Picture this situation. You are desperately desiring a baby and eager to conceive. Your menstruation is due in about a week.
All morning, you've felt pretty crampy. You decide to visit the bathroom only to notice the presence of blood. Now you've got to start from ground up.
You, as usual, jot it down in your diary (early pregnancy). You again, enthusiastically, wait for another month. The end of the month is not in site yet fatigue starts to take its toll.
You have no idea where the fatigue is originating from. You might just be experiencing a little nausea, coupled with a stuffy nose. The symptoms manifesting might be an indication that your previous period was actually due to implantation.
We know that you want to find an explanation to these happenings. It's actually vital that you get precise answers to these events in order to understand whether they are signs of implantation, so that you don't press that alarm button prematurely.
It's quite difficult to find the answer, especially, if you are new in this and you don't know how to describe the characteristics of the bleeding.
We have taken the liberty to point to you the characteristics that qualify your scenario to implantation and what you need to do if the symptoms manifest.
What is Implantation Bleeding?
This bleeding is sometimes referred to as implantation plotting. During the menstrual cycle, at the time the ovary releases the egg, ovulation is presumed to have occurred.
When the emitted egg fertilizes due to a sperm, the egg snakes its way to the uterus and implants itself in its developed lining that is filled with blood and nutrients. During this implant, little quantities of blood get discarded, eventually being discharged through the vagina.
This is phenomenon is referred to as implantation plotting and is considered a sign of earliest pregnancy. This discharge occurs after 6 to 12 days of fertilization, and the color unlike the white discharge is normally pink and brown signifying that the discharged blood is the old one that had taken time to be released from the body.
How Can You Know Whether it's Implantation plotting or Period?
Because implantation bleeding regularly manifests prior to testing positive for pregnancy, it might be a monumental challenge to recognize whether light bleeding is actually an early indication of pregnancy or just the natural plotting resulting to your period. And sadly, there is no surefire symptom or test that will inform you.
The surefire way of determining whether you're indeed pregnant is to stay calm for a few days and go for a pregnancy test. The timelines of your previous intercourse can also be a valuable pointer.
If it's been over 2 weeks since your last intercourse, it's not probable that any bleeding is as a result of implantation. With that said, the women, about one-third that report implantation plotting experience frequent bleeding that is different from their normal premenstrual spotting.
Other women report a darker blood that does not exemplify the red usual menstrual blood. Still, some women report that they experience mild cramping during the spotting.
But for the majority of women, the 2 bleeding types are not different. So don't think you're alone if you presume that a little spotting is actually implantation plotting and experience your menstruation some days later. Or if you're the kind that presumes its usual plotting only to end up pregnant.
When Exactly Does Implantation plotting Take Place?
The moment the embryo attaches itself to the uterus, it may end up disrupting minute blood vessels around the attached spot. This, however, will not cause any issues as the endometrium regains.
But other women may report light bleeding ranging from pink, red to a brown discharge. With this group of women, bleeding will most likely show a little early than their anticipated monthly flow (normally about 5 to 10 days) after conception.
Below is expanded information on the differences between implantation plotting and periods:
- Color
For initial pregnancy bleeding, the spotting or discharge will normally come in pinkish or dark brown color. Blood from periods, on the other hand, looks bright and vibrant red.
- Cramping
It's natural to experience mild cramping when the egg swim and attach itself to the walls of the womb. However, it would show signs of faintness, and the strength will not increase. Cramps instigated by menstruation, in contrast, are more intense and tend to get stronger.
- Duration
Because implantation plotting only occurs while the egg is attaching itself to the uterus, it might last few hours or well over one day or two days tops. During this time, it will stay light and probably stop and start again.
There are usually no clots at this time. If, for instance, bleeding begins light, then becomes heavier and shows steady flow and continues for 4 to 7 days, it's undoubtedly your menstruation.
- Timing
Typically, implantation plotting occurs approximately ten days after ovulation. Menstruation, on the other hand, typically happens after 14 days.
Therefore, a pinkish bleeding on day 22 to 25 is highly probable to be implantation plotting than the early signs of menstruation (normally about day 22 to 27)
Are There Other Causes of Bleeding other than Implantation?
Pregnant women may experience bleeding apart from implantation. If you experience heavy bleeding together with or without cramping and pain, you need to consult your physician.
If you are pregnant and witness blood, it may be due to the following reasons:
- Ectopic pregnancy
This is a scenario where a fertilized egg implants itself outside the womb, more often, in the fallopian tube. The egg will not develop into a baby if it gets stuck in one of them and if the pregnancy commences, your life might be in danger.
When ectopic pregnancy occurs, it's always not possible to save the pregnancy. The woman must get it removed either by medicinal routines or through operation.
Ectopic pregnancy can lead to bleeding accompanied with cramps and pain.
- Sex
Normal sex happens before, but some people indulge in it during pregnancy. Changes in hormones could be the root cause of bleeding during this moment. But it's not a risk factor, and it should cease on its own.
- Miscarriage
Statistics show that approximately 15% of confirmed pregnancies get terminated during the first few months. Many women report bleeding and cramping afterward. If you've tested positive for pregnancy and you experience these signs, call your doctor right off.
- Hormonal Imbalances
Hormone imbalance may come about because of stress, thyroid or ovarian problems, diabetes and contraceptives.
- Hormonal Contraceptive Devices
Devices such as IUDs, Implanon, and patches can cause bleeding
- Blood Thinners
Blood thinner, for instance, aspirin, warfarin, and heparin can instigate bleeding
- Infection
Vaginal, uterus and cervical infections can result in bleeding
- Perimenopause
Bleeding can occur if the body is witnessing the transition to not experiencing periods. During menopause, menstrual cycle stops, and there is no bleeding witnessed. You should consult a doctor if you experience bleeding after menopause.
What should you do if bleeding occurs due to the above causes?
The risk of bleeding can be mitigated by doing the following:
- Maintaining Your Weight
A healthy weight can mitigate the risk of uterine cancer, which may prevent unusual bleeding
- Taking Medical Prescriptions Properly
If you are using birth control pills, intake must be only as prescribed by the doctor. You should not try to skip the prescription and ensure to take it at the same time each day.
If birth control pills are taken irregularly, they can cause bleeding. Blood thinners like aspirin are major causes of unusual bleeding and should be restricted.
- Track Your Menstrual Cycle
Recording dates of periods, spotting, details regarding the heaviness and duration of bleeding will be handy when a doctor needs to perform a diagnosis. If your bleeding occurs in-between periods and only once, there should not be cause for concern. But if it's heavy or takes a longer duration, or it occurs during each cycle, you should visit a doctor for check up.
- Deal With Stress
Extended emotional stress can be a key contributor to unusual bleeding and irregular periods. You can deal with stress by taking up activities like yoga, aerobic exercises, visualization technique and deep breathing.
- Change Contraceptives
Utilizing IUDs can instigate bleeding and is a prevalent phenomenon. Change-up to different contraceptives can serve to mitigate unusual bleeding, for example, normal birth control pills intake.
- Custom Pap Smear
Yearly pap smear can be a great way to detect early signs of cervical cancer, and mitigate symptom-based bleeding.
Is there Known Treatment for Implantation Bleeding?
Like we have pointed out before, this bleeding is natural phenomenon, and therefore, it will cease on its own. You might get worried that you've lost a lot of blood. It's prudent to call your doctor to check you up. Your doctor may require you to state the characteristic of the blood. So you must be able to tell.
The causes and symptoms of Implantation spotting/bleeding will help you understand whether the bleeding is normal or unusual. This knowledge will be handy when the doctor wants to make a diagnosis, so it's imperative that you have them at your fingertips. Pregnancy has a huge spiritual, emotional, energetic and mental part of it.
If you understand these aspects more, your pregnancy will be easier and less symptomatic. Learning to link up with your unborn child's emotions will go a long way towards enhancing your pregnancy experience and allow you to give in to its natural physiological process and lessen the risk of miscarriage.
Read This Next
- 7 Things Every Woman Should Know About Thick White Discharge
- 6 Essential To-Dos In The First Trimester of Pregnancy
- So…When’s My Prenatal Appointment? Forgetfulness During Pregnancy
- Week 13 of Your Pregnancy
See more here: 6 Important Things You Should Know About Implantation Bleeding
No comments:
Post a Comment