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 your health care provider right away.
Vaginal bleeding may also be due to a collection of blood between the uterus and the placenta (subchorionic hematoma). In this situation, the pregnancy can often continue.
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)
- The baby's blood vessels exposed across or near the internal opening of the uterus (vasa previa)
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.
Olson Center For Women's Health At Durham Outpatient Center
Maggie Kuhlmann is a Neonatologist practicing medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. She has been practicing medicine for over 13 years. Dr. Kuhlmann is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy. She is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Preeclampsia, Premature Infant, Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy, and ABO Incompatibility.
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. She is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Polyhydramnios, Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy, Methimazole Antenatal Exposure, Fetal Enterovirus Syndrome, and Intrauterine Device Insertion. Dr. Sullivan is board certified in American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology.
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. She is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Polyhydramnios, Menopause, Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes, and Intrauterine Device Insertion. Dr. Fogg is board certified in American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology.
Published Date: March 17, 2026
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.
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Rood KM, Francois KE. Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 20.
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.