What are the “other” reasons for bleeding and spotting during pregnancy?

The old wipe and check. Going to the bathroom when you’re pregnant after infertility or loss can become anxiety inducing.  For me, it became an obsession.  Every time I felt extra moisture down below (which also happens a lot during pregnancy), I would rush to the bathroom expecting the worst.  Or if it happened while I was driving, I would have a stack of tissues on hand to do a sneaky check.

And the slightest tinge in discharge or even a hint of blood, can send us into a spiral so quick and fast, it knocks us on our ass.

One of the things that I have discovered since opening the doors of Your Pregnancy Haven, our community for women who are pregnant after infertility or loss, is how common bleeding or spotting during pregnancy is. But for some reason, it isn’t spoken about. And because of this, we always assume the worst.  Ok – we also assume the worst because for a lot of us, our previous experience did result in the worst possible scenario. 

Approximately 1 in 4, or 25% of women experience some sort of bleeding or spotting during their pregnancy. This is a HUGE statistic. But it doesn’t always mean that there is a problem.  Here are some other reasons –

1. Implantation bleeding – this normally occurs 10 to 14 days after conception, when the fertilised egg implants into the lining of the uterus.

2. Sex. It’s enough to make you abstain for the remainder of your pregnancy, but yes, sex has been known to cause bleeding.  This is due to changes in your cervix as it becomes more sensitive during pregnancy, because of an increase in blood cells. And if you’re worried whether sex is safe during pregnancy, you can read more about that HERE.

3. A pap smear. Some doctors will do a pap smear as part of your first pre-natal visit, regardless of when you had your last one.  But be warned - this may cause bleeding and cramping as a result of the irritation. If this is not something you’d like to experience, because you know it will send you into a tailspin, you are well within your rights to decline a pap smear.

4. A subchorionic hematoma (SCH) – this is when blood forms between the wall of your uterus and the chorionic membrane. It accounts for almost 10% of most vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, and is commonly experienced between 10 to 20 weeks gestation. IVF pregnancies can potentially be at a higher risk. Most SCH’s resolve on their own in a few weeks.

5. Hormone changes – at around 6-8 weeks there can be a drop in progesterone due to the placenta taking over the job of producing pregnancy hormones. When this happens, it can lead to spotting around the time you would normally have a period.

As noted above, there are many reasons for bleeding and spotting during pregnancy that are unrelated to pregnancy loss.  Of course, this doesn’t stop the initial panic. So, what can you do if you experience this?

1. Use a pad to keep track of how heavy your bleeding or spotting is, and to keep a record of the colour.

2. Call your provider to let them know what is happening and for further advice. If there is an opportunity for you to go in for a reassurance scan, take it. And if you have to fight for it, do it! Your mental health matters more than anything.

3. Stay off your feet for a little while, or slow down and rest as much as possible. Do some breathing exercises to tap back into your parasympathetic nervous system and reactivate the logical part of your brain, so you can control your thoughts a little better.

4. Lean on your community. It’s so easy for our mind to shift to the worst-case scenario, so reach out to a friend or family member to get some support. This is what I love about our community inside Your Pregnancy Haven – a lot of these women experienced bleeding in the early stages of their pregnancy, and it was all ok.  Hearing stories of hope at this point, is so helpful.

5. Limit your googling. I know the temptation will be there, but as you can see, there are so many reasons for bleeding that don’t include pregnancy loss.  But as soon as you start googling, you’re going to get all the stories of miscarriage come up in your search engine. And right now, that isn’t helpful.

6. Self-talk is also important.  Whether it is an affirmation or mantra, keep repeating it over and over again. i.e. I am doing all I can right now. I am brave and I can get through anything. What if everything is ok? This will help to drown out the worst-case scenario thoughts.

7. Distraction. I know this is easier said than done because you are on hyper-alert right now, but try to do something to pass the time. Whether it’s watching a fun series on Netflix, doing a puzzle, reading a book, or playing games on your phone.

The most important thing however is to be gentle with yourself. After a previous loss, or infertility, it’s understandable that your initial reaction will be to panic and wander to the worst-case scenario.

But remember all the other reasons why this may be happening, how common it is, and what you can do to support yourself through this.

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