Period during pregnancy? Red light

The Bus to Motherhood

My story began on a city bus. Early morning hours, a whole busload of people. I was standing right next to the window, closed as usual despite the stuffiness of that can of sardines. Suddenly I felt a familiar tingling sensation on my cheeks and I knew exactly what was going to happen next. I turned to the woman standing next to me to help me because I was about to lose consciousness. As expected, I woke up at some bus stop. I was lying on a bench, surrounded by a large group of people. I only remember nervously adjusting my dress, which had ridden up way too high and was revealing my underwear. I was asked questions, like in Millionaires . At that time, I didn't know that that day I would answer a lot of questions and in the end I would hit the jackpot.

My ears were ringing and I was nauseous, but the man who had been waiting with me for the ambulance to arrive informed me that I had fallen on people and not hit my head. For the first time, I felt grateful for the crush on the bus. An older woman handed me back her very sweet tea and banana, winking and saying, “Maybe you’re pregnant.” Wait a minute. Pregnant? What kind of pregnancy? Can you have a period when you’re pregnant? Because I have a period. And a real one. Definitely a period, not spotting. So, I guess I should relax? Despite everything, that innocent question, “Maybe pregnant?” kept popping into my head. Pregnancy, pregnancy, pregnancy . I almost let myself be convinced!

Period during pregnancy?

In the ambulance, I was given basic tests and asked again if I was pregnant. I replied again that I was having my period (does the whole world know yet?), to which I heard FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE the paramedic say that it might not actually be a period, but just pregnancy bleeding , because you can't have a period while pregnant. YOU CAN'T HAVE A PERIOD WHILE PREGNANT. Yeah, right, I know a lot of cases like that!

I was then offered two options: "you go home and do your own tests or we'll take you to the hospital where you'll have consultations with various specialists today." Of course, having no idea what I was getting myself into, I chose the latter.

So I spent several hours in the ER, waiting in endless lines in front of various offices. First an interview, ECG, blood tests, then the neurologist informed me that he saw nothing alarming (the ENT specialist said the same thing). I was referred for a CT scan. I waited in front of the indicated office, where the doctor who did the interview found me and said: "the lady says she's on her period, but please don't let her in for a CT scan until I get the blood test results." And after another hour, the same doctor told me that I was pregnant, and the beta results indicated that I was in the 7th week. She briefly gave me information about the reasons why I could have been bleeding and recommended an urgent gynecological check-up. I was very happy, but only for a moment.

Since I am two months pregnant, why am I bleeding so much from my vagina? That same day I met with my gynecologist to see what my “period” (as I thought) was a symptom of.

Also read our article about diet during pregnancy .

What is a “pregnancy period”?

"Period" is the common name for bleeding (or spotting) from the genital tract during pregnancy. They can occur in the first weeks of pregnancy, but should never be left without consulting your doctor.

In short: you can't have a period while pregnant . Why? When the egg is fertilized, cyclical bleeding (i.e. menstruation) stops.

The essence of the menstrual cycle is to prepare the body for fertilization and development of the embryo. If a person becomes pregnant, the endometrium (lining of the uterus) does not shed during pregnancy.

Spotting during pregnancy – causes

Spotting, which up to 40% of pregnant women notice on their underwear or toilet paper, is a small amount of pink, light red, or brown blood. This could be implantation bleeding . It usually appears between 2 and 4 weeks after fertilization, specifically when the embryo implants in the uterine wall . Implantation bleeding often appears around the time of a missed period, but is usually not accompanied by any symptoms typical of menstruation or PMS .

Other causes of spotting during pregnancy include:

• The most common cause of spotting is failure of the pregnancy corpus luteum .
• It may also happen that it is a urinary tract infection - then the blood visible on the toilet paper does not come from the reproductive organ.
• Another issue is glandular ectopy of the cervix , often mistakenly called erosion by many gynecologists , although this in turn is a separate medical condition.

Ectopia is the protrusion of glandular epithelium (darker in color) beyond the cervical canal (colored like blood vessels), which creates the impression of a change in the cervix. Erosion , on the other hand, is a defect in the epithelium of the cervix.

• Sometimes the cause of bleeding are previously undiagnosed hemorrhoids .

All of this absolutely requires a doctor's consultation. Even if we suspect that the causes of spotting lie in micro-damage after a gynecological examination, it is better to report it to the doctor.

Bleeding during pregnancy

Bleeding during pregnancy is a worrying sign that should not be ignored. Just as spotting does not have to be something serious, bleeding should always be urgently consulted with your doctor (or any gynecologist).

The characteristics of bleeding during pregnancy are similar to menstrual bleeding: red or brown blood with visible blood clots . Such heavy bleeding in early pregnancy may, BUT DOESN'T HAVE TO, be the first sign of a complication. So before you have a heart attack at the sight of a few drops of blood on your underwear: CALM DOWN. Breathe. Pick up the phone and call your doctor.

Bleeding during pregnancy – diagnosis

The doctor, wanting to determine the cause of the bleeding, will immediately begin to determine its source in order to rule out an ectopic pregnancy . To do this, he will perform an examination using a speculum, and then during an ultrasound, he will check the pregnancy parameters and assess the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the embryo (fertilized egg) implants outside the lining of the uterus, for example in the fallopian tube (most often), ovary, cervix or peritoneum. If an ectopic pregnancy is detected, further treatment (pharmacological or surgical) is determined by a specialist.

Another cause of bleeding during pregnancy may be subchorionic hematomas . They are common, as every 5th pregnant woman struggles with them. Although the bleeding that accompanies them speeds up the heartbeat of the future parents, in about 90% of people the hematomas resolve on their own. When it comes to symptoms, the closer to the vaginal opening, the greater the likelihood of bleeding. However, there are also asymptomatic and non-bleeding hematomas, the location of which is only discovered during an ultrasound examination during a gynecological check-up.

What is subchorionic hematoma?

Subchorionic hematoma is the extravasation of blood (particularly maternal_paternal) into the space between the chorion and the endometrium of the uterus.

If blood collects between the uterine wall and the chorion, a subchorionic hematoma is formed. Later in pregnancy, the chorion turns into a placenta and supports the exchange of nutrients between the fetus and the mother_father. Usually, hematomas do not grow larger than the embryo and do not affect the development of the fetus. Despite this, they need to be monitored regularly, which is why good medical care is so important. A pregnant person diagnosed with hematomas is surrounded by special care. They cannot overexert themselves, lift weights or have sex. Some people exaggerately recommend leading a sparing lifestyle. However, I have come across an opinion from a doctor who recommended normal activity (sensible, not exhausting), because a complete lack of movement will neither speed up the absorption of the hematoma nor will it contribute to the development of the pregnancy. Everything in moderation: you may not paint the baby's room yourself, but giving up normal functioning will not do anyone any good.

If the hematoma is large, it can cause the chorion and placenta to detach from the uterus, which poses a serious threat to the pregnancy. If the exchange of substances between mother_father and fetus is difficult or impossible, it will affect the development of the fetus or lead to miscarriage if the hematoma spreads instead of being absorbed.

In cases of significant chorionic detachment, the pregnant woman must be alert to severe lower abdominal pain and consult her physician about any unusual symptoms.

As you've probably noticed, in the case of pregnancy, it's often recommended to consult your doctor. This is because sometimes the symptoms, even if they're not very bothersome, can have a medical condition, and catching them at an early stage can be crucial for the development of the pregnancy.

Let's put the period of pregnancy aside from fairy tales

I've often shared my story of how I found out I was pregnant with my second child, and the responses I've heard are always: "Oh, my sister-in-law had her period the entire first trimester!", "My friend had her period too, that's why she didn't find out until the second month," or "Hey, that period thing is true."

The issue of a supposed period during pregnancy is so important that it should be explained at every step, so that no pregnant person who sees blood on their panties will dismiss it and think, "it's just a period."

"To have a period" is to be able to get pregnant. So it turns out that if you have a period during pregnancy, you can... get pregnant? Something is clearly wrong here, which is why my mission from today will be to correct this error. Period during pregnancy - no. Bleeding during pregnancy - yes. And if it happens, you should consult a doctor immediately, and not mock mother nature for something being wrong with her. Every drop seeps for a reason and signals something to us.