Bloody discharge and pregnancy
Bloody discharge might be a sign that you are pregnant if it happens during the first few weeks of your pregnancy. During the end of your pregnancy, you may get bloody discharge before you go into labour. If you have bloody discharge during your pregnancy, it is best to speak to your doctor or midwife straight away, to check for any serious causes such as an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.
Is bloody discharge a sign of pregnancy?
Bloody discharge is a sign of pregnancy for some women. This is because when a fertilised egg attaches itself to your womb lining it can cause vaginal bleeding, known as spotting. If you miss your period, take a pregnancy test to make sure.
Bloody discharge during early pregnancy
Bloody discharge during early pregnancy may be a sign of the egg attaching itself to your womb lining. If you continue to get bloody discharge, this might mean you are bleeding and you should speak to your midwife straight away. They can do tests to check on your baby.
Bloody stringy discharge during early pregnancy
If you get bloody stringy discharge during early pregnancy, you should speak to your midwife as it could be a cause for concern. Bloody stringy discharge might be a sign of something more serious, such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
If you have other symptoms such as heavy bleeding from your vagina, dizziness, sharp pains in your stomach or shoulder tip, urinary symptoms or nausea or vomiting, go to A&E or call 999 straight away.
Bloody discharge during pregnancy
During the second and third trimesters, you might get some bloody discharge. This may be more common after sex or after you have been to a midwife appointment. Bloody discharge in pregnancy is caused by a small amount of blood passing through your vagina with your normal discharge.
During the end of your third trimester, you may get bloody discharge which can be a sign your body is getting prepared for labour.
If you are pregnant and have any bloody discharge or vaginal bleeding you should always contact your midwife or doctor urgently for review.
Is bloody discharge a sign of labour?
Yes, if you are almost at the end of your pregnancy, you may get bloody discharge. This is called a “show”. It often looks like sticky pink mucus and happens before you go into labour.
Is bloody discharge a sign of miscarriage?
Bloody discharge can be a sign of miscarriage, especially if there is a lot of blood or your discharge contains blood clots. Other signs of a miscarriage include dizziness, passing tissue from your vagina, and severe pains in your stomach and cervix area. If you think you could be having a miscarriage you should contact your midwife or doctor urgently or attend A&E if you feel dizzy or are in severe pain.
Does discharge change during pregnancy?
Your hormones change during pregnancy, which can cause your discharge to change. You may get more discharge than before. Your discharge can prevent vaginal infections from travelling to your baby in the womb.
During pregnancy, vaginal discharge can look clear, white, or thin. If your discharge smells unpleasant, is yellow or green, or contains any blood, speak to your midwife or doctor.
Is bloody discharge during pregnancy a cause for concern?
If your bloody discharge is very red or seems more like a period, this could be a cause for concern. It is hard to tell if bloody discharge is normal or not, so you should always be safe and speak with your midwife or doctor, even if you only notice spotting or light bleeding.