Q&A
Spotting During Early Pregnancy
Question:
I'm in my eighth week of pregnancy and am experiencing some slight brownish spotting. I also have some mild cramps in my lower abdomen. Is this normal? I'm really freaking out!
This can be so stressful for any mom-to-be! While spotting can be very unsettling, based on your descriptions, it's likely to be nothing serious. It's not uncommon for pregnant women to experience some spotting and cramping in the lower abdomen during early pregnancy.
In many cases, spotting in the first trimester is caused by something fairly harmless: Bleeding occurs when the cervix is irritated due to mechanical trauma, which can happen after a Pap smear or intercourse. To be safe, you may want to avoid exercising, stop having sexual intercourse and avoid lifting heavy objects for a few weeks.
Of course, spotting can also be an early sign of miscarriage, so watch out for any warning signs such as increased bleeding and pain, passage of blood clots, chills or fever. Call your doctor right away if the bleeding turns bright red.
If you haven't already gone for a checkup, you should schedule one as soon as possible to rule out any infections. Certain infections can cause spotting, and some may lead to preterm labor or deformed babies if left untreated. A vaginal infection such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection or a sexually-transmitted disease (such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or herpes) can cause your cervix to become inflamed and result in spotting.
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