Spotting During Pregnancy: What Should You Know?

Spotting means light blood staining, which may be pink, brown, or red. The cervix can bleed more easily in pregnancy, including after sex or an examination. Infection, cervical irritation, polyps, and other conditions can also cause bleeding. In pregnancy, the amount, timing, stage of pregnancy, and associated symptoms are more useful than colour alone. Bleeding with pain can require urgent assessment. Do not assume that light bleeding is harmless, and do not assume it means pregnancy loss; only an appropriate clinical assessment can clarify the cause.

Record when it began, how much you see, the colour, whether clots are present, and whether there is pelvic or abdominal pain, dizziness, fever, unusual discharge, or shoulder-tip pain. Tell the maternity team about your blood group if you know it and about any recent sex, examination, fall, or injury.

Contact your maternity unit, obstetrician, midwife, or urgent pregnancy service for advice as soon as you notice bleeding. Use a pad rather than a tampon so the amount can be observed. Avoid sex until you have received guidance if it seems to trigger bleeding. Keep hydrated, note changes, and take your pregnancy records or medicine list if attending in person. The team may ask questions, examine you, check the pregnancy, or arrange blood and urine tests according to your stage and symptoms.

Seek emergency care for heavy or rapidly increasing bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, faintness, collapse, marked weakness, fever, or feeling acutely unwell. Later in pregnancy, reduced fetal movement, fluid loss, contractions, or abdominal injury also needs immediate contact with the maternity service. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint.

What could explain the bleeding at this stage? Do I need an examination, scan, or tests? Should I avoid sex or exercise for now? Which symptoms mean I should go straight to emergency care?