29 October 2014

WOMEN - Causes of bleeding during pregnancy




It may be difficult to identify the reason why bleeding 
is occurring but there are a few possible causes.

Causes of bleeding during pregnancy
 
Reasons for bleeding during pregnancy include:
Implantation bleed: occurs about 10 to 14 days after fertilisation when the fertilised egg becomes buried in the uterine lining causing light spotting or streaking of blood. Bleeding usually stops after a day or two.

Cervical changes: harmless changes to the cervix, such as an increased blood flow and softening of the cervix may cause bleeding after sex or an examination.

Breakthrough bleeding: when bleeding occurs during pregnancy at the time you'd normally expect your period, ie four, eight and 12 weeks of pregnancy. This occurs because hormone levels are not high enough to stop a period occurring. It normally stops after the first trimester.

Miscarriage: a miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the baby can survive outside the womb. Sometimes there's no apparent cause for a miscarriage but most are the result of the foetus not developing properly. Bleeding is the most common sign of a miscarriage.

Ectopic pregnancy: when the fertilised egg implants in an area outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancies cannot develop normally and are an emergency situation needing medical attention.

Placenta praevia: when the placenta partially or totally covers the cervical canal and may cause severe vaginal bleeding before or during delivery. Different degrees of severity can occur with this condition.

Placental abruption: the placenta partially or completely separates from the wall of the uterus. Heavy bleeding and pain are symptoms and the condition requires hospital admission.

A 'show': vaginal bleeding close to birth can occur as the cervix thins and relax in preparation for labour. When this happens the plug of mucus sealing the opening of the cervix comes away resulting in a blood-tinged discharge. This is a normal sign of impending labour.
Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

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