Spotting during Early Pregnancy

3 min read

Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

Light bleeding, or spotting during pregnancy is referred to as any discharge of blood (sometimes, just a few drops) from the vagina. Usually, this is very common, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy and there is no need to panic. Read this blog to find out more about spotting.
spotting-in-early-pregnancy

Is spotting an early sign of pregnancy?

Pregnancy symptoms differ among women but the most significant symptom is a delayed or missed period.However, if you notice that your period seems unusually shorter or different (in color), it may be a sign of pregnancy. In that case, take a home pregnancy test and consult a doctor.

How long is it normal to spot in early pregnancy?

Spotting can happen any time from conception to the end of pregnancy. Implantation bleeding usually occurs before or during your menstruation cycle or about a week after you conceive. Generally, the color is lighter than a period and lasts from a couple of hours to a few days.

What are other common causes?

Light spotting is not a red flag during pregnancy and is caused by one of the following:

  • Implantation bleeding –This happens in the earliest part of pregnancy when the mother-to-be does not even realise that she is pregnant and mistakes it for her regular menstruation. Implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall causes spotting in about 20 percent of women.
  • Vaginal Infection – Infection in the vaginacan also trigger spotting. Furthermore, an inflamed cervix may bleed a little.
  • Sex or an internal exam – During pregnancy, your cervix becomes tender and as a result, any kind of minor jerking (like intercourse or an internal pelvic exam) may irritate it and cause some bleeding. Again, this type of bleeding is common and most often does not indicate a problem at all. So, calm down and consult your doctor for reassurance.

How long does spotting last in the first trimester?

Experts opine that spotting should only last for few days, but then, it is different for different woman. Some women continue to have a lighter period for the first month or two after they get pregnant. It is advisable to get a pregnancy test done to be on the safer side.

Pregnancy spotting vs period

Light bleeding or spotting during early pregnancy is different from your normal bleeding. If what you see is brown or pink in color, then that is spotting. But if the color of the blood is bright red, consider it bleeding.
Spotting does not soak a sanitary napkin or your panty liner; but bleeding requires one.
Whatever is the case, it is best to contact your doctor and seek her advice. She may advise bed rest to you for a couple of days.

Can stress cause you to bleed during pregnancy?

can-stress-cause-bleed-during-pregnancy
It is neither easy nor right to jump into conclusions whether stress can cause bleeding during pregnancy. Pregnant women already experience stress due to fatigue, poor sleeping habits etc. Hence, it is important to understand your body and seek doctor’s opinion.

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Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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