Vaginal Bleeding in PregnancySymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is any discharge of blood from the vagina during pregnancy.
Pregnancy - vaginal bleeding; Maternal blood loss - vaginal
Up to 1 in 4 women have vaginal bleeding at some time during their pregnancy. Bleeding is more common in the first 3 months (first trimester), especially with twins.
A small amount of light spotting or bleeding may be noted 10 to 14 days after conception. This spotting results from the fertilized egg attaching itself to the lining of the uterus. Assuming it is light and does not last very long, this finding is most often nothing to be concerned about.
During the first 3 months, vaginal bleeding may be a sign of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Contact the health care provider right away.
During months 4 to 9, bleeding may be a sign of:
- The placenta separating from the inner wall of the uterus before the baby is born (abruptio placentae)
- Miscarriage
- The placenta covering all or part of the opening to the cervix (placenta previa)
- Vasa previa (the baby's blood vessels exposed across or near the internal opening of the uterus)
Other possible causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy:
- Cervical polyp or growth
- Early labor (bloody show)
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Infection of the cervix
- Trauma to the cervix from intercourse (small amount of bleeding) or recent pelvic exam
Avoid sexual intercourse until your provider tells you that it is safe to start having intercourse again.
Consume only fluids if the bleeding and cramping are severe.
You may need to cut down your activity or be put on bed rest at home. Your provider will talk to you about the specific kinds of activity changes you may need to make.
Medicine is not needed in most cases. DO NOT take any medicine without talking with your provider.
Also, talk to your provider about what to look for, such as the amount of bleeding and color of the blood.
Contact your provider if:
- You have any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Treat this as a potential emergency.
- You have vaginal bleeding and have placenta previa (get to the hospital right away).
- You have cramps or labor pains.
Your provider will take a medical history and perform a physical exam.
You will probably have a pelvic exam, or ultrasound as well.
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests
- Pregnancy ultrasound
- Ultrasound of the pelvis
You may be referred to a high risk pregnancy specialist (maternal fetal medicine specialist or perinatologist) for the duration of the pregnancy.
State Of Franklin OB/GYN Specialists
I was born and raised in Louisiana in a city just outside of New Orleans. Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, I moved to Monroe, Louisiana where I graduated with a degree in biology from the University of Louisiana. I then attended medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic medicine where I met my husband, Christian Sullivan. We then moved north to Michigan where I completed my OBGYN residency in Detroit. After completing residency we decided to return to his roots and relocated to the Tri-Cities area to raise our family and begin our careers. While practicing at Ballad OBGYN in Kingsport I met my nurse, Lisa Gibson, who will be joining me at State of Franklin OB/GYN. At work, she truly is my “better half” and a blessing to me and my practice. Lisa and I love our patients and are excited to be continuing to care for women in the Tri-Cities area. I am truly passionate about women’s healthcare. I am driven by the bonds I build with my patients over the course of their lives and the enjoyment I hold in keeping them healthy and well. My husband is a gastroenterologist in Bristol. We have two spunky boys, Christian and Jenson, who keep us busy. We love traveling, spending time outdoors and challenging each other at CrossFit. When not on dry land we can likely be found on a Disney cruise ship spending time in the middle of the ocean. Dr. Sullivan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy. Her top areas of expertise are Polyhydramnios, Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy, Methimazole Antenatal Exposure, Fetal Enterovirus Syndrome, and Intrauterine Device Insertion.
Blue Ridge Medical Management Corp.
I have lived all up and down the East Coast. I was born in Maine, lived in Virginia, attended medical school in Miami, trained in Chicago and ended up in Tennessee because my family had moved here. I am married with two children, ages five and nine. This is a great community for our family. We are blessed with great friends, and the weather is a happy medium after living in the opposite extremes of Miami and Chicago. My husband and I are big race fans, so we love traveling to see races. I first became interested in medicine when I took a high school explorer’s course for health professions, and after my first rotation in medical school, I knew that I wanted to do obstetrics and gynecology. It was the one rotation that I could get up for at 4 a.m., come home to read about and still be excited to go in the next day. As a physician, I like to take care of the entire person, listening to what she has to say. Oftentimes the patient is there for one reason, but as we talk sometimes another concern may reveal itself. Mountain States Medical Group OB/GYN is a large group of well-trained practitioners with many different personalities to find a patient’s perfect match. Dr. Fogg is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy. Her top areas of expertise are Polyhydramnios, Menopause, Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes, and Intrauterine Device Insertion.
State Of Franklin OB/GYN Specialists
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to care for those in need. My childhood experience in helping care for a terminally ill grandparent inspired me to make an impact in healthcare. This early motivation propelled me through the many steps of training, including graduating from Mercer University School of Medicine as a top national scholar and completing residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, with top surgical honors. I received my OB/GYN certification in 2009. Over this time, I have continually devoted myself to providing knowledgeable, compassionate and cutting-edge care. As a husband, father and member of the local Christian community, I understand how the different facets of life affect our health. My ambition is to recognize not only the physical but also the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of women from all walks of life. In obstetrics, my interests include fertility evaluation, prenatal counseling and low- and high-risk pregnancies. As for gynecology, my expertise includes minimally invasive surgeries such as robotics, single incision laparoscopy, as well as vaginal prolapse repair. Dr. Drey is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy. His top areas of expertise are Polyhydramnios, Neuralgia, Endometrial Polyps, Methimazole Antenatal Exposure, and Intrauterine Device Insertion.
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: LaQuita Martinez, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Alpharetta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Francois KE, Foley MR. Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 18.
Henn MC, Lall MD. Complications of pregnancy. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 173.
Turocy J, Williams Z. Early and recurrent pregnancy loss: etiology, diagnosis, treatment. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 16.