the worst for most pregnant women. I didn’t feel “thrilled” – rather absolutely petrified, which doesn’t make for the happiest of responses during weeks four to 13. (The first four were spent in my usual funk of fizz, soft cheese and long-haul travel: the baby was conceived in Namibia and spent its formative few weeks on a nine-day-long bender in New York and Nashville. It was after a whisky tasting in Tennessee that I first figured something might be amiss: why did that Lyft air freshener smell so weird?)

I know it’s not a breeze for anyone, and I’m very lucky to be carrying a so-far healthy pregnancy. I’ve had the additional issue that my first trimester – and entire pregnancy to date – has been complicated by the fact that I’ve bled through the entirety of it. Sometimes it’s been a pale pink smear on the toilet tissue, sometimes large wine-coloured clots (sorry). I had 10 scans before I was 13 weeks, after repeated visits to my local hospital’s Early Pregnancy Unit following bad bleeding episodes, where at eight weeks I was diagnosed with a cervical ectropion.

24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

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1/2424 pieces of life advice from celebrities

24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

6. Oprah Winfrey

“The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free. ”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

1. Demi Lovato

“No matter what you’re going through, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it may seem hard to get to it but you can do it and just keep working towards it and you’ll find the positive side of things.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

2. Bruce Lee

“It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.”

Rex Features

24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

3. Ziggy Marley

“Doing something that is productive is a great way to alleviate emotional stress. Get your mind doing something that is productive.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

4. Winnie The Pooh

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

5.

Lena Dunham

“I am certainly no self-help guru but here is what I know tonight: when you take the time and space you need, kindly and responsibly, you’re suddenly available to the people you love in a whole new way.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

7. Barack Obama

“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”

AFP/Getty Images

24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

8. Michelle Obama

“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

9. Lizzo

“I love you. You are beautiful and you can do anything.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

10.

RuPaul

“The only thing wrong with me was that I thought there was something wrong with me.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

11. Maya Angelou

“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.”

EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

12. Stephen Fry

“It is the useless things that make life worth living and that make life dangerous too: wine, love, art, beauty. Without them life is safe, but not worth bothering with.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

13. Meghan Markle

“Be able to delegate, because there are some things that you just can’t do by yourself.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

14. Nelson Mandela

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again. ”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

15. Haruki Murakami

“And once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

16. CS Lewis

“You Are Never Too Old To Set Another Goal Or To Dream A New Dream.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

17. Audery Hepburn

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

18. Ella Fitzgerald

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

19.

Billy Porter

“For me, life is about being positive and hopeful, choosing to be joyful, choosing to be encouraging, choosing to be empowering.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

20. Betty White

“It’s your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

21. Drew Barrymore

“Life is very interesting… in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

22. Jane Fonda

“It’s never too late – never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

23. Jennifer Aniston

“There are no regrets in life. Just lessons.”

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24 pieces of life advice from celebrities

24.

Beyonce Knowles

“The reality is: sometimes you lose. And you’re never too good to lose. You’re never too big to lose. You’re never too smart to lose. It happens”

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In sanitary terms, that means soft cells are growing on my cervix where hard-wearing ones should be. Ergo, those cells are susceptible to bleeding, especially when you throw in buckets of pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow down there. It’s the type of thing that would ordinarily be picked up by a smear test, but the timings of mine didn’t work out.

Each time they saw me, doctors shrugged and told me “bleeding is just a thing that happens in pregnancy”, and that it would probably settle down into the second trimester

In the NHS textbook, “vaginal bleeding” during pregnancy is a Very Very Bad thing and needs to be investigated immediately, even when the case is not at all egregious and doesn’t affect the baby (who seems to be doing fine). Each time they saw me, doctors shrugged and told me “bleeding is just a thing that happens in pregnancy”, and that it would probably settle down into the second trimester. Then they printed out another page of unintelligible measurements to put into this big file of paper that pregnant women are expected to carry with them everywhere.

It doesn’t help that the heightened emotions of pregnancy means I find myself unable to assess information like I would in my day-to-day job as a journalist. Ordinarily I’d be adept at filtering different opinions and applying common sense and rationale to find the middle ground. With pregnancy, this just doesn’t apply, as everything feels very urgent.

Every time I bled – so, daily – my brain would gallop to the worst-case scenario, usually thanks to a post in a years-old Mumsnet forum. It’s very hard to shrug this off and find perspective if you don’t want to see it. I found myself checking daily miscarriage-risk charts obsessively, taking heart in passing each hour, each day, each week. Even when I hit 12 weeks, the doctor told me the risk wasn’t as low as it should have been: women who bleed continue to be higher risk for miscarriage.

One weekend this summer I was in Vilnius in Lithuania with friends, around eight weeks pregnant. The trip should’ve been joyous: I was telling my friends that next year’s trip to another Baltic capital would likely not include me (my baby might’ve cramped my style). Instead, I bled steadily in the shower one morning and the next day assumed I’d miscarried in an airport toilet thanks to the amount of blood. How apt, I thought. Of course a travel editor would have a miscarriage in an airport toilet.

 I found myself checking daily miscarriage risk charts obsessively, taking heart in passing each hour, each day, each week.

By about 14 weeks, after my 11th scan, we had established that bleeding during pregnancy is not always a Bad Thing. At the tail end of my first trimester, I’d warned that my negative blood type (A-) meant I would need more monitoring than most, given the “recurrent bleeding” (I now had a term for it). A negative blood type is not usually problematic for most women, but throw in a positive blood-type baby and pesky cervical erosion means I need twice-monthly blood tests and then jabs of something called Anti-D, to make sure that none of my antigen-less blood mixes with the baby’s healthy blood and cause rhesus disease.

I’m now 20 weeks, and the bleeding has become as commonplace as my daily caffeine hit – yes, I’m still allowed one – and my increasingly calm mental state has meant I can judge it for what it is: one of the many pregnancy complications that women have to deal with when growing another human being. I’m not the only negative blood-type woman – growing a positive baby – to suffer cervical erosion.

Woman stuffs laptop and charging cable down her jumpsuit to look pregnant in attempt to avoid baggage fee

There has been lightness too. Once those fraught early weeks were over, I could see the blood and constant hospital visits as a minor inconvenience, and so have been teeth-clenchingly open with my friends. Case in point: one poor couple in a Thai cafe in south London heard all about my leaky cervix when they sat next to me and my friend for dinner last month. Sorry.

Or that time I turned up for my first Anti-D injection at the hospital, at just over 12 weeks pregnant. I started to roll up my sleeves. The nurse eyed me and said: “Ms Adams, we need you to bend over…”

To learn more about vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, consult the NHS guide here.

Heavy Bleeding After Birth: What’s Normal and What’s Not?

Welcoming a new bundle of joy to the world can be an awe-inspiring experience. As you’re enjoying your new addition to your family, you may have noticed some less expected changes to your body, such as heavy vaginal bleeding after childbirth. All new moms experience heavy bleeding after birth (also known as lochia). But when is it too much? When should you worry and when is it no big deal?

Use this guide to understand everything you need to know about postpartum bleeding and lochia.

What is Lochia?

Here’s the deal. Heavy bleeding after giving birth is your body’s way of flushing excess tissue and blood from your uterus that supported your pregnancy but are no longer needed. The combination of blood and fluid shed after childbirth is called lochia. It is normal. Some of your lochia will also be comprised of fresh blood from the wound created when your placenta detached from your uterus during labor.

Lochia is made up of a number of things, including:

• Placental tissue that got left behind
• Thickened endometrium no longer needed post-pregnancy
• Blood from the wound site where the placenta detached from the uterine wall
• Cervical mucous

You’ll go through a few stages of postpartum bleeding after delivery. Check out this article to learn what to expect during the three stages of postpartum bleeding.

What is Normal Postpartum Bleeding?

In the first 1 to 3 days after birth, your lochia will be bright red and heavy. This is not a sign of excessive postpartum bleeding and is nothing to worry about. After a few days, your lochia will lighten up, becoming watery and pinkish in color. Within a week or so, it will lessen and become a yellowish-whitish discharge with occasional spotting. This can last up to 12 weeks post-partum but will likely go away within 3 to 6 weeks.

You may even soak through a regular menstrual pad every few hours. This is expected in the first few days after birth.

What to Do About Normal Postpartum Bleeding

There are a number of steps you can take to prompt your uterus to contract more rapidly, thereby reducing normal postpartum bleeding, which can include:

• Having a caregiver massage your uterus
• Breastfeeding
• Peeing as often as you can
• Resting and letting your body heal

Your lochia will be heavier the more active you are. So, try to take it easy as much as you can in order to let your body heal.

Products to Manage Postpartum Bleeding: It may be a good idea to use absorbent panties such as Always Discreet underpants instead of a pad that needs to be changed so often. Use this guide to learn how to choose postpartum underwear.

Do not use tampons to manage vaginal bleeding after childbirth. Doctors typically recommend waiting six weeks before inserting anything in the vagina, as it can cause trauma to the very sensitive tissue and could lead to infections. Talk to your doctor about when it is okay to use tampons to manage blood flow.

What is Not Considered “Normal” Postpartum Bleeding?

If you are soaking through a menstrual pad in an hour or less, it may be a sign of abnormal or excessive bleeding after birth and you should call your doctor right away. Another sign of excessive postpartum bleeding is passing blood clots larger than a plum. Keep an eye out and talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.

What Are the Signs of Hemorrhaging After Birth?

Excessive bleeding after childbirth can be a sign of postpartum hemorrhage, a very serious condition. The highest risk period for hemorrhaging after birth is within 24 hours of delivery. This type of severe postnatal blood loss is known as primary postpartum hemorrhage, and it affects 5 out of every 100 women post-child delivery. However, although much more rare, postpartum hemorrhage can occur anywhere within 12 weeks from you giving birth. This is called secondary postpartum hemorrhage.

The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is something called uterine atony. Typically, after labor your uterus contracts to stop the bleeding at the site where the placenta was attached during pregnancy. Uterine atony means your uterus doesn’t contract as strongly as it should. Although it is quite rare, there are a number of risk factors both before and during labor for primary postpartum hemorrhage.

Before labor, the risk factors include:

• Previous postpartum hemorrhage
• Obesity
• Giving birth to multiples
• Placenta previa (a low-sitting placenta)
• Placental abruption (when the placenta pulls away too early)
• Pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure
• Anemia

During labor, the risk factors include:

• Caesarean section birth
• Induced labor
• Retained placenta
• Episiotomy
• Uterine rupture
• Forceps or vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery
• Labor that lasted longer than 12 hours
• Having a baby that weighs more than 4kg (9lbs)
• Having your first baby when you’re over 40 years old

What to Do About Excessive Bleeding After Birth

While only 1 to 5 percent of women develop excessive bleeding after the baby is born, it is important to know what to look out for. If you bleed profusely, your organs will not receive enough blood. This is known as shock, and it can be fatal.

Call an ambulance immediately and head to the emergency room if you are experiencing symptoms of shock. These include

• Bright red bleeding beyond the third day after birth
• Large clots (blood clots bigger than a plum)
• Bleeding that soaks more than one sanitary pad an hour and doesn’t slow down or stop
• Blurred vision
• Chills
• Clammy skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Faint feeling

Once you are in the hands of trained medical professionals, it’s good to know what types of treatment might be offered. Treatment options for postpartum hemorrhage can include blood transfusion, an injection of medication designed to stop the bleeding, hysterectomy or removal of the uterus, or a surgery to identify the source of the bleeding and stop it, called a laparotomy.

Caring for Yourself After an Abortion

Caring for yourself after an abortion is important. Staff is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions or discuss concerns.

During Business Hours:
Call 1-800-230-7526 between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM.

After Hours:
If you need to speak to a clinician after the health centers are closed, call the after-hours telephone number referenced on the paperwork you received at your procedure.

Normal Side Effects

Bleeding

Some women do not experience any bleeding. Others may have bleeding that lasts from 2–6 weeks.

• Bleeding may be spotty, dark brown, and include clots.
• Often there is no bleeding for the first few days immediately following the abortion, then hormonal changes may cause bleeding as heavy as a period around the third or fifth day and increased cramping.
• If heavy bleeding (soaking a full-sized maxi-pad in one hour) occurs, then begin deep uterine massaging for 10 minutes, take Ibuprofen, use a heating pad, and decrease activity.
• If heavy bleeding continues for more than three hours, call us (see calling instructions above).

Discharge

Discharge may be:

• Non-bloody and range from a brown to black color.
• Mucus-like.

If the discharge is itchy or painful, has a bad odor, and is pus-like, call us (see calling instructions above).

Pain/Cramps

• Cramping is normal and necessary for the uterus to return to its non-pregnant size.
• Cramping may by occasional, like menstrual cramps, for the first few days.
• Cramping may increase, along with bleeding and clotting, particularly around the third to fifth day.
• Cramping should be relieved by ibuprofen, deep uterine massage, heat, and rest.

Cramping may be relieved by one or more of the following:

• Take 800 mg ibuprofen with food or milk every 6 to 8 hours.
• Apply uterine massages frequently. This involves firmly pressing down on your abdomen with your fingertips. Rub in a circular motion from the belly button to your pubic bone. You may need to continue this for at least 10 minutes to get some relief.
• Drink warm liquids such as tea or hot cocoa.
• Use a heating pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen.

Abnormal Side Effects

If you have any of the following symptoms, you could be experiencing an emergency. Please call us right away (see calling instructions above).

Prolonged Heavy Bleeding

• Soaking 2 or more maxi pads in an hour for 2 hours in a row.
• Blood clots larger than a lemon.

Severe Pain/Cramps

Severe pain or cramping that medication does not help.

Body Temperature

Chills and fever of 101° F or higher after the day of your procedure.

Other

• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours.
• Fainting.
• Vaginal discharge that smells bad.
• Depression that won’t go away.
• Still feeling pregnant (fatigue, morning sickness, or breast tenderness) more than two weeks after your procedure.

If you are experiencing any of the abnormal symptoms, please contact us right away (see calling instructions above).

Emotions

Women experience a variety of emotions after an abortion.

• Feelings of relief, sadness, elation, or depression are common and may be strong due to the hormonal changes that occur after an abortion. Most women find these feelings do not last very long.
• Your partner or parents may experience similar emotions. It can be helpful to discuss these emotions with your partner or parents.
• It is important have a support system to help you.

Please visit our Pregnancy Options Page or review our pregnancy options resource list for more information and resources on pre/post-abortion support.

If you have questions about how you or your partner are feeling, please call us at 1-800-230-7526.

Medication

Doxycycline, Azithromycin and Flagyl are antibiotics to help prevent infections. Take this medication exactly as written on your prescription bottle.  

Methergine/Ergotamine help to shrink the uterus to its normal size. Take one tablet every 8 hours. Take Methergine/Ergotamine until gone.

Ibuprofen and Norco are for pain and cramping. Take one tablet every 6 to 8 hours with food or milk. Take only as needed.

Other Medications: Please call your pharmacist if you have questions about other medications you may be taking or wish to take, whether prescriptive or over-the-counter.

Preventing Infection

Infection in the uterus and fallopian tubes is the most common complication following an abortion. Signs of infection are:

• Fever above 101° F.
• Abdominal pain different than cramping.
• Foul-smelling discharge.

What to do

• If feeling feverish, take your temperature twice daily for 48 hours. Call the nurse if it is 101° F or higher for more than 12 hours.
• Take the antibiotic prescribed by Planned Parenthood until gone.
• Do not have sex for 1 week.
• For surgical/in-clinic abortions, do not use tampons for 1 week. (After a medical abortion/abortion pill, it is OK to use tampons immediately.)
• Do not douche for 1 week. (For more information on why douching is not recommended, please visit Ask the Experts at Planned Parenthood .)
• Do not use perfumes, bubbles, or oils in bath water.

Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy & Birth Control

Immediately after your abortion, your body will begin to prepare for your next menstrual cycle. It is important to know that you can become pregnant at any time before your next period if you have unprotected intercourse. Please take this opportunity to discuss birth control with your partner. Your partner shares in the responsibility to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

• Your first period will begin 4 to 6 weeks after the abortion.
• If you have chosen the birth control pill as your method of birth control, you will receive a packet to begin the Sunday following your abortion. Read the fact sheet provided for further information about taking the pill.
• We also have information on permanent birth control (vasectomy, tubal ligation or Essure) available if you wish.
• If you are interested in starting on a birth control method, please contact as at 1-800-230-7526, visit your local health center, or request an appointment online.

Rest and Recovery

Most of the normal side effects can be managed by resting, though most women prefer to take it easy for a day or two after an abortion until able to return to normal activity levels. Let your body be your guide.

• Despite how well you may feel, do not exercise strenuously for the first week.
• Increased activity (such as returning to work) may cause more cramping and bleeding.
• Breast tenderness and swelling may last up to 2 weeks.
• Avoid stimulation of the nipples to reduce breast discharge.
• It is normal to pass clots, especially when getting out of bed.

Most pregnancy symptoms begin to go away within 24 hours after the abortion, with nausea usually gone by the third day.

Follow-up Exam

It is recommended that you have a follow-up pelvic exam 3 to 4 weeks after your abortion to be sure you are fully recovered.

• A female clinician will perform the exam.
• The exam is free at Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan if you return within 30 days; however, there will be fees for birth control supplies, prescribed lab tests, and medications.
• There is a charge for a follow-up exam after 30 days or if you go to a private physician.
• This is a good time to discuss how your birth control method is working for you.

You can also have a Pap test done at this time for a small fee.

Miscarriage | Cedars-Sinai

Not what you’re looking for?

What is a miscarriage?

Miscarriage is a pregnancy loss in
the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. About 1 to 2 in 10 women will miscarry, most often in
the first trimester (first 13 weeks of pregnancy). From conception to the eighth week of
pregnancy, the developing baby is called an embryo. After the eighth week of pregnancy,
the baby is called a fetus.

There are different types of
miscarriage. These include: 

• Threatened. Spotting or bleeding in
  the first trimester may or may not mean a miscarriage will occur. 
• Complete. The embryo or fetus,
  placenta, and other tissues are passed with bleeding.
• Incomplete. Only a part of the
  tissues pass. Some tissue stays in the uterus. There may be heavy vaginal
  bleeding.
• Missed. The embryo or fetus dies, but
  does not pass out of the uterus. Sometimes dark brown spotting occurs. There is no
  fetal heartbeat or growth of the fetus.
• Septic. This is a miscarriage that
  becomes infected. The mother has a fever and may have bleeding and discharge with a
  foul odor. Abdominal pain is common. This is a serious problem and can cause shock
  and organ failure if not treated.
• Recurrent. Three or
  more miscarriages.

What causes a miscarriage?

About half of early pregnancy
losses are from chromosome defects in the embryo or fetus. Other causes may include:

• Abnormal embryo development
• Hormone problems in the mother. These include low levels of progesterone or a thyroid problem.
• Diabetes in the mother, especially poorly controlled blood sugar
• Problems in the uterus. These include scar tissue inside the uterus, abnormal shape of the uterus, or fibroids.
• Opening of the uterus cannot stay closed during pregnancy (incompetent cervix)
• Infection from germs. These include cytomegalovirus (CMV), mycoplasma, chlamydia, listeria, and toxoplasma.
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, in which the body attacks its own tissue 
• Injury or trauma 
• Exposure to toxic substances and chemicals, such as anticancer drugs

Often, the cause of a miscarriage can’t be found. 

Who is at risk for miscarriage?

Some things can make miscarriage more likely. They include:

• Being an older mother
• Having an early pregnancy loss in the
  past
• Smoking cigarettes
• Drinking alcohol
• Drinking more caffeine
• Using cocaine
• Having a low folate level. Folate is a
  B vitamin.
• Taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) around the time of
  conception
• Having a problem with the uterus such as fibroids. Fibroids are noncancer growths in
  the uterus. Another problem might be a septate uterus. This is a condition present at
  birth where tissue divides the uterus.
• Having certain conditions such as celiac disease, high blood pressure, thyroid
  disease, or diabetes
• Having a serious infection or major
  injury

What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?

The most common symptom of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. The bleeding may be painless. Or you may have mild to severe back pain or cramping in the belly (abdomen). Some women may pass pregnancy tissue. 

How is a miscarriage diagnosed?

Spotting or small amounts of bleeding during the first trimester is common. This may or may not mean you are having a miscarriage. Your healthcare provider will likely use ultrasound to diagnose miscarriage. If the fetus is no longer in the uterus, or there is no longer a heartbeat, your provider will diagnose a miscarriage. Other tests include blood tests for the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Lower than normal levels of this hormone or levels that do not go up may mean the pregnancy is not growing properly.

How is a miscarriage treated?

If you have vaginal bleeding, but the lab tests and ultrasound show that the pregnancy is OK, your healthcare provider may tell you to rest for a few days. You will be watched for more bleeding. You may have more hCG blood tests and ultrasound exams to check the growth of the fetus and the fetal heartbeat. 

If tests show that you have had a miscarriage in the first trimester, you may have several choices. Talk with your healthcare provider about the treatment that is best for you. Treatment choices include:

• Expectant management. This means waiting to let the miscarriage happen on its own. You will be checked often during this time.  
• Medical management. This is treatment with medicines to help the pregnancy tissues pass. You may get a medicine called misoprostol. It makes the uterus contract and push out the pregnancy tissues. 
• Surgical management. You may need surgery to remove the fetus and other tissues if they have not all been naturally passed. The procedure is called a surgical evacuation of the uterus, or a dilation and curettage (D&C). Anesthesia is used because the procedure can be painful to the mother. The cervical opening is stretched open (dilated). The doctor uses either suction or an instrument called a curette to remove all the pregnancy tissues inside the uterus.  

Pregnancy tissues may be sent to the lab to test for gene or chromosome defects. 

 If you have an infection, your healthcare provider will give you antibiotics.

Pregnancy loss after 20 weeks may need different procedures. You may get medicines such as misoprostol or prostaglandin. These medicines help open the cervix and make the uterus contract and push out the fetus and tissues. 

What are the complications of a miscarriage?

A miscarriage is a significant loss to the woman and her family. It is appropriate and normal to grieve because of the loss.

Pregnancy loss does not usually cause other serious health problems, unless you have an infection or the tissues are not passed. A serious complication with a miscarriage after 20 weeks is a severe blood clotting problem. This is more likely if it take a long time (usually a month or more) to pass the fetus and other tissues.

Women with Rh negative blood may need treatment after a miscarriage to prevent problems with blood incompatibility in a future pregnancy. A medicine called Rh immunoglobulin may be given.     

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any bleeding during your pregnancy. If you also have other symptoms, such as severe cramping, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. 

Key points about miscarriage

• Miscarriage is a pregnancy loss in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• Bleeding in pregnancy may or may not be a sign of a miscarriage.
• If you have bleeding and other symptoms such as severe cramping, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. 
• If you have a miscarriage, you may need a procedure to remove the fetus and other tissues, if they have not all been naturally passed.
• If a miscarriage has not occurred, you will probably be told to rest. You and your baby will both be monitored.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.

Medical Reviewer: Watson, L Renee, MSN, RN

Medical Reviewer: Pierce-Smith, Daphne, RN, MSN, CCRC

© 2000-2021 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.

Not what you’re looking for?

90,000 The question is asked by Anya, – a question-answer from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Hello! I have a second pregnancy (son 1 year 2 months), period 13-14 weeks. At 11 weeks, severe bleeding began (until that time nothing bothered) and I was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of “incipient miscarriage.” disappeared. The next morning after admission, I had an ultrasound scan (04.06.05g.), Which showed:
The uterus in anteflexio, with clear, even contours, rounded in shape, is enlarged due to pregnancy and, accordingly, its term. Meometrics of normal structure and echogenicity, without nodules and retrochorial hematomas, in which one living embryo is visualized. The placenta is formed along the right side with a 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.
Test results: 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 urine analysis: Specific weight -1010, PH – Neutr; Protein, Glucose, erythrocytes – neg; L – 1-2-1; The epithelium is single. 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 i / m, papaverine 2 times, morning 1 t – 2 times, vitE 1-3 times, dicinone 2, 0 – 2 times i / m, valerian 1 – 3 times, dexamethasone & frac12; tab.H night, magne B6 2 – 3 times, materna 1. per day.
During my stay in the hospital a couple of times I was bleeding quite a bit and every day there were occasional nagging pains and tingling sensations in the lower abdomen. Was discharged after 2 weeks, the drugs were left 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, A living 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 on the anterior wall of the uterus About 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 can such a threat affect the development of the child? What additional tests do I need to pass to clarify the cause of the threat? How long does it take to take prescribed medications in such a volume? Could the short term between pregnancies be the cause of the threat?
Thanks for your consultation

Clinic “Mother and Child” Kuntsevo:

The presence of short-term bloody discharge during pregnancy with normal blood tests and ultrasound data (adequate development of the fetus, absence of plpcenta detachment) does not have a negative effect on the fetus.In such cases, it is necessary to exclude inflammation of the vagina, decidual polyp of the cervical canal, when spotting does not arise from the uterus, but are external in nature and are not associated with problems of the ovum. Nevertheless, in your case, it is better to observe a gentle regimen, take antispasmodics (no-shpu, magnesium B6, soothing herbs, continue taking morning sickness until 16 weeks of pregnancy, dexamethasone. magnesium B6).

Ambulance for pregnant women

Alarms during pregnancy for immediate medical attention or calling an ambulance.

During pregnancy, conditions often occur in which a woman needs medical attention. Sometimes, feeling unwell, it is difficult to understand what to do: call an ambulance immediately or wait and make an appointment with your doctor. Sometimes this indecision can turn into serious problems.In practice, there are a number of symptoms that should not be neglected. Each of them can be a manifestation of pathology, in which it is necessary to immediately hospitalize a pregnant woman in a hospital. Consider these symptoms and associated pathologies.

Anxiety symptoms during pregnancy

Bleeding – one of the most common reasons for pregnant women to go to an ambulance is various bleeding associated with pregnancy or diseases of the reproductive organs.

Obstetric haemorrhage is a bleeding or blood secreted from the genital tract of a woman during pregnancy, parturition or in the postpartum period. The intensity and duration of such bleeding can vary greatly depending on the cause that caused them – from scanty blood smears on underwear to heavy and prolonged bleeding.

They can occur at any stage of pregnancy and when they appear, the patient most often feels general malaise, dizziness, lightheadedness or severe pain in the lower abdomen and lower back may occur.

Causes of bleeding during pregnancy:

1. Spontaneous miscarriage or abortion – such a pathology can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but the risk is highest – during the first three months of pregnancy, at this time, for various reasons, pregnancy is threatened with termination, fetal rejection begins, discharge placenta, which can provoke a miscarriage. This is accompanied by the following symptoms: discharge with blood or bright scarlet blood from the genital tract appears, the woman feels acute pain, hypertonicity of the anterior wall of the uterus is noted – the abdomen “turns to stone”.

Any manifestation of the first signs of a miscarriage is a reason to urgently seek medical help, and before the ambulance arrives, he is completely at rest, do not get up and take 1-2 tablets of antispasmodics (no-shpa, metacin or a suppository with papaverine). With timely medical care, the chance of maintaining a pregnancy increases.

2. Placenta previa is a gynecological pathology in which the placenta is attached to the place where the fetus exits the uterus.This arrangement does not interfere with the normal growth and development of the child, but greatly increases the risk of bleeding.

Symptoms of placenta previa are unexpected bleeding or spotting that occurs against the background of complete well-being after the twentieth week of pregnancy. If such symptoms appear, immediately call an ambulance, while waiting for doctors, lie on your left side and try to give the lower half of the body an elevated position – put a pillow or something soft under your hips.

3. Premature placental abruption – “child’s place” – this is the connection of the unborn baby with the mother, in case of untimely violation of this connection, there is a serious threat to the bearing of the child. The risk of such a pathology increases in the last months of pregnancy, the first signs of threatening placental abruption are a pain symptom, bleeding from the genitals, weakness, hypertonicity of the uterus, and contractions may occur.

If such symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance until she arrives, try not to make unnecessary movements, lie down, put a hot-water bottle with ice on the lower abdomen, and do not eat or water.

Any, as well as discharge from the genitals with an admixture of blood in a pregnant woman is a sign of a serious obstetric pathology, which may threaten not only the life of the unborn child, but also the life of the pregnant woman. Such symptoms are a clear indicator for emergency hospitalization in the gynecological department. While waiting for the ambulance for pregnant women, you must stop all activities and be completely at rest.

Pain syndrome

Very often, bearing a child is accompanied by various painful sensations, this is due to physiological changes caused by hormonal changes for bearing a child.Such symptoms are not always pathological. But it is necessary to clearly distinguish between situations in which pain is just an unpleasant symptom of a normally proceeding pregnancy or a sign of serious disorders in the state of health of a pregnant woman and her child.

At the beginning of pregnancy, mild pain in the lower abdomen, in the lower back – in the lower back, in the abdomen or in the enlarged mammary glands is considered normal.

Such unpleasant sensations are associated with the pressure of the growing uterus on the organs and blood vessels, with stretching of the ligaments, with the restructuring of the mammary glands.They are short-lived, not too intense, and pass quickly.

If the pain is severe, cramping, does not go away for a long time, has arisen in the genital area, uterus or in the lumbar region, this condition requires qualified medical care and you need to take care of your health without delay.

In the event of very strong pain sensations, it is recommended to call emergency help, and before the doctors arrive, go to bed and take antispasmodics – no-shpu, metacin, papaverine suppositories.

Headache during gestation may be one of the first signs of preeclampsia . An ambulance should be called if there are signs of pathology such as severe pressing pain in the temples or the back of the head, darkness in the eyes, flashing “flies” or colored spots in front of the eyes, nausea and vomiting, increased blood pressure, unmotivated excitement or depression. All these are signs of developing preeclampsia – a special pathological condition of pregnant women requiring immediate medical intervention.In addition to headache, with gestosis, there is a strong increase in pressure, edema appears and protein is detected in urine tests. In more difficult cases, a strong aggravation of the general condition of the patient, short-term stunning or loss of consciousness, the occurrence of convulsive movements is possible. When these symptoms occur, you need to urgently call an ambulance for pregnant women. Before the arrival of doctors, the patient should be laid in a dark room, in complete silence, to relieve the condition, give an elevated position in bed and monitor the patient’s condition.If a doctor has prescribed drugs that lower blood pressure, you can take them before the arrival of an ambulance.

Surgical pathology

Situations in which a person may need urgent medical attention can arise at any time and in any place. During pregnancy, the risk of these problems is slightly higher than in any other.

In order not to harm the child and his mother, you need to seek medical help as soon as possible and try to remain calm.

“Sharp abdomen” is a collective term that unites a whole group of various diseases and pathologies of internal organs that occur in the abdominal cavity. Such conditions develop very quickly and for the patient to recover, it is necessary to immediately deliver her to a surgical hospital for surgery.

Symptoms of such surgical pathologies are – severe cutting or dull pain in the abdominal cavity, their intensity increases over time, in addition, there are signs of disruption of the digestive tract – nausea, vomiting, restriction of muscle mobility of the anterior abdominal wall, stool retention.In addition to the above signs, the general state of health is greatly deteriorating – the patient feels severe weakness, dizziness, her skin turns pale, strong sweat appears and blood pressure drops.

Often, signs of inflammatory changes in the abdominal cavity may appear – an increase in body temperature, increased respiration and heart rate.

A variety of diseases, both associated with the female reproductive system and those related to the pathology of internal organs, can cause the development of such a surgical pathology:

1.Ectopic pregnancy – occurs in case of improper attachment of a fertilized egg – not in the uterine cavity, but in the abdominal cavity or fallopian tube. Such an egg can develop for some time, but then its development stops and a spontaneous miscarriage occurs. This pathology is becoming the most common cause of the development of “acute abdomen” in pregnant women. With the development of pregnancy outside the uterine cavity, the pregnant woman feels severe pain in the lower abdomen, there is no regular menstrual flow, and vaginal discharge with blood impurities appears.With a developing ectopic pregnancy, complaints may be minimal – mild pain and spotting. An interrupted ectopic pregnancy causes the patient to be admitted to the hospital. In this case, rupture of the fallopian tube or other tissues may occur. This provokes strong painful sensations – there is a “dagger” pain in the lower abdomen, the appearance of blood from the genitals. The woman feels a sharp deterioration in well-being, arising from the symptoms of internal bleeding – severe weakness, possible fainting, pressure drop, painful shock.

2. Uterine rupture – this pathology occurs after surgery on the uterus – cesarean section, removal of tumors, excision of the uterine angle after removal of an ectopic pregnancy. Symptoms of such a pathology are a change in the shape and contours of the abdomen, severe pain in a certain place, with palpation, you can feel the edges of the gap and cicatricial changes.

3. Torsion of the ovarian cyst – the occurrence of such a complication is possible in the presence of formations in the ovaries.A cyst is a benign formation in the ovary, which is a cavity with fluid, if the cyst is attached to the ovary with the help of a “leg”, then there is a risk of cyst torsion, while blood supply is disturbed, blood vessels are compressed and tissue death begins. This causes severe pain, which can be provoked by any physical activity, sexual intercourse or nervous strain. Scanty vaginal discharge also appears, and other symptoms of intoxication may be present.

4. Violation of the blood supply to the myoma node – if a pregnant woman was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, as the fetus grows, compression of the vessels feeding this formation is possible, this leads to a violation of the fibroid blood supply and the occurrence of constant dull pain in the uterine fibroids.

5. Acute appendicitis – can occur at any time, up to 75% of cases of acute appendicitis in women expecting a baby occur in the first months. Clinically, the disease manifests itself with a standard set of symptoms – pain in the epigastrium or in the lower third of the right abdomen.On examination, you can notice a strong tension in the abdominal muscles. If help was not provided on time, nausea, vomiting, and a rise in body temperature join.

6. Acute cholecystitis – an inflammatory disease of the gallbladder, it often develops in pregnant women, about 10% of all pregnant women suffer from disorders of the gallbladder, but most often the disease does not require medical attention. In case of exacerbation, the patient is tormented by severe pains on the right side, irradiating to the scapula and right shoulder, indomitable vomiting, which does not bring relief and deterioration of the general condition of the patient.In such cases, it is also necessary to contact an ambulance specialist.

7. Acute pancreatitis – occurs when the pancreas is inflamed. The main symptom of the disease is an acute, sudden girdle pain or pain in the upper abdomen, severe nausea and vomiting, a sharp rise in body temperature.

8. Perforation of a stomach or duodenal ulcer – if a woman was diagnosed with inflammation or ulcerative damage to the walls of the stomach or intestines before pregnancy, there is a risk of bleeding from damaged vessels or the formation of a hole in the wall of the organ – perforation.With such a pathology, there is a very strong dagger pain, fainting, weakness, vomiting with blood is possible.

Before the arrival of the ambulance, in all the cases described above, it is required to ensure complete rest of the pregnant woman, to put her on bed and not to give any painkillers and in no case to eat or drink until the doctors arrive. It is allowed to take antispasmodics – no-shpy, metacin – 1-2 tablets. You can not try to do an enema or flush the patient’s stomach on their own. It is also not recommended to take painkillers or laxatives – this can greatly distort the clinical picture of the disease and complicate its further diagnosis.

Somatic diseases

Almost every person has certain pathologies in the work of internal organs, and for women, during pregnancy, the risk of developing an exacerbation of these diseases increases, which can lead to complications during pregnancy.

1. Renal colic – occurs when the outflow of urine from the urinary organs is disturbed. The reason for such a delay in urination may be the formation of a kidney stone, chronic diseases of the urinary system.During renal colic, the patient suffers from very severe pain in the lower back, pain is very strong, it occurs suddenly and becomes more intense over time, in addition, the patient’s general condition is disturbed – edema, headache, nausea and vomiting may occur. Before the arrival of an ambulance, you cannot take liquid, you need to try to calm down and, if necessary, take antispasmodics – no-shpu, papaverine.

2. An attack of bronchial asthma – physical activity, nervous shock, eating an allergen or other reasons can provoke an attack of bronchial asthma.Shortness of breath occurs, the patient’s breathing is noisy and wheezing, she is tormented by a feeling of fear and anxiety, and a panic attack may occur.

Before the arrival of the doctors, the patient must be seated, unbuttoned tight clothing, open the window, lower hands and feet in hot water. It is possible to use inhaled forms of the drug to relieve edema and spasm.

Childbirth

Even if the expectant mother was preparing for the onset of labor pains and was looking forward to this moment, unexpected signs of impending birth can be taken by surprise and cause panic.

You need to go to an ambulance when there is a regular labor activity or after the amniotic fluid has passed.

Regular labor pains are repeated every 10-15 minutes, last at least 10-15 seconds, and their intensity and frequency are increasing all the time. If regular contractions appear at least once every 15-10 minutes, with a frequency of 20-10 seconds, or the water has receded, you need to call an ambulance, and before they arrive, try to calm down and collect the necessary things.

Check that you have all documents – exchange card, passport, birth certificate, insurance policy or contract for childbirth.

While there is time, you need to collect or check the availability of things necessary in the maternity hospital – socks, diapers, pads after delivery, underpants after delivery, a towel, toilet paper. hygiene products, a bathrobe, slippers, a nightgown are usually given out there, but if they are allowed, you can also have your own, a notebook and a pen, cream bepanten, drinking water, a pack of cookies and of course, all the documents). To prepare for childbirth, a woman in labor needs to trim her nails, remove jewelry, remove her hair and remove hair from intimate places.It is not recommended to eat, it is better to drink some tea, juice or compote.

90,000 Miscarriage, symptoms – Clinic Health 365, Yekaterinburg

Causes of miscarriage

Questions to the doctor about miscarriage

Diagnosis of miscarriage

Treatment and prevention of miscarriage

Miscarriage is the spontaneous termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks. According to statistics, from 10 to 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. However, the real numbers may be much higher, since a large number of miscarriages occur very early in the pregnancy, and women are not even aware of their pregnancy.Most miscarriages are due to abnormal development of the fetus.

Miscarriage is quite common, but this fact does not alleviate the situation. It is always difficult to cope with the realization that there was a pregnancy, but the child was not. Try to psychologically cope with the situation and understand what may be causing the miscarriage, what increases the risk of its occurrence, and what type of treatment may be needed.

Symptoms of miscarriage .

Most miscarriages occur before 12 weeks.Signs and symptoms of miscarriage include:

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting spotting (although this is common in early pregnancy)
• Pain or cramping in the abdomen or lower back
• Vaginal fluid or tissue fragments

It is important to take into account the fact that in the early stages of pregnancy, spotting spotting or vaginal bleeding occurs quite often.In most cases, women who have mild bleeding during the first three months have no complications later in the pregnancy. In some cases, even with heavy bleeding, the pregnancy does not end with a miscarriage.

Some women who miscarry develop an infection in the uterus. If you have this infection, also called a septic miscarriage, you may experience:

• Fever (fever, chills)
• Body pain
• Thick, foul-smelling vaginal discharge

When to see a doctor.

Contact your doctor in the following cases:

• Bleeding, even if only mild spotting is observed
• Profuse liquid vaginal discharge, not accompanied by pain or bleeding
• Isolation of tissue fragments from the vagina

You can place a fragment of the secreted tissue in a clean container and give it to your doctor for examination. It is unlikely that the study will give any accurate results, but if it is established that the fragments of the secreted tissue belong to the placenta, the doctor will be able to conclude that the symptoms that appear are not associated with the presence of a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.

You can get more detailed information about miscarriage from the gynecologists of the Zdorovye 365 clinic in Yekaterinburg.

90,000 multidisciplinary approach to the management of obstetric bleeding

Pregnant K., 31 years old, was taken to the maternity hospital by an ambulance with a diagnosis of Pregnancy 28 weeks. Placenta previa. Detachment. Uterine bleeding. A scar on the uterus after 2 cesarean sections.

Before the present pregnancy, the woman had two births, one of which ended in a caesarean section, and the second – in natural childbirth, complicated by rupture of the uterus along the scar (blood transfusion was performed for severe anemia, metroplasty – restoration of the anatomical integrity of the uterus). All children were born alive.

A feature of the course of this pregnancy was the threat of premature birth, placenta previa, uterine aneurysm, mild anemia, for which the pregnant woman was treated in one of the Moscow hospitals, from where she was discharged of her own free will a day before admission to the City Clinical Hospital No. 52 with bleeding and premature childbirth.With ultrasound before discharge: Pregnancy 27-28 weeks. The transverse position of the fetus. Placenta previa. Moderate polyhydramnios. A scar on the uterus after a cesarean section (inferior according to ultrasound) with the formation of a uterine hernia.

Upon admission to the maternity hospital of the City Clinical Hospital No. 52, the patient’s condition is grave. At the prehospital stage, massive blood loss – more than 1 liter, the bleeding continued.

The admission department was diagnosed with Pregnancy 28-29 weeks. Placenta previa.Bleeding. Burdened obstetric and gynecological history. A scar on the uterus after cesarean section and uterine rupture. Uterine aneurysm. On a gurney, the pregnant woman was urgently hospitalized in the operating room for operative delivery.

During a caesarean section, a live premature girl weighing 1170 grams, height 38 cm, Apgar score 3/6 points was born. During the operation, metroplasty was performed, ligation of the ascending branches of the uterine arteries, round and own ligaments of the ovaries on both sides.A surgeon was urgently called to the operating room: the internal iliac arteries were ligated on both sides, and the abdominal cavity was drained. A physician of the mobile resuscitation hematological team was called in, who, during the operation and in the postoperative period, carried out laboratory control and additional correction of the hemostasis system.
Intraoperative blood sampling was performed using the Cell-Saver apparatus. Transfused 375 ml of autoerythrocytes.

The “Cell-Saver” system is intended for transfusing blood to a patient, which he loses in case of massive blood loss, directly in the operating room.The system collects blood from the patient, thoroughly flushes the erythrocytes, and removes unwanted components. Thanks to this technology, the patient receives the most suitable blood for him – his own: there are no unwanted reactions during donor blood transfusion, there is no risk of infection.

The total blood loss was 3000 ml. In the postoperative period, 1300 ml of fresh frozen plasma and 614 ml of erythrocyte suspension were transferred to the puerpera, which made it possible to compensate for severe blood loss.Infusional, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antianemic therapy was also carried out.

“Once again, we appreciate the advantage of working as part of a multidisciplinary hospital, in which all, including“ exclusive ”types of medical care are available,” says Inga Yuryevna Kokaya, deputy chief physician for the medical part of the branch, on the clinical situation. – We are constantly in touch with all the hospital services that take an active part in the treatment of our patients, this time with massive obstetric bleeding.Everyone worked together – obstetricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists-resuscitators, neonatologists-resuscitators, hemostasiologists, blood service, laboratory.

The postpartum woman was discharged from the hospital home on the 6th day in a satisfactory condition.

The baby was transferred from the maternity hospital to the Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 13 named after NF Filatov at the second stage of nursing.

Characters: obstetricians-gynecologists Tomakyan R.G., Romanova A.V., resuscitator Zubritskaya N.K., neonatologist-resuscitator Budantsev A.V., physician of the resuscitation hematological team Feklistov A.V.Yu., Surgeon Khokhlatov D.E.

90,000 Gingivitis in pregnant women, bleeding gums and their causes.

Pregnancy is a very difficult period in a woman’s life, associated with a radical restructuring of the whole body, which affects, among other things, the state of the tissues of the oral cavity. Expectant mothers may experience various diseases of the oral cavity, in particular, bleeding gums (gingivitis), periodontitis and tooth decay. Today we will talk about gingivitis in pregnant women, or rather, how to avoid it.

Bleeding gums in pregnant women

Gum inflammation during pregnancy occurs in 75% of women between the 2nd and 8th months. The most common form of gum disease in pregnant women is gingivitis, which is manifested by increased bleeding. Gingivitis of pregnant women, as a rule, occurs in the area of ​​the front teeth and mainly affects only the gingival papillae and the marginal gum, directly adjacent to the teeth.

Causes of bleeding

Gum inflammation during pregnancy occurs in 75% of women between the 2nd and 8th months. The most common form of gum disease in pregnant women is gingivitis, which is manifested by increased bleeding. Gingivitis of pregnant women, as a rule, occurs in the area of ​​the front teeth and mainly affects only the gingival papillae and the marginal gum, directly adjacent to the teeth.

Gums bleed very often. One of the causes of gingivitis is hormonal changes. In the first trimester, starting from 3-4 weeks of fetal development, the level of the hormones estrogens, prostaglandins and progesterones in the woman’s body sharply increases, which provoke tissue softening. During the period of childbearing, the number of harmful microorganisms in the plaque on the teeth increases. And in combination with improper cleaning of teeth, this is the main cause of bleeding.

Expectant mothers may experience toxicosis when the habitual brushing of teeth, especially in the first trimester, provokes bouts of vomiting, and women seek to reduce the intensity of oral hygiene procedures or avoid them altogether, replacing brushing with rinsing.As a result, soft plaque builds up, hardens over time and turns into tartar, causing inflammation of the gum tissue, and then gingivitis.

If soft tissues around the tooth begin to bleed, we advise you not to postpone your visit to the dentist. The first signs that need to be addressed promptly are:

• swelling and bleeding of the gums;
• bad breath;
• plaque on teeth;
• Formation of periodontal pockets.

Is gingivitis dangerous?

In the soft dental plaque, microbes actively multiply, which release toxins and thereby stimulate the synthesis of prostaglandin E2. If you do not catch up on time and do not start treatment, this can provoke premature birth. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to start the process and not react to bleeding gums

Prevention of bleeding gums in pregnant women

So, in the oral cavity already in the early stages of pregnancy, bleeding of the gums, their swelling, an increase in the interdental papillae, a constantly deteriorating individual oral hygiene, a high level of formation of soft plaque and tartar, and an increased intensity of carious disease may increase.Touching the gums can be painful, so women tend to keep hygiene to a minimum.

Despite the predisposition of pregnant women to gingivitis, hygiene and the presence of an irrigator significantly reduce this risk. During this period, it is better to use brushes with soft or low bristle stiffness, which help to avoid unpleasant sensations when brushing your teeth.

To help maintain oral hygiene of pregnant women, an irrigator can come, which gently but thoroughly removes soft plaque and food debris, gently prevents gum inflammation and prevents the formation of tartar.Pregnant women who use an irrigator report an improvement in the condition of the oral mucosa. Using an irrigator with a thin stream of water, you can massage the gingival papillae and thoroughly clean the interdental spaces, improving the overall condition of the gums.

How does the irrigator work?

Jetpik irrigators in Ukraine are an innovation that will provide high oral hygiene. This is a device with which a thin stream of water under pressure completely cleans the interdental sinuses from food debris and plaque, and also allows you to process periodontal pockets.The device forms a fine pulsating stream that effectively removes food residues and microbial plaque.

The unique advanced Jetpik Smart Floss technology combines the power of a water jet and the penetrating power of a pulsating floss. Due to the mechanical friction of the floss, food particles and bacterial plaque can be easily removed from even the most inaccessible places in the oral cavity absolutely painlessly, which is very important for pregnant women.

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Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)

If the pregnancy is terminated naturally before the fetus reaches gestational age, this is called a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.More than half of miscarriages occur no later than 12 weeks of gestation due to fetal abnormalities. The rest falls on a period of up to 20 weeks and is associated with pregnancy pathologies. If the pregnancy is terminated in the second half, it is called premature birth.

Spontaneous abortion, otherwise called miscarriage, is one of the most common complications during pregnancy, which accounts for 10-20% of diagnosed pregnancies, and represents the rejection of a fetus weighing no more than 500 grams.and for a period of less than 22 weeks. Unfortunately, at such rates, the fetus is not viable. Usually 80% of the total number of spontaneous abortions occurs before 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Types of spontaneous abortion

1. Threat of miscarriage – characterized by mild uterine spasms, pulling pain in the lower abdomen and sometimes not abundant bleeding from the vagina.

2. Incipient miscarriage is characterized by more severe pain and profuse bleeding.In this case, the tone of the uterus is slightly increased, and the internal pharynx is closed.

3. Inevitable miscarriage – accompanied by dilatation of the cervix – the ovum can be distinguished – with profuse bleeding and severe cramps in the lower abdomen.

4. Incomplete miscarriage – part of the fetus comes out. The bleeding is so profuse that it can lead to the death of a woman.

5. Completed miscarriage – the ovum and the fetus are completely out. After that, bleeding and spasms stop.

The etiology of miscarriage is due to many factors. Among them:

– genetic disorders;

– previously performed induced abortions;

– too little time has passed since the previous pregnancy;

– inflammatory infections in the mother, endocrine disorders;

– conflict over blood between mother and fetus;

– taking hormonal contraceptives and certain medications;

– smoking during pregnancy and drinking alcohol;

– unspecified reasons.

As a preventive measure against miscarriage, it is necessary to give up addictions, not to have abortions and be regularly examined by a doctor.

Spontaneous abortion begins with the appearance of cramping pulling pains, similar to pain during menstruation. Then bleeding from the uterus begins. At first, the discharge is insignificant or moderate, and then, after the detachment of the ovum, abundant discharge with bloody clots begins. The appearance of these symptoms requires urgent hospitalization.

After examining a woman in a hospital, having determined the degree of fetal detachment, one of the following diagnoses will be made:

– the threat of pregnancy – the detachment is only outlined or quite insignificant. In this case, the pregnancy can be saved;

– incipient miscarriage – detachment is already quite decent with pronounced pain syndrome. And in this case, the fruit can be saved;

– abortion in progress – detachment with displacement progress, contractions begin, similar to birth.It is impossible to maintain pregnancy, cleaning is required;

– incomplete miscarriage – independent release of a part of the fetus and membranes, curettage is necessary for the final curettage of the uterus;

– late abortion – premature birth of an unviable baby.

After a spontaneous abortion, a small advance in planning and taking preventive measures is recommended to avoid recurrence.

In case of repeated miscarriage, a thorough comprehensive examination is necessary to find out the causes of miscarriage and their elimination.

Miscarriage is a severe psychological trauma, especially during the first pregnancy. But do not give up, with a competent approach to planning and bearing, the next pregnancy will definitely end with the appearance of the long-awaited baby.

Causes of spontaneous abortion

1. Doctors call various chromosomal pathologies one of the main reasons: monosomy, autosomal trisomy, polyploidy. They account for 82-88% of spontaneous miscarriages.

2.The second most common cause is disorders in the female genital area: endometritis – inflammation of the uterine mucosa – which prevents the implantation of the ovum and its development, and polycystic ovaries.

3. Hormonal disorders, namely progesterone deficiency.

4. Chronic diseases – uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure.

5. Viral infections rubella, chlamydia and others.

Treatment

In case of profuse blood loss, an ultrasound scan is performed to establish the viability of the fetus and exclude an ectopic pregnancy.The woman is assigned to bed rest and is treated with antispasmodic drugs to relax the uterine myometrium and stop bleeding.

If doctors nevertheless diagnose a spontaneous abortion that has begun, then the actions are reduced either to expectant tactics (within 2-6 weeks the ovum should come out by itself), or to the appointment of drugs that accelerate the exit of the fetus, or to vacuum aspiration (medical abortion) …

Medical termination

Medical methods of abortion (abortion) are based on the use of drugs of various groups that affect the function of the corpus luteum and the contractile activity of the uterus, which leads to the termination of pregnancy.

Medical termination of pregnancy (abortion) is considered effective when there is a complete expulsion of the products of conception from the uterus without the use of surgical intervention. Medical abortion is performed after confirmation of pregnancy and the establishment of its term. In the Russian Federation, it is allowed to use medical abortion up to 6-9 weeks of pregnancy. Given that the success of medical termination of pregnancy largely depends on the duration of pregnancy, the latter is best confirmed using transvaginal ultrasound.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION

It all starts with a visit to the doctor. A transvaginal ultrasound is performed, which helps to establish the localization of the ovum (it must be in the uterus), as well as its size.

Next, the doctor conducts a gynecological examination and a conversation with the patient. The goal is to find out her history. Possible contraindications for taking the drug.

On the day a woman receives drugs for medical abortion from the doctor’s hands, she signs an agreement on the provision of this service and that she knows about possible complications.They consist in incomplete miscarriage and the need for instrumental intervention in the uterus.

It should be noted that the reason for the failure may be, rather, not the drug (the domestic generic is not worse than the French original), but the gestational age. The likelihood of complications increases in proportion to it.

The doctor must tell you how the medical termination of pregnancy goes, what happens in the woman’s body, what she can feel, how profuse the bleeding should be, how painful it can be, and whether it is possible to take painkillers.

So, a woman in the presence of a doctor at the clinic takes three tablets containing mifepristone. Next, she goes home. Over the next 1-2 days, cramping pains, bloody discharge from the genital tract may appear. In some women, a miscarriage occurs almost immediately, a fertilized egg comes out.

But one way or another, after 36-48 hours the woman should take another drug – misoprostol. Usually, after taking it, active contractions of the uterus begin. And if a miscarriage did not occur earlier, then after this drug it will surely happen.

Profuse bleeding usually lasts 2-3 days. And then the amount of discharge is reduced, and after 10-14 days they should completely disappear. At the same time, the woman must perform an ultrasound scan to make sure that the miscarriage was complete. If there is a suspicion of an inflammatory process or any other pathology, treatment may be required.

Complications of an inflammatory nature occur with medical abortion much less frequently than with “classical” surgical abortion.And it almost never gives negative consequences for the reproductive system.
But nevertheless, it does not serve as a method of contraception.

Among the main advantages of medical abortion, women highlight the ability to stay at home, use in early pregnancy, minimal trauma to the uterus, lower risk of infectious complications, lack of manipulations that carry a certain share of risk and complications (consequences of anesthesia, hepatitis, HIV, etc.) …

One third of women tolerate the procedure with little or no discomfort.Women who have not given birth, especially those who have previously experienced soreness during menstruation, may develop pain syndrome, accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. However, the usual pain relievers cannot be used – the abortive effect of the drugs taken in the outpatient clinic may be blocked.

Alternative therapy methods can be used to reduce pain – rest, dry heat, hot drink. In extreme cases, “No-shpa” or “Drotaverin” are used.

Negative consequences

Any termination of pregnancy cannot pass without consequences for the female body, but medication is the most gentle of all, since it is carried out early and does not provide for surgical intervention that injures the cervix and uterine cavity.

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