Threatened Abortion

Bleeding during pregnancy can be a cause for concern but need not be alarming always.

 

Looking forward to motherhood during the three trimesters of pregnancy needs to be a pleasant phase but conditions like vaginal bleeding can be a cause for concern and a woman would well know the few reasons why that would happen as she would consult her doctor.

The products of conception get implanted into the inner layer of the uterus - the endometrium - and as such it is also the first likely area from where this bleeding could arise as the blood rich layer of the uterus is breached for implantation. But it would only be a spotting and not like the regular menstrual bleeding and since it occurs almost at the time of the period and an unsuspecting pregnancy it does not always worry the young woman.

If she has missed a period and into the seventh or eighth week when there is an onset of bleeding it could be disturbing. But it is not necessary that every bleeding is a sign of miscarriage. Usually when there is a cramping pain in the lower abdomen with vaginal bleeding and passage of tissue it is likely to be a miscarriage which is usually ascertained by an ultrasound scan. If it rules that implanted tissue in the uterus is active with a heartbeat, a period of rest would see a woman through.

One of the few implantations end up in the other tissues like the fallopian tubes and not the uterus which is called as ectopic pregnancy that is usually accompanied by severe abdominal pain and needs supervision right away.

An infection of the cervix is also a likely cause any minor irritation either during intercourse or otherwise could lead to an onset of spotting.

Cause for concern

Any bleeding after the third month of pregnancy is usually a cause for concern. The placenta which gives a shield to the foetus sometimes gets separated and causes this symptom. This happens usually in the last three months of pregnancy and women who suffer with high blood pressure are more prone, apart from ones who encounter unexpected trauma. Placenta previa is another condition in which the position of the placenta is at the mouth of the uterus and is more prone to separation and bleeding.

A woman who has undergone these symptoms during the early stages of pregnancy, one who has gone through a Caesarean section during the previous delivery, one who is carrying twins is more likely to develop this condition. Last but not the least is the fact that it could be the labour time, a little early which can cause the loss of mucus plug at the cervix can cause bleeding and a gynaecologist would do an examination to confirm the same. Also there would be a dull backache, low abdominal pressure, regular contractions felt in the abdomen associated with the symptom of bleeding which can say that it is preterm labour.

If miscarriage after bleeding occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, sometimes it is the nature’s way of dealing with an unhealthy pregnancy which was not developing. At the first instance the woman would do well to go for a check up without delay even if the spotting has subsided. Periodical and frequent check ups are necessary since the bleeding is likely to recur and she needs to be monitored on a more than regular basis. If the scan reveals a healthy growth bed rest would be the only care for the woman to take. Avoiding lifting heavy weights and remaining away from intercourse is necessary. Infections if at all need to be treated appropriately. But most of the times no cause is found as such and monitoring is the care to be followed.

Aconite, Arnica, China are a few remedies which can help relieve such a symptom and also to prevent when one is prone to it. Pulsatilla, Sabina, Secale, Plumbum are more useful when during the later part of the pregnancy there is a tendency for bleeding and abortion. Such symptoms arising from any cause are best tackled with complementary care.