Bleeding during pregnancy is not normal and every woman should seek the help of their obstetrician immediately upon discovery of bleeding. Vaginal bleeding may endanger the fetus in a woman’s womb and it is most common during the first trimester of pregnancy. The bleeding may be light or heavy and may become a cause for a complicated pregnancy at this stage. During the second and third trimesters, bleeding may further complicate pregnancy and its occurrence during the 28th week of pregnancy can become an emergency condition. Once this happens, knowing what to do can help prevent further endangering the woman and her child.
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What Causes Bleeding During Pregnancy?
During the first trimester of a pregnancy, bleeding can be a minor concern and sometimes a normal occurrence caused by hormonal changes in the body. However, frequent bleeding during this stage may indicate the possibility of a miscarriage or it may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy. In this case the fertilized egg is formed outside the fallopian tube which causes bleeding and painful cramping. In the late term of pregnancy especially in the late trimester, the bleeding during pregnancy usually indicates an abnormal location of the placenta.
How to Manage Bleeding During Pregnancy?
The best way to prevent bleeding during pregnancy is to take a regular visit to your doctor. Closely monitoring your condition is essential in order to identify what causes the bleeding and to provide the proper treatment for it. Wear a pad in order to monitor how much bleeding you have in a day. Because it is difficult to apply any first aid treatment at the sign of bleeding as this might complicate the condition further. Bleeding during pregnancy is a sensitive condition thus taking the pregnant woman who is bleeding needs to see a doctor immediately.
There are things that you can do to help a person experiencing bleeding in pregnancy. Assist the pregnant woman to reach the hospital without causing her too much stress. If possible, let her sit on a chair and ask for help to carry her to a car that will transport her to the doctor. Make a request for a wheelchair to take her to the emergency room. Always keep the pregnant woman calm all throughout because stress can make her bleed further. Help a pregnant woman explain calmly about her symptoms such as the presence of abdominal pain, contractions, chills and light headedness. Even if the sign of bleeding during pregnancy is minor, you should always stress the importance of seeing a doctor and report such symptom to make sure that she is having a healthy pregnancy.
References:
Fit Pregnancy. First Trimester Bleeding and Miscarriage. Accessed on June 2, 2014 from http://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy/labor-delivery/ask-labor-nurse/first-trimester-bleeding-and-miscarriage.