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During the first weeks of conception, the fertilized egg is constantly burrowing into the soft lining of the uterus. Even after the pregnancy is confirmed, this process of implantation continues for several more days, sometimes even a week. As the egg burrows, small blood vessels can burst, causing a small amount of bleeding to occur. This blood can take days to reach the vaginal opening. Once it does, the blood is usually brown. When women experience bleeding and spotting in the first trimester, brown blood is the most common type that they find. Brown blood can be considered "old" blood, that was most likely caused by implantation. Pink spotting is also common during the 1st trimester, and again, is usually caused by the egg implanting into the lining of the uterus. While implantation is usually the culprit of pink spotting, this doesn't mean that it should be taken lightly. Expectant mothers experiencing pink spotting should still notify their healthcare provider. The most frightening type of spotting or bleeding during the first trimester is fresh blood, or bright red. While this type of spotting or bleeding can be serious, it is not always confirmation that a miscarriage is occurring. Many things can occur, causing bright red spotting or bleeding. If the bleeding or spotting is accompanied by cramping or clotting, this could dictate something serious. If an expectant mother experiences this, her healthcare provider should be notified immediately. While bleeding in the 1st trimester can be common, it is important to remember that whatever type of bleeding occurs, a physician should be notified. Most physicians will closely monitor the bleeding, and may recommend bedrest in some cases. © 2003 by Jaime Warren, Reproduction without permission is prohibited. |
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