Bleeding in pregnancy: causes of bleeding in the second half of pregnancy

In the second half of your pregnancy you are no longer at risk of miscarriage, which does not mean that bleeding can now be ignored. Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy, if it occurs before the due date, especially before the end of the 37th week of pregnancy, may herald a premature birth. what are the causes of bleeding in the second half of pregnancy?

The causes of bleeding in the second half of pregnancycan vary widely, but they must always be determined to minimize the risks they pose. Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy may be the result of exhaustion - your baby is not so small anymore and it puts a heavy burden on your body. That's why it's so important that you get a lot of rest now.

Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy: risk of preterm labor

If the baby is 37 weeks old, preterm labor is less dangerous; the child usually does not require special care, as he is already able to live independently. Early delivery is often not a drama either. Thanks to the progress of medicine in Poland, it is possible to save smaller and smaller children - even those who weigh less than a kilogram and are in a hurry to enter the world by more than three months. However, it is only possible when you reach the hospital on time, which, apart from excellent gynecological care, also has a modern neonatal pathology ward. Unfortunately, giving birth before the 34th week of pregnancy often spells many problems. After discharge from the hospital, you will face a greater effort than other mothers, consultations in various hospitals, more frequent medical visits or the need for the child's rehabilitation.

Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy: placenta previa

Some women have problems with the placenta during pregnancy. It is responsible, inter alia, for providing the child with oxygen and essential nutrients, so it is extremely important that it works properly. Around 20 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor uses an ultrasound to check the position of your placenta. It is usually located at the top of the uterus, at the bottom of the uterus, or on the front or back wall of the uterus. If it is located near the internal opening of the uterus, i.e. it blocks (fully or partially) the child's path to the world, it is said to be the premier placenta. The symptom of this is painless vaginal bleeding, but it may not beno symptoms that you notice, which is why ultrasound examinations are so important. Placenta previa is dangerous for the mother and the fetus (may lead to hemorrhage and even death). If the doctor determines that the placenta is prevalent, usually the pregnant woman remains in the hospital so that doctors can systematically assess her and the baby's condition using ultrasound and CTG (a device that monitors the baby's heartbeat and records uterine contractions at the same time). If the baby is mature enough, doctors almost always decide on caesarean section, which eliminates the risks that may arise during natural delivery. A caesarean section is also performed immediately if there is a profuse vaginal haemorrhage during pregnancy.

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Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy: placenta detachment

If your delivery is as planned, a correctly positioned placenta detaches itself from the uterine wall a few minutes after your baby is born. However, it happens (once in 150 births) that the placenta detaches much earlier. Usually, there is bleeding, which may not be profuse, but is usually accompanied by pain and a lot of constant tension in the abdomen. Your baby's movements may be weak or very jerky. Symptoms of a life-threatening shock (dyspnoea, weakness, increased heart rate, drop in blood pressure, feeling restless) may also occur. If you experience such symptoms, call an ambulance, lie on your side (preferably get someone else's help) with your legs raised and wait for an ambulance. If you react quickly and receive the right help, you can avoid serious complications for you and your baby.

Bleeding in the second half of pregnancy: mucus plug departure

As your due date approaches, expect the mucus plug to break off. It is a special "plug" of thick mucus that is formed at the beginning of pregnancy in the cervical canal. It seals it so that microbes cannot enter the uterus and the baby developing in it. The departure of the plug, which looks like thick mucus, often stained with blood, heralds the onset of labor. It shows that the cervical canal is opening, but it does not guarantee that you will welcome your baby in any hour. In women giving birth to another child, it may happen even several days before delivery. Either way - see your doctor then. He will explain if your adventure in the delivery room is already beginning, or if you still need to wait a little longer.

Important

Even slight bleeding can be a signal of a serious problem (even if the placenta detaches), and heavy bleeding does not have to end badly.

No complaintspain relief does not mean that the bleeding is harmless.

There may be no bleeding. This happens, for example, when the placenta detaches and only the gynecologist will recognize the problem. That is why it is so important to report to the control visits, as well as to be examined after an injury (e.g. a car accident - a frequent cause of detachment of the placenta).

Even with slight bleeding during pregnancy, if you are Rh negative, you should receive anti-D immunoglobulin. This should prevent the development of a serological conflict in future pregnancies.

If there is a threat of preterm labor in the hospital, you will receive not only medications for yourself (for example, antispasmodics to stop the labor), but also for your baby. They will accelerate the maturation of the alveoli so that the baby can breathe on his own after he is born.

When you stain or bleed, don't panic, but try to observe how much blood you've actually lost. This is extremely valuable information for doctors - it will allow them to decide on the sequence of proceedings, specialized tests and treatment (for example anemia caused by blood loss)