Not really. Once your body starts producing the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), your periods will stop.
However, you may be pregnant and have light bleeding at about the time that your period would have been due. This type of bleeding in early pregnancy is surprisingly common.
Early bleeding is most likely to be caused by the placenta developing. Once an embryo has implanted in your womb (uterus), the cells and tissues of the placenta start to grow. But until the placenta is established enough to become your baby's lifeline, your body does the job of supplying your growing baby with nutrients and oxygen.
By about six weeks of pregnancy, the placenta is big and complex enough to take over the job of nourishing your baby. It's at this point that you may get some light bleeding.
It’s only natural to be worried if you're pregnant and you have spotting or bleeding. Tell your doctor or midwife, just in case.
Sadly, bleeding can sometimes be the first sign of a miscarriage. Bleeding from a miscarriage can sometimes feel like a period, but it's usually heavier, with more painful tummy cramps.
Ectopic pregnancy is another type of worrying bleeding, when the embryo implants in a fallopian tube instead of the womb. Ectopic pregnancy usually causes dark or watery bleeding, and sharp pains in your lower tummy, especially on one side. It needs swift treatment, so call your doctor if you have these symptoms.
Although it’s most likely that your bleeding is nothing to worry about, your midwife may suggest checks, to make sure your pregnancy is going well.
If you’re only just pregnant, your midwife may offer a blood test to check your hormone levels, or she may refer you to an early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU) for an early scan.
Jenny Leach is an editor and writer specialising in evidence-based health content.
You can still bleed, even if you're pregnant.
One of the perks of pregnancy – you know, other than no one judging your weird Pringles-dipped-in-hot-sauce cravings – is that your period is basically MIA for months, right?
Technically, yes. You definitely don’t menstruate (a.k.a. shed blood and tissue from your uterus) each month, but that doesn’t mean your bathroom trips will always be blood-free (which can be scary).
So, what if you see something that looks like your period while you’re pregnant? First: Slow your roll. Bleeding a bit during pregnancy is pretty common, but it can be dangerous. Here’s what you need to know about bleeding while pregnant.
Wait, a little bleeding while you’re pregnant is normal?
It definitely can be, says Dr Joanne Stone, director of maternal foetal medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. “Spotting occurs in about 30% of pregnancies in the first trimester,” she says. While you should always check in with your doctor if you notice blood, just to be safe, spotting isn’t usually a reason for concern, she says.
The spotting can happen anytime, but typically after sex, or about three to four weeks into the pregnancy. “Some people have bleeding around the time they would have expected their period, a few weeks in,” Stone says. “This is usually due to implantation and is just a coincidence.”
“Spotting occurs in about 30% of pregnancies in the first trimester.”
But keep in mind, there’s a big difference between spotting (very light bleeding, kind of like when your period is just starting or ending) and a full-on period. That’s because you need the blood your body normally sheds during your period to nourish the embryo or foetus.
Read more: 12 reasons why you’ve got period symptoms but no period
When should I be worried about bleeding while pregnant?
If you know you’re pregnant and you’re bleeding enough to fill a pad, you need to get in touch with your doctor asap, says Nicole Bullock, an obstetric-gynaecologist in Texas. “In the first trimester, up to about 20 weeks, we worry about miscarriage with heavy bleeding,” she says.
But miscarriage isn’t the only explanation: Persistent bleeding can also mean that the placenta has grown low in the cervix. While you can have a completely normal and safe pregnancy with a low-lying placenta (called placenta previa), your doctor will likely ask you to abstain from sex and may recommend bed rest in your third trimester, says Bullock.
Heavy, period-like bleeding later in your pregnancy can be a sign of something more serious like preterm labour or placental abruption (when your placenta tears away from your uterus).
But even then, you’ll be dealing with much more than just bleeding; you’ll also notice extreme pain, says Bullock. In that case, you’ll need to go the hospital where doctors will deliver the baby, she says. Still, placental abruption is extremely rare (especially if you avoid drugs and alcohol, and go to all your prenatal checkups), says Bullock.
Of course, it’s best to play it safe. So if you’ve noticed blood and you’re worried about it – and especially if you experience any pain along with it – give your obstetric-gynaecologist a call. Otherwise, enjoy your short vacation from tampons.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com
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