Introduction
Bleeding during pregnancy is vaginal bleeding similar to menstrual bleeding, which occurs in varying degrees and frequency and can have different causes. Bleeding during pregnancy must always be clarified by a specialist gynaecologist, as it can have a variety of causes. They range from harmless intermittent bleeding to an imminent and imminent abortion.
Irrespective of the stage of the pregnancy, bleeding must be presented to a specialist at any time in order to recognise and treat possible dangerous developments for the child as early as possible. Also important in this context is how often the bleeding occurs, the strength of the bleeding and whether pain or whether the pain is accompanied by other symptoms during pregnancy. The gynaecologist will carry out further examinations after checking the maternal passport, which will include the stage of pregnancy and previous examination values, which will include an ultrasound examination of the uterus and the child. Here it can be quickly determined whether the bleeding is only simple spotting or whether the life of the child is threatened.
Are bleedings in pregnancy dangerous?
Whether bleeding during pregnancy is dangerous is not so easy to say. There are many causes that can be regarded as harmless and which occur frequently. For example, spotting at the beginning of pregnancy is very common and not dangerous.
It occurs in about 20-25% of pregnant women. The cause is a conversion of the body from normal menstruation to pregnancy metabolism. Spotting is usually not severe and not associated with accompanying symptoms such as discomfort or pain.
They can be quickly assessed by the gynaecologist as harmless. The dangerous cause of bleeding during pregnancy is considered to be an imminent miscarriage. In this case, there is usually a larger amount of blood and heavier bleeding.
Sometimes these bleedings are also connected with pulling unpleasant pain of the mother. Placental insufficiencies and placental solutions lead to heavy bleeding during pregnancy and are also dangerous. They must be treated urgently, otherwise there is danger to the life of both mother and child.
How long can bleeding last?
How long bleeding lasts in a pregnancy depends entirely on the trigger of the bleeding. Spotting can occur for one or more days, with possible intermediate symptom-free days. Dangerous miscarriage bleeding or placental abruption bleeding is usually so severe that it makes patients go to the doctor.
The bleeding is then usually stopped by the treatment. There are so-called implantation bleedings which can be regarded as harmless. They occur at the time when the egg cell implants itself in the lining of the uterus.
The duration is about one to two days. The so-called abortion bleedings, which induce a miscarriage (abortion), usually result in a shorter and suddenly starting bleeding. Sometimes the blood and tissue remains are discovered in the toilet.
Afterwards, even smaller spotting may follow. However, to determine whether there is still tissue in the uterus, a gynaecologist should always be consulted for an ultrasound examination. If necessary, the uterus must be scraped out. In principle, it should be noted that a gynaecologist should be consulted for all bleeding, regardless of length.
All articles in this series: