Early Pregnancy Complications
What are early pregnancy complications?
Early pregnancy can be a worrying time for women and couples, especially if this is your first pregnancy or you have been trying to fall pregnant for a long time or used infertility treatments.
There are some common complications early in pregnancy. Most of these are due to a pregnancy not attaching or forming properly. These include:
Miscarriage
Ectopic pregnancies
Molar Pregnancy
Excessive nausea/vomiting
Bleeding in early pregnancy
If you are bleeding early in your pregnancy you may understandably be concerned and worried about the baby. It is important to note that bleeding does not always mean that you are having a miscarriage. Bleeding early during pregnancy is common and happens to a quarter of women – many who have healthy babies. However, if you are bleeding during pregnancy you should see a healthcare professional so they can investigate if there is a more serious cause behind it.
Tests for bleeding during early pregnancy
We will conduct an internal examination to look for signs of any obvious bleeding and the size of your uterus. You may be sent for additional tests:
Ultrasound – You may be sent for an ultrasound to locate where the pregnancy is growing and that it is growing. This may be an internal Ultrasound. This can also check for a heartbeat.
Blood tests – to check your levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) which changes depending on how pregnant you are:
- If hCG is lower than expected your pregnancy may not be growing normally. This will be repeated after 2 days.
- If hCG is rising slower than usual you may be miscarrying or have an ectopic pregnancy. If hCG is falling this usually means the pregnancy is ending and you will miscarry.
What causes bleeding during early pregnancy?
The tests may find no reason behind your bleeding and the pregnancy will likely continue as normal. Or you may be having a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.