Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBlood Clots Without PainBlood Clots With PainBlood Clots vs. Light BleedingMiscarriageManaging Blood ClotsWhen to Contact a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Blood Clots Without Pain
Blood Clots With Pain
Blood Clots vs. Light Bleeding
Miscarriage
Managing Blood Clots
When to Contact a Provider
While bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy can feel alarming, light spotting or small blood clots in early pregnancy may be normal. Heavier bleeding and larger clots are a cause for more concern.
With any bleeding during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider for advice. While bleeding may be a sign of a miscarriage or pregnancy loss, there are also several additional reasons for bleeding.
Blood Clots in Early Pregnancy Without Pain
If you pass blood clots during early pregnancy and are not experiencing any other painful or unusual symptoms, it may be due to causes such as:
Light bleeding during early pregnancy can result from several causes, some of which may or may not be concerning. Spotting or occasional small clots at this pregnancy stage are often not a cause for alarm. Still, experts recommend contacting a healthcare provider orobstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN)if you notice bleeding or blood clotting during pregnancy.
Blood Clots in Early Pregnancy With Pain
Noticing clotted bleeding during early pregnancy combined with painful or uncomfortable cramping may signify something more serious. Potential causes include:
Ectopic Pregnancy
Passing Blood Clots vs. Light Bleeding in the First Trimester
Light bleedingorspotting(which is when you bleed just a few drops of blood) is common during early pregnancy. Approximately 15%-25% of pregnant individuals experience bleeding in the first trimester.While it is normal to feel nervous with bleeding, it may be part of your normal pregnancy.
Early pregnancy bleeding is often described as a brown, red, or pink discharge that may have a gummy texture due to the mixing of dried blood and cervical mucus.
Vaginalblood clotsmay look like a dark, red, jelly-like blob of blood. Clots may also be thick or stringy.An average blood clot is roughly the size of a dime, though these dimensions can vary slightly. A clot larger than a quarter in diameter may signal an underlying issue.
Am I Having a Miscarriage?
Bleeding and blood clotting during early pregnancy do not automatically mean there’s an issue or that the pregnancy won’t endure.
That said, it’s possible that passing blood clots could be signs of a miscarriage or a loss of pregnancy, especially during the first 13 weeks. Pregnancy loss is estimated to happen with about 10 in every 100 known pregnancies.
If you experience bleeding, especially with blood clots, at any stage during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider to determine the cause of the clotting and assess the health of the pregnancy.
Experiencing early pregnancy loss is difficult. For support while coping with the grief of a miscarriage, consider speaking with a healthcare provider or OB-GYN for a recommendation to a counselor or other mental healthcare professional. Experts often recommend online support groups to connect with others in the same situation.
Managing Blood Clots in Early Pregnancy
If you noticebleeding or blood clottingduring early pregnancy, check with a healthcare provider first. Be prepared to answer questions about:
Management will depend on the underlying cause. If the pregnancy remains healthy, a healthcare provider may recommend resting and temporarily avoiding activities like sex, tampons, ordouchingto reduce bleeding and clotting.
Call a Provider for Heavy Bleeding
Tests, such as anultrasound,blood test,urine test, orpelvic exam, may determine the cause of the bleeding and the status of the pregnancy.
Be aware that if the pregnancy is in the early stages and there is not an obstetric complication such as an ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy, then it may be the emergency department staff and not an OB-GYN or midwife who provides care.
Miscarriage during early pregnancy is almost always due to uncontrollable factors. Experts underscore that factors such as exercise, stress, birth control pills, working, falling, or having sex do not cause miscarriage.Research estimates that roughly half of miscarriages during early pregnancy occur when the embryo doesn’t develop properly.
Miscarriage during early pregnancy is almost always due to uncontrollable factors. Experts underscore that factors such as exercise, stress, birth control pills, working, falling, or having sex do not cause miscarriage.
Research estimates that roughly half of miscarriages during early pregnancy occur when the embryo doesn’t develop properly.
Summary
Experiencing light bleeding or blood clots in early pregnancy is normal in some pregnancies. Sometimes, implantation bleeding, cervical changes, infections, or other factors can lead to clotted bleeding.
However, if you do notice bleeding, contact your healthcare provider for advice. They can advise if you need to be seen or may give you instructions on other symptoms to watch for.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Bleeding in early pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Molar pregnancy.Herman MC, Mol BW, Bongers MY.Diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding.Womens Health. 2016 Jan;12(1):15-20. doi:10.2217/whe.15.90Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.March of Dimes.Bleeding and spotting from the vagina during pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Venous thromboembolism (blood clots) and pregnancy.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Bleeding in early pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Molar pregnancy.Herman MC, Mol BW, Bongers MY.Diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding.Womens Health. 2016 Jan;12(1):15-20. doi:10.2217/whe.15.90Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.March of Dimes.Bleeding and spotting from the vagina during pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Venous thromboembolism (blood clots) and pregnancy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Bleeding in early pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Molar pregnancy.Herman MC, Mol BW, Bongers MY.Diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding.Womens Health. 2016 Jan;12(1):15-20. doi:10.2217/whe.15.90Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.March of Dimes.Bleeding and spotting from the vagina during pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Venous thromboembolism (blood clots) and pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Bleeding in early pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Molar pregnancy.
Herman MC, Mol BW, Bongers MY.Diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding.Womens Health. 2016 Jan;12(1):15-20. doi:10.2217/whe.15.90
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
March of Dimes.Bleeding and spotting from the vagina during pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Venous thromboembolism (blood clots) and pregnancy.
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