Dark Spotting While Pregnant: When to Get Help

Blood can look brown or dark after it has been in the vagina for a while. Pregnancy also makes the cervix more sensitive, so light bleeding may follow sex or a pelvic examination. Infection, changes involving the pregnancy, or a problem with the placenta can also cause bleeding, depending on the stage of pregnancy. Colour and amount cannot confirm the explanation.

When you contact your care team, describe how far along the pregnancy is, when spotting started, whether it is fresh red or dark, and whether there is pain, pressure, discharge, or reduced fetal movement later in pregnancy. The team may recommend an examination, tests, or a scan.

Wear a pad rather than a tampon and observe whether the spotting stops, increases, or contains clots. Avoid sex until you have received advice if it seems to trigger bleeding. Keep your maternity contact details available and call the team that is caring for your pregnancy, including for a small episode that has stopped.

Do not self-treat with medicines or vaginal products unless a clinician who knows you are pregnant recommends them. Mention fever, burning when urinating, unusual discharge, or pelvic pain, as these may point to infection.

Seek emergency assessment for heavy or rapidly increasing bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, fainting, marked dizziness, shoulder-tip pain, fever, or feeling very unwell. Later in pregnancy, contact maternity services urgently for reduced fetal movement, regular tightening, fluid leakage, or bleeding with significant pain. Do not wait for the colour to change before seeking help.

Ask whether you need to attend a maternity unit, what activity is suitable today, and which symptoms should prompt emergency help. Ask how to monitor fetal movement when relevant, whether you need tests, and who to call overnight or at weekends.