362 Abnormal Bleeding from the Vagina
Other Kinds of Bleeding Problems
Bleeding during pregnancy or after childbirth
Bleeding
problem
May be caused by
What to do
See
page
Bleeding during
the first 3 months
of pregnancy with
constant pain or
pain that comes
and goes
pregnancy
in the tube
URGENT! Go to a
hospital right away.
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Bleeding during
the last 3 months
of pregnancy
the afterbirth
(placenta) is
coming off the
wall of the womb
the placenta is
covering the cervix
URGENT! Go to a
hospital right away.
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Bleeding during
the first 6 months
of pregnancy
may be a
miscarriage
(especially
if you also
have cramping
pains like
birth pains)
Heavy bleeding
during or just
after childbirth
Light, pink
bleeding during
the first 3 months
of pregnancy
without pain
Spotting or light
bleeding instead
of your normal
monthly bleeding
pieces of the
placenta are left
in the womb
the womb is too
tired to squeeze
or tighten
this can be normal, or it may be a
sign of early miscarriage
the developing
baby (fetus) is
attaching to the
wall of the womb
(implantation).
This is normal.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012
Watch and wait.
If bleeding
becomes heavy,
go to a hospital.
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URGENT! See a
midwife or go to a
hospital if bleeding
is heavy.
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See ‘bleeding early
in pregnancy’.
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See the chapter
on “Pregnancy
and Childbirth.”
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