Pregnant spotting with brown blood

Blood can look brown when it has taken longer to leave the body. Colour alone cannot show whether bleeding is harmless or whether it needs treatment. Notice whether the spotting is only seen when wiping or continues onto underwear, and whether it changes to pink or bright red.

Other clues include cramps, pelvic pressure, unusual discharge, fever, pain during urination, or bleeding after sex. A clinician may assess infections such as [Chlamydia](/conditions/chlamydia/), cervical changes such as [Cervical Dysplasia](/conditions/cervical-dysplasia/), or structural causes including [Endometrial Polyps](/conditions/endometrial-polyps/) and [Uterine Fibroids](/conditions/uterine-fibroids/).

Wear a pad rather than using a tampon, record the time and amount, and avoid vaginal intercourse or inserting products until you have received advice if bleeding is ongoing. Contact your maternity team or pregnancy clinician and describe the colour, timing, pain, and any discharge.

Do not rely on the brown colour to decide that no review is needed. The assessment may depend on your stage of pregnancy, examination findings, and whether symptoms are changing.

Seek urgent care for increasing or heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, fainting, marked dizziness, fever, or a sudden deterioration. These symptoms require prompt assessment during pregnancy.

Ask whether you need an examination or ultrasound, what amount of bleeding should trigger urgent care, and whether your discharge or pain suggests infection.