Bleeding in early pregnancy
What to do, what is normal, and the warning signs to watch for.
You have had bleeding (and maybe some pain) in early pregnancy. This is common, and often the pregnancy carries on normally — but it needs the right follow-up. Here is what to do and what to watch for.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
These can mean an ectopic pregnancy or heavy internal bleeding.
- Soaking more than one pad an hour for two hours, or passing clots larger than a golf ball
- Severe or one-sided tummy pain that is getting worse
- Pain at the tip of your shoulder
- Feeling faint, dizzy, or collapsing
- You feel confused, your heart is racing, or you are breathing fast
Contact the early pregnancy unit or the service named above the same day.
- Bleeding that is getting heavier, or clots you are worried about
- Tummy pain that is not settling with simple pain relief
- A high temperature, or vaginal discharge that smells offensive
- You pass tissue — keep it, as it may need to be examined
- You are rhesus negative and have new bleeding
- You have not been given an early pregnancy unit appointment, or cannot get through
Bleeding in early pregnancy is common and many pregnancies continue normally, but you need follow-up until the location of the pregnancy is confirmed and the bleeding has settled. Whether the pregnancy has been confirmed as being in the womb makes a difference to how urgently you should seek help — if this has not yet been confirmed, any new pain or shoulder-tip pain must be assessed straight away. This is recorded in Your care details above. If your blood group is rhesus negative, you may need an anti-D injection — ask about this if it has not been discussed. Use pads rather than tampons, and avoid sex until the bleeding has stopped. This can be a distressing time; ask your team about local early-pregnancy support, and about who to contact out of hours.
What to do
- Rest as much as you feel you need to.
- Use sanitary pads, not tampons, so you can see how much you are bleeding.
- You can take paracetamol for pain if you need it.
- Carry on with gentle normal activities as you feel able.
- Attend the early pregnancy unit appointment that has been arranged for you.
What is normal
These are common in early pregnancy and you may have them:
Many pregnancies with early bleeding go on to be healthy — the scan and follow-up will check.