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Spotting during pregnancy can be a perplexing issue.
She is 39 weeks pregnant
Isnt one of the boons of pregnancynotruining moreunderwearwith period blood?
Sorry to break it to you, but this is a thing.
But when is spotting during pregnancy a sign of a possible problem and when is it normal?
Here’s what experts want you to understand about this.
What Is It
Spotting is another word for light bleeding, according toACOG.
Maybe you see a little bit of blood in your underwear or on the toilet paper after you wipe.
What Causes It
There is not just one definitive cause for spotting during pregnancy.
It can also sometimes signal preterm labor or infection, he explains.
But there are also plenty of other less serious reasons for spotting during pregnancy.
But spotting istechnicallystill bleeding.
Your cervix may bleed more easily during pregnancy because more blood vessels are developing in this area.
This typically happens within one to two weeks after conception, according toACOG.
Pregnancy also creates more blood flow than usual to the uterus,vagina, andcervix, says Dr.Abdur-Rahman.
But its good to know whats normal and whats not.
Anything more thanthatisheavy bleeding.
During pregnancy, both moderate andheavy bleedingcan be worrisome, she explains.
If you think you’re experiencing either of those, get in touch with your doctor ASAP.
This is especially important if you see a lot of tissue or clots in the blood, theMayo Clinicnotes.
Crampsoften accompany spotting, so you might feel some twinges of discomfort here or there.
But anything that morphs into more significant pain is worth noting and potentially calling your doctor about.
What counts as persistent enough to potentially be worrisome depends in part on howpregnantyou are.
Placenta previa can be full or partial.
Thats a problem since the cervix is the passageway for your baby duringbirth.
This is known as a bloody show, which is an apt term.
“Does it have to happen at 3:00 a.m.?
No, not if there aren’t any other symptoms.
But it never hurts to call just for reassurance.
That’s what doctors are for.”
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