Does bleeding mean I will miscarry?

Bleeding during pregnancy isn’t necessarily a sign of miscarriage, vaginal bleeding and/or spotting is a relatively common phenomenon experienced by 20% of women who go on to have healthy pregnancies. Vaginal bleeding can occur in the form of ‘implantation bleeding’, which occurs during the first trimester when the embryo is implanting itself into the uterine wall. ‘Implantation bleeding’, typically occurs around the time you would otherwise be starting a period, lasting for 6 to 12 days. Whenever you notice bleeding during pregnancy, it is important to note the flow.

Signs of Light vaginal bleeding/spotting (light pink, red or dark brown) are usually no cause for alarm.

However, prolonged (>12 days) heavy blood flow accompanied by period-like symptoms including abdominal cramping and back pain requires medical attention.

Wearing a panty liner when you notice bleeding is a good way to monitor your flow and may help you in discussing the type of bleeding with your GP.

You should always inform your GP of any form of vaginal bleeding and/or spotting encountered throughout pregnancy.