Q: What if I have vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy?
A:
Many women experience a small amount of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy. If you get a sharp pain in the lower abdomen at about the same time, and if you have a history of ectopic pregnancy, you will need to have a clinical examination, an ultrasound scan and a blood test to make sure the bleeding is not caused by an ectopic pregnancy (an ectopic pregnancy is where the egg has been fertilised in the fallopian tube, preventing the baby from growing normally and causing a serious risk to the mother). If you have a previous history of early miscarriage, it will be reassuring for you to have the ultrasound scan. If you think there may be a problem with your pregnancy – for example, because there is a relative lack of breast tenderness, or if you have changes in urinary function or nausea – an ultrasound scan can confirm that the pregnancy is healthy. The vast majority of women with bleeding in early pregnancy go on to have a healthy baby.
