You had some spotting during the first trimester of my pregnancy. Would resting more have prevented it? Is spotting while pregnant a bad sign for mums and babies?
Bleeding in early pregnancy is a common occurrence, affecting about 20 to 25 per cent of expectant women, says Dr Goh Shen Li, a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre.
It may be associated with abdominal pain, and sometimes not. Take heart that it doesn’t always mean that you’ve lost your baby, though.
It may be due to implantation bleeding (when the developing embryo sticks onto the womb lining to grow) or threatened abortion (the pregnancy is growing, but there is higher risk of impending miscarriage).
It may also be due to an ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilised egg does not implant in the correct position in the uterus) or that a miscarriage has already occurred. Other non-pregnancy related causes, such as a cervical polyp or haemorrhoids, may also be possible.
Depending on the cause, having sufficient rest may not prevent the bleeding, Dr Goh adds. Some women continue to remain very active in the first trimester.
See your gynae, as she will need to examine you and do an ultrasound scan to make sure you and your baby are healthy.
READ MORE:
The Best Sex Positions For Pregnant Women
Giving Birth In Singapore: How Much Your Doctor & Hospital Will Cost You
Actress Cheryl Wee’s Top 10 Pregnancy Looks We Love
Text: Young Parents/ Photo: Pexels