One might think that the expression “getting your period during pregnancy” might be an oxymoron. The generally accepted belief is that once a woman discovers she is pregnant, her menstrual cycle immediately stops. The basic idea is that a woman is only pregnant if she has a missed period, so she shouldn't be pregnant if she has one. Right? In this article we will try to answer this and many other questions.

Can I get my period during pregnancy?

Every now and then there is a story about a woman who didn't realize she was pregnant until she felt contractions. For most women, this sounds completely impossible! Wouldn't you notice the absence of menstrual cycles? Perhaps nausea, or at least a growing belly, will attract your attention.

When asked why they didn't understand or what they were expecting, some responded, "I was still having what I thought was my menstrual period, so I didn't think it could be pregnancy." How is this possible?!

We know that some women experience bleeding during pregnancy, but how can they confuse it with their period?

Sometimes during pregnancy there really is a period that can be confused with menstruation

The menstrual cycle is divided into four parts:

• Menstruation - when you have bleeding;
• Follicular phase - when the egg begins to mature for ovulation;
• Ovulation is when your body releases a mature egg;
• The luteal phase is the time after ovulation that lasts until the eggs are fertilized or the unfertilized egg dies and results in menstruation.

Menstruation is more than just bleeding. They occur when your progesterone drops because no fertilized egg is implanted.

Can you have a regular menstrual cycle and be pregnant?

There are a sufficient number of reasons for detecting bleeding during pregnancy. Some of these causes are serious and require medical treatment, and some are not.

There are cases where women experience regular menstrual cycles even though they are pregnant. This can occur as a result of conception close to the time of the next menstrual period and can cause serious confusion in terms of timing.

The baby's gestational age and due date are usually calculated based on the date of the last menstrual period.

Sometimes menstruation is confused with an ectopic pregnancy, and this is very dangerous.

An ectopic pregnancy, in which an embryo implants somewhere outside the uterus, most often in the fallopian tube, can cause bleeding similar to menstruation. If you experience cramping and bleeding during early pregnancy, urgent medical attention is needed. If the expectant mother is hospitalized at the right time, the child may be saved.

Some things end before they really begin

It is a startling fact that only about 25 percent of pregnancies actually result in live births. Most expectant mothers who have no experience do not even have time to understand the fact that they are pregnant. Unfortunately, it often ends in miscarriage.

Due to the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, it is recommended that you notify your doctor promptly if you are concerned that a miscarriage may occur. Most pregnant women do not receive proper care from medical personnel.

What causes bleeding?

Implantation bleeding - fertilized implants from eggs. As it burrows into the uterine lining, some women experience a little spotting or bleeding. This bleeding usually occurs when the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. This type of bleeding usually occurs five days after conception, so it is easy to understand why a woman would confuse this bleeding with her menstrual cycle and may have difficulty determining when her last menstrual period was. Implantation bleeding is not that common and is usually nothing more than a small spot or pinkish-red mucus.

Breakthrough bleeding - During the early stages of pregnancy, your body produces progesterone and other hormones that prevent your body from triggering the onset of your period. Breakthrough bleeding usually occurs during the first cycle after conception and may continue into the first trimester. In this case, it is important to note that any bleeding after the first bleed will not occur in a timely, predictable manner like your period. This will be sporadic bleeding that will vary in flow. Multiple periods of time, whether irregular for you or not, are unlikely to be bleeding due to pregnancy.

Placental bleeding - placenta previa is when the placenta is close to, partially or completely covering the cervix.

Placental abruption means that the placenta is partially or completely separated from the wall of the uterus.

Placental abruption is a dangerous condition that can kill both the baby and the expectant mother.

Placental lakes are expanded spaces in the placenta filled with maternal blood. These and several other placental complications can often cause painless vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimesters.

Special circumstances

However, not all women have a standard 28 and 32 day cycle. In less common scenarios, a woman with a shorter menstrual cycle (eg, 24 days) may have seven days of bleeding, have intercourse on the last day of bleeding, and ovulate three days later. Since the sperm lives for three to five days, she can definitely get pregnant.

Additionally, some women experience breakthrough or bleeding.

Mild lower abdominal cramps, spotting (spot implantation, a fairly common cause of one-time bleeding), breast tenderness and moodiness, and the presence of unprotected sex during your period. These symptoms may appear as early as 2 weeks after ovulation.

Other, more common pregnancy symptoms that may help determine if you are pregnant include: nausea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue.

Ultrasounds can help determine the cause of bleeding

While blood may appear from time to time while you are carrying your baby during pregnancy, it does not always indicate the onset of your period. Any blood that appears may be due to implantation of a fertilized egg or a miscarriage, infection, or upcoming contractions.

Any discharge, especially bloody discharge, that differs in composition or timing from menstruation should alert a woman

Pregnancy, while you are taking the pill, is often accompanied by bleeding, which can be confused with the menstrual cycle. Many women who are on the pill have several episodes of bleeding before they realize that something is not quite right. In such cases, the woman usually cannot tell her doctor exactly when her last actual menstrual cycle was, and an ultrasound is required to provide the mother and doctor with an approximate date.

During pregnancy, there are many different moments when the expectant mother experiences blood loss in the vagina. The causes of this bleeding can range from harmless to life-threatening, so it is important to know what types of bleeding can occur. The doctor needs this to diagnose the cause of any bleeding in order to save the patient from this problem. The main goal is not to harm the fetus.

Early pregnancy

You may experience blood loss before you even know you are pregnant. Namely, implantation bleeding can occur when a fertilized egg enters the bloodstream of the uterus.

Miscarriage most often occurs early in pregnancy and is often accompanied by bleeding. Depending on the week in which the miscarriage occurs, it may appear to be just a normal menstrual cycle arriving a few weeks late. Women experience varying amounts of blood loss during a miscarriage. Additionally, the cramps felt before and during a miscarriage can vary significantly. In general, the longer the pregnancy, the more blood and cramps will accompany the miscarriage, but this depends on each woman’s body individually.

Bright scarlet discharge may be a symptom of miscarriage

It's natural to worry if you have spotting or bleeding. Tell your doctor or midwife because bleeding can sometimes be worrying. Unfortunately, sometimes bleeding can be the first sign of miscarriage. If so, it probably won't look like a normal period. The pregnant woman will likely have severe abdominal cramps and much heavier bleeding.

If you notice dark and watery bleeding, contact your doctor immediately. You may have an ectopic pregnancy that requires prompt treatment.

Bleeding during early pregnancy may make it difficult to work as intended. Midwives and doctors often initially use the first day of your last period to estimate when conception occurred. If there is no doubt, measuring your uterus can help you determine your gestational age.

Ectopic pregnancy is the most serious condition that causes bleeding in early pregnancy. Both miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy cause the loss of a baby, but an ectopic pregnancy can be very dangerous for the mother and it can reduce her chances of carrying another child in the future. While diagnosis of this type of pregnancy should be made, ideally before the fallopian tube with growing ovarian ruptures, receiving immediate medical attention after a rupture can help minimize risks to the mother.

Late bleeding

One in 10 women will experience vaginal bleeding during the third trimester, and this may be a sign of a more serious problem. Bleeding in the last few months of pregnancy should always be reported to a healthcare professional as soon as possible. First, you need to understand the difference between spotting and bleeding: spotting occurs when there are a few drops of blood on your underwear, but not enough to cover your panty liner. Bleeding is a heavier flow of blood.

Infections remain a cause of bleeding throughout pregnancy. At any stage, you can easily become infected. You can also try to minimize the risk of infection.

Another reason you may be bleeding late in pregnancy is that you are about to go into labor. "Soon" can mean in a few minutes or in a few weeks. If you experience premature contractions, your doctor must admit you to the hospital.

Is it worth going to the doctor if you have heavy bleeding for a long time - definitely “yes”!

If you are already 37 weeks pregnant and notice a little blood, the amount and color will help you determine if you need to seek medical attention immediately. If you have a small amount of pinkish/bleeding discharge and you are over 37 weeks, there is no reason to panic. If you see bright red blood, whether you're already 37 weeks or not, call your doctor. You may be going into labor, but this could be a much more serious complication that requires urgent hospitalization.

Conversion of the placenta (low placenta) or placental abruption leads to bleeding. Placental deposition is very dangerous for the baby and leads to a decrease in the oxygen supply to the baby.

Erroneous menstruation during pregnancy

While there are many reasons why pregnant women lose blood during pregnancy, none of them are actually menstruation. Postpartum bleeding is also not considered menstruation.

It is always important to diagnose and understand why the bleeding occurred in order to begin treatment. Some causes of pregnancy bleeding are benign, while others are dangerous for the expectant mother and fetus. They need specialized help.

If you are already sexually active, then you are strongly recommended to visit a gynecologist at least once every six months. Also pay attention to how your periods are going. This is a very important process, a lot depends on it. If you do not have it regularly, then this indicates a hormonal disorder. It will be difficult for you to determine the presence or absence of pregnancy.

What's the difference between menstruation and pregnancy?

The easiest way to differentiate between periods and pregnancy-related bleeding is to take a test to determine whether you are pregnant or not. If it's negative, it means your period is out of whack, and if it's positive, you should see an OB/GYN.

From the moment of conception, the body is slowly but inexorably rebuilt, and changes occur at all levels, from hormonal to changes in the position of bones. It is quite natural that with such a global “restructuring” many unusual sensations arise. Especially if this is the woman’s first pregnancy. In addition, during the period of bearing a child, the focus of attention inevitably shifts to one’s well-being. Therefore, even if before it was difficult to call you an introvert, now your own feelings will become the most important for you.

With such sensitivity, how can you understand what is normal and what is a reason for concern? First of all, you need to know the theory; here the principle “forewarned is forearmed” is more relevant than ever. In this article we will describe possible problems that most often arise during pregnancy and their causes. As well as symptoms for which it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Toxicosis

Norm: Happens to almost everyone; nausea and vomiting appear in approximately 75% of women already from the 5-6th week. Nausea is thought to be caused by elevated levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). By the 16th week, as a rule, toxicosis passes. Sometimes toxicosis continues in the second half of pregnancy. This may be caused by the uterus enlarging and the gastrointestinal tract being compressed.

Dangerous: If you feel sick too often, liquid and food are not retained in the body, you are rapidly losing weight, and your urine has turned dark yellow - this is a reason to be wary. From a simple malaise, an extreme condition with the complex name “hyperemesis gravidarum” (literally “uncontrollable vomiting”) can develop. Approximately one in 200 women are diagnosed with this condition early in pregnancy. If left untreated, the disease can lead to dehydration, low potassium levels in the blood and impair normal liver function. To prevent this from happening, you need to put in a drip with a rehydrating solution. It is clear that in this case hospitalization cannot be avoided.

Frequent urination and urinary incontinence

Norm: During pregnancy, the uterus grows and puts more and more pressure on the bladder, so you want to go to the toilet more often. Around the 14th week, the uterus moves into the abdominal cavity, which usually alleviates the irritant syndrome. At a later stage, it appears again, since at this time the baby’s head drops and begins to put pressure on the bladder. Increasing levels of progesterone also stimulate the bladder muscles to contract, making it feel full even if there is actually little urine in the bladder. Additionally, your kidneys work harder during pregnancy, which can also affect how often you urinate. Sometimes urinary incontinence occurs when coughing, sneezing, laughing or sudden movements. This phenomenon is called “tension incontinence” and is absolutely normal.

Dangerous: It makes sense to consult a doctor if pain or burning occurs when urinating. Or if, despite the unbearable urge, only a couple of drops come out of the bladder. These symptoms often indicate the presence of a urinary tract infection. They can lead to kidney disease, and in particularly severe cases, even premature birth. To exclude kidney pathology, you need to consult a urologist and do a urine test. After the 30th week, frequent urination can be confused with the discharge of amniotic fluid. In this case, you need to urgently undergo an examination by a doctor and do special tests to find out the exact cause. Also, frequent urination along with constant thirst may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. It occurs during pregnancy when the body does not produce enough insulin to cope with elevated blood sugar levels. To make a diagnosis, a special blood test for sugar is done.

Discharge during pregnancy

Norm: In the first few weeks of pregnancy, there is a slight spotting. They are similar to menstrual ones, but not as abundant. Discharge may be due to the fact that the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. Additionally, the hormones that control your menstrual cycle may cause slight bleeding when your period would otherwise begin. Also in the first trimester, the hormone progesterone has a significant influence on the body, so opaque, viscous discharge may appear. As long as they are scanty and white (although they may turn yellow once they dry out) there is nothing to worry about.

Dangerous: you need to be wary of yellowish discharge with a cloying, unpleasant odor, especially if it is accompanied by itching and redness. Most likely, this is a sign that a violation of the vaginal microflora has occurred, and the inflammatory process is in full swing. In this case, you urgently need to take a smear for infection. If the diagnosis is confirmed, special vaginal creams, ointments and suppositories are prescribed. As for bloody discharge, it is very important to monitor its quantity. If very little blood comes out and you do not experience pain, there is most likely no problem. If the bleeding is accompanied by cramps in the lower abdomen or back pain, consult a doctor immediately, as there may be a risk of termination of pregnancy (miscarriage). Most likely, your doctor will send you for an ultrasound and also ask for blood and urine tests to check the levels of certain hormones and, if necessary, prescribe pregnancy-supporting therapy.

Haemorrhoids

Norm: Unfortunately, most women cannot avoid this unpleasant ailment during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are caused by pressure from the uterus on the blood vessels, which causes the veins to dilate. Progesterone also contributes to this process. Its high level can also cause constipation. Hemorrhoids can be confused with anal fissures, they are usually associated with intestinal diseases, but can also appear due to syphilis, tuberculosis, granulomatous disease and tumors.

Dangerous: If hemorrhoids become very painful, constipation becomes more frequent, or bleeding from the intestines appears, you need to consult a proctologist. Anal fissures may also be the cause of these manifestations. Proctoscopy, which allows you to examine the anal canal, will help clarify the diagnosis. Anal fissures can be acute or chronic and it is important to treat them as soon as possible as complications can arise. Acute or recent cracks are usually treated with laxatives and local numbing cream. After treatment, it is very important to eat regularly, eat high fiber foods and drink plenty of fluids.

Edema during pregnancy and preeclampsia

Norm: edema is associated with an increase in the amount of fluid in the body, they occur in 90% of expectant mothers. The hands, fingers, ankles and feet are the most likely to swell. This is especially noticeable at the end of the day, if you stand or sit for a long time without moving, as well as in the heat.

Dangerous: severe swelling can be a sign of preeclampsia, so you should definitely mention them during your examination with your doctor. Preeclampsia is a syndrome that occurs only during pregnancy and is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and severe swelling. Therefore, you should be alert if your legs suddenly begin to swell very much, constant headaches, flashes and spots before your eyes appear, as well as pain on the right side of the body in the upper abdomen, right under the ribs. The cause of preeclampsia remains unknown, so treatment is selected individually in each case. HELLP syndrome often occurs in tandem with preeclampsia. This is an acronym for red blood cell breakdown, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count. The only effective treatment is childbirth. The sooner preeclampsia is detected and countermeasures are taken, the better the outcome for mother and baby.

Dizziness and fainting

Norm: A feeling of slight dizziness is a common condition during pregnancy. In the early stages, it may occur due to increased blood circulation. Later - due to the pressure of the uterus on large blood vessels. Low blood sugar, low blood pressure, getting up quickly, or overheating can also cause dizziness. Fainting during pregnancy is rare, but if you feel weak, it is due to a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain.

Dangerous: Dizziness or fainting in itself is not dangerous, but can be signs of a serious illness - anemia (anemia). It occurs when there is insufficient hemoglobin in the blood. The main cause of anemia is iron deficiency. It is required more than usual so that the expectant mother can produce a sufficient number of red blood cells not only for herself, but also for the child. Anemia can be caused by folic acid deficiency, blood loss, and chronic disease. For treatment, iron-containing drugs and a special diet are prescribed: the diet must include red meat, beans, spinach, fish, and chicken. Sometimes the body does not accept enough iron, then injections of iron supplements are prescribed. You can also take folic acid or vitamin B12. Another indirect sign of anemia is difficulty breathing. If it is accompanied by chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or a sharp rise in blood pressure, you should consult a doctor and be sure to donate blood for hemoglobin.

The most important thing during pregnancy is to listen carefully to yourself. And, if you discover any unusual, alarming symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Natalya Kournikova, gynecologist at the Semeynaya network of medical clinics
magazine for parents “Raising a Child”, November 2012

Almost all women are concerned about menstruation during pregnancy. Is this a common phenomenon or an indicator of pathology? Undoubtedly, the answer to these questions is not so simple. It turns out that statistics say that approximately every 5th representative of the fairer sex turns to a gynecologist with the problem of menstruation. And what quantity does not circulate? And nothing, they give birth to healthy and strong children. So is this really a problem? Knowledge about the physiology of the female body can help us understand this.

Do you have menstruation during pregnancy?

Is it possible to have menstrual bleeding during pregnancy? It is clear that no, since this would mean rejection of the endometrium together with the attached fertilized egg (especially in the first months of pregnancy).

A woman's menstrual cycle lasts three to five weeks, starting on the first day of her period. From the first day until the middle of the menstrual cycle, a woman’s body releases a large amount of estrogen hormones, which promote the maturation of the egg in the ovary and increase the size of the uterine mucosa, where the fertilized egg must penetrate. Ovulation occurs midway through the cycle.

• rupture of the follicle (the vesicle in which the egg matured)
• and release of the egg into the abdominal cavity,
• and then into the fallopian tube to meet the sperm.

Why is menstruation impossible during pregnancy?

As you know, the inner walls of the uterus are lined with mucous membrane, which is called the endometrium. This layer is distinguished by a branched vascular network, and therefore a rich blood supply. The endometrium subtly responds to the cyclic transformations that occur in the ovaries. This dependence is oriented by female sex hormones. Thus, when the follicle rises, estrogen is synthesized, under the influence of which the inner lining of the uterus begins to increase in volume.

If fertilization has occurred, then the egg is implanted into the prepared uterine mucosa and begins to grow - pregnancy begins (at the same time, a woman’s body has a lot of another sex hormone - progesterone, which is produced by the corpus luteum, formed at the site of the burst follicle).

Once fertilization has not occurred, then during the 2nd half of the menstrual cycle the corpus luteum dries out and stops producing progesterone. In the absence of fertilization, the uterine lining is shed and bleeding begins.

Blood, mucus, and also the remnants of the rejected endometrium form the menstrual flow. If pregnancy begins, the corpus luteum continues to remain viable for three months. With all this, progesterone continues to be produced, which takes on the function of preserving pregnancy in the first steps of its development.

How to distinguish menstruation from bleeding during pregnancy?

The cause of bleeding can be critical pathological conditions:

• infectious and inflammatory diseases of the internal genital organs,
• ectopic pregnancy,
• hormonal changes,
• internal breaks,
• placental abruption and so on.

This can all result in an acute complication, such as an involuntary termination of pregnancy or a miscarriage. The origin of such bleeding had to be understood. And the sooner the better.

Imaginary menstruation during pregnancy

During the first 12 weeks, the egg does not occupy the entire uterine cavity. During the period of strengthening in the wall of the uterus, the mucous membrane may be partially disturbed, in fact, it causes bloody discharge, which regularly has every chance of lasting until the fertilized testicle occupies the entire uterine cavity. With such “menstruation” the bleeding is insignificant, brown, brown or reddish in color. They pass without medical assistance and are sometimes accompanied by painful discomfort.

This condition does not require special treatment. People call it “washing the fetus with blood.”

Only a medical professional can understand the situation. It is clear that these bleedings have nothing to do with menstruation. To make sure that the fertilized egg is not injured, an ultrasound examination is performed.

Non-dangerous bleeding can occur if the integrity of the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix is ​​damaged, for example, with cervical erosions or polyps. This is facilitated by the rush of blood to the genitals during pregnancy. Violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane may occur during sexual intercourse. We must not forget that bleeding during pregnancy, which may seem “safe”, can be caused by an enlarging malignant tumor. One way or another, after the examination, the woman will be provided with the required assistance in consultation.

When a woman notices her period during early pregnancy, she may think that this is normal. But is this so, and what does menstrual bleeding at the beginning of pregnancy indicate? Can menstruation occur during early pregnancy? Let’s look at everything in detail.

Can I have periods after pregnancy?

According to female physiology, menstruation and expecting a child are completely incompatible concepts. The menstrual cycle can be divided into three important periods: before the onset of ovulation (follicular), immediately after ovulation and the time after it and before the onset of menstruation (luteal). In the first half of the cycle, the endometrium grows on the walls of the uterus. If, upon the onset of ovulation, the egg is not fertilized, the endometrium begins to peel off and is released along with the blood at the end of the cycle. This cycle repeats every month.

If fertilization occurs during ovulation, the fertilized egg descends through the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it is implanted into its cavity. From this moment on, the level of the hormone progesterone increases in the female body. It does not allow the endometrial layer to be rejected, but, on the contrary, strengthens it for additional protection of the unborn child. Therefore, there are no periods during pregnancy.

Often women call any bloody discharge from the vagina as menstruation. But the presence of blood can be due to various reasons not related to the menstrual cycle.

Causes of spotting in early pregnancy

In the early stages, vaginal discharge mixed with blood may resemble menstruation. A pregnant woman may think that this is most likely her period during pregnancy. However, this discharge is called bleeding. This phenomenon occurs quite often and cannot be called safe.

Discharge with blood during pregnancy is due to the following reasons:

When there is a threat of miscarriage, a woman experiences dark, scanty discharge. They are usually accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen. This phenomenon may occur due to immune disorders in the female body, due to which the embryo is perceived as a foreign body. The mother's body tries to get rid of it.

A frozen pregnancy may not manifest itself for a long time. But minor dark discharge, softening of the mammary glands and acute abdominal pain can reveal the problem. This phenomenon occurs due to congenital abnormalities in the development of the embryo, increased uterine tone or genetic pathologies.

With an ectopic pregnancy, pain also occurs, localized at the site of implantation of the fertilized egg. The pain intensifies with changes in body position and physical activity. In this case, light dark bleeding occurs. Strong and prolonged discharge mixed with blood may indicate the most favorable outcome of an ectopic pregnancy - spontaneous detachment of the fertilized egg.

Ectopic and frozen pregnancies require urgent surgical intervention.

Any of the above conditions is very dangerous for women's health. If a pregnant woman's condition worsens, she should immediately seek medical help. In addition to severe pain, a woman may notice a rise in body temperature, headaches and dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness, and increased heart rate.

When are periods during pregnancy safe?

As a rule, any spotting in the early stages of pregnancy is a pathology, but there are still cases when there is no need to sound the alarm. Sometimes, in a short period of pregnancy, menstruation may occur in the early stages for the following reasons, which do not pose a threat to mother and baby:

• implantation of the fertilized egg;
• structural feature of the uterus;
• fertilization immediately before menstruation;
• hormonal disorders;
• the release of two eggs in one cycle, one of which is fertilized;
• increased blood flow to the pelvic organs;
• endometriosis and benign tumors of the endometrium and myometrium.

Sometimes slight bleeding occurs at the time of implantation of the fertilized egg. But it is a scanty spotting that a woman can mistake for menstruation during pregnancy. They are caused by damage to the vessels of the uterus during embryo attachment. But most often this moment is not accompanied by bleeding, so most women do not notice it.

With a bicornuate uterus, the fertilized egg is implanted in one part of it, and the second continues to menstruate for some time. With a bicornuate uterus, the fertilized egg is implanted in one part of it, and the second continues to menstruate for some time. This is exactly the option when conception has occurred and at the same time menstruation can occur during pregnancy. Of course, these periods during pregnancy are not the norm, but in practice a very small number of women experience such a pathology.

Doctors do not exclude the possibility of becoming pregnant even during menstruation. In reality, this also happens before the onset of menstruation, when late ovulation occurs. In this case, menstruation will begin as planned. In rare cases, the fertilized egg is implanted into the wall of the uterus for two weeks. In this case, the hormonal background does not have time to adjust, and scheduled menstruation begins.

Because of this, sometimes a woman simply incorrectly determines the duration of her pregnancy. So, for example, if there was unprotected intercourse in the last cycle, the scheduled menstruation passed, there was no more intimacy, and after a while the woman finds out that she is pregnant. She thinks that she had her period after pregnancy. But in fact, the beginning of pregnancy is not the moment of conception, but the time of implantation of the fertilized egg. In this case, there is a logical explanation for the past menstruation - late ovulation, when fertilization occurred in a cycle with an unprotected act, but the egg has not yet been implanted into the uterus.

A woman should know that hormonal changes characteristic of pregnancy, as well as the production of the hCG hormone, begin after implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine cavity.

Hormonal imbalance may be associated with a lack of progesterone or an excess of androgens in the female body. In this case, long-lasting brown discharge may appear, which is not dangerous. The problem is solved by taking hormonal drugs. For several months a woman may not even realize that she is expecting a child. This phenomenon is dangerous because she leads a normal lifestyle: she takes medications that are incompatible with pregnancy, experiences stress, heavy loads, and does not get rid of bad habits.

It also happens that an egg matures in both ovaries at the same time. Only one of them is fertilized, and the second leaves the body along with menstruation.

Regular periods during pregnancy can occur only once and in very early stages. The occurrence of bleeding in the second month is a pathology. It indicates a disruption in the course of pregnancy.

During pregnancy, blood flow to the pelvic organs increases, so a woman may experience slight bleeding after sexual intercourse or examination by a gynecologist. This occurs due to damage to the uterine mucosa and, as a rule, does not pose any threat to the child.

During pregnancy, diseases such as endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, fibroids or polyps can also provoke discharge similar to menstruation during pregnancy.

How to distinguish spotting from regular periods

From a physiological standpoint, rejection of the inner lining of the uterus, into which the fertilized egg is implanted, during pregnancy threatens the life of the embryo. Therefore, doctors call any bloody discharge during pregnancy bleeding.

Many bleedings do not pose a threat to the life of the mother and the unborn baby, but it is important for a woman to listen to her feelings. If menstruation in the early stages is caused by hormonal shifts, and the expectant mother feels well and there is no pain, then nothing terrible will most likely happen.

If you already know about your “interesting” situation, then no matter what discharge occurs, this is not menstruation. The thing is that menstruation cannot occur during pregnancy, since during this period the maturation of eggs is stopped, and therefore the endometrium along with the blood is not rejected. Most often, the appearance of bloody discharge occurs for the following reasons:

How to prevent bleeding during pregnancy?

First of all, you need to regularly see your gynecologist. Only an experienced doctor will be able to suspect something is wrong even at the moment when everything can be corrected.

Don't forget about your emotional state. Stress is one of the common causes of miscarriage. Try to be less nervous, worry and look at life more positively.

A healthy diet, proper daily routine and fresh air are also the key to ensuring that pregnancy proceeds without complications.

As you already understand, by definition there cannot be periods during pregnancy. The nature of the appearance of this blood is completely different, so in this case, guessing and self-medicating is a dangerous business. Take care of yourself and be healthy!