Can u get your period if your pregnant

Bleeding during pregnancy can cause anxiety. You may worry that something could be wrong, or that you could be having a miscarriage. It's a good idea to let your healthcare provider know if you are bleeding or spotting while pregnant, but it doesn't always mean something is wrong. Some bleeding can be completely normal.

Can I Get My Period While Pregnant?

You cannot get your period while you are pregnant, but you might see some bleeding that looks like your period. A true period is the process of shedding your entire uterine lining which cannot happen while you are still pregnant, unless you lose the pregnancy.

It is, however, possible to have menstrual-like bleeding for a variety of reasons during pregnancy.

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Decidual and Implantation Bleeding

Women who report having periods during an otherwise normal pregnancy are usually experiencing a phenomenon that is sometimes called ​decidual bleeding, in which a small part of the uterine lining might shed for the first few months of early pregnancy at the time that the woman would otherwise have had her period.

Decidual bleeding is not a true menstrual period, but it can look similar enough to cause women experiencing it to not realize that they are pregnant until fairly far along in the pregnancy.

Another possible explanation for having bleeding that looks like a period in very early pregnancy is implantation bleeding, which is spotting that may occur around the time of the first "missed" menstrual period. Implantation bleeding would occur only during the first month of pregnancy, however.

Note, however, that bleeding during pregnancy should always be reported to a doctor in order to rule out miscarriage or other complications. Decidual bleeding does occur in some women but is fairly rare. Implantation bleeding usually lasts only a day or two. So seeing a doctor is your best bet for ruling out miscarriage and figuring out the reason for your bleeding during pregnancy.

Note that "decidual bleeding" is not a common medical term; your doctor may simply refer to this bleeding as "first-trimester bleeding."

Causes of First-Trimester Bleeding

Bleeding during the first trimester is understandably dismaying. Fortunately, many women who bleed early on during pregnancy go on to deliver healthy babies. Nevertheless, it's scary to see blood while you're pregnant.

Here are some common causes of first-trimester bleeding:

  • Cervical infection, growths in the cervix or inflamed cervix
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Implantation bleeding, which typically happens about 2 weeks after conception
  • Miscarriage
  • Molar pregnancy

Causes of Second or Third-Trimester Bleeding

Here are some possible causes of bleeding experienced later during pregnancy:

  • Cervicitis
  • Incompetent cervix, or premature opening of the cervix
  • Miscarriage
  • Placental abruption
  • Preterm bleeding
  • Uterine rupture

A little bit of bleeding can also occur at the very end of pregnancy and serve as a sign that you are about to deliver. This blood is often mixed with mucus and called bloody show.

When to Contact Your Doctor

Once again, many women who experience some bleeding during pregnancy go on to have uneventful births and normal babies. However, bleeding during pregnancy should be treated as a pressing concern.

You must immediately contact your OB-GYN as soon as you notice any bleeding during pregnancy. Furthermore, you must tell your physician whether bleeding during pregnancy is accompanied by any other worrisome symptoms, such as cramping, fever, contractions, or chills.

Please remember that your physician is there to help you in a compassionate and comprehensive manner and must know about all the issues that you're experiencing. Sometimes bleeding during pregnancy can be life-threatening for the mother and the baby.

If you’ve had bleeding early in your pregnancy, you’re not alone. Many other pregnant women have early bleeding, too. And in most cases, nothing is wrong. But your healthcare provider still needs to know about it. They may want to do tests to find out why you’re bleeding. Call your provider if you see bleeding during pregnancy. Tell your provider if your blood is Rh negative. Then they can figure out if you need anti-D immune globulin treatment.

What causes early bleeding?

The cause of bleeding early in pregnancy is often unknown. But many factors early on in pregnancy may lead to light bleeding (called spotting) or heavier bleeding. These include:

  • Having sex

  • When the embryo implants on the uterine wall

  • Bleeding between the sac membrane and the uterus (subchorionic bleeding)

  • Pregnancy loss (miscarriage)

  • The embryo implants outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)

If you see spotting

Light bleeding is the most common type of bleeding in early pregnancy. If you see it, call your healthcare provider. Chances are, they will tell you that you can care for yourself at home.

If tests are needed

Depending on how much you bleed, your healthcare provider may ask you to come in for some tests. A pelvic exam, for instance, can help see how far along your pregnancy is. You also may have an ultrasound or a Doppler test. These imaging tests use sound waves to check the health of your baby. The ultrasound may be done on your belly or inside your vagina. You may also need a special blood test. This test compares your hormone levels in blood samples taken 2 days apart. The results can help your provider learn more about the implantation of the embryo. Your blood type will also need to be checked to assess if you will need to be treated for Rh sensitization. 

Healthcare provider doing ultrasound exam on pregnant woman.

Warning signs

If your bleeding doesn’t stop or if you have any of the following, get medical care right away:

  • Soaking a sanitary pad each hour

  • Bleeding like you’re having a period

  • Cramping or severe belly pain

  • Feeling dizzy or faint

  • Tissue passing through your vagina

  • Bleeding at any time after the first trimester

Questions you may be asked

Bleeding early in pregnancy isn't normal. But it is common. If you’ve seen any bleeding, you may be concerned. But keep in mind that bleeding alone doesn’t mean something is wrong. Just be sure to call your healthcare provider right away. They may ask you questions like these to help find the cause of your bleeding:

  • When did your bleeding start?

  • Is your bleeding very light or is it like a period?

  • Is the blood bright red or brownish?

  • Have you had sex recently?

  • Have you had pain or cramping?

  • Have you felt dizzy or faint?

Monitoring your pregnancy

Bleeding will often stop as quickly as it began. Your pregnancy may go on a normal path again. You may need to make a few extra prenatal visits. But you and your baby will most likely be fine.

Can you get a full period and still be pregnant?

The short answer is no. Despite all of the claims out there, it isn't possible to have a period while you're pregnant. Rather, you might experience “spotting” during early pregnancy, which is usually light pink or dark brown in color.

Can you bleed like a period in early pregnancy?

Hormonal bleeding is when some women experience a light bleed at around four to eight weeks of pregnancy, or around the time their period would have been due. This can be very confusing for women who are pregnant and is the reason many women do not realise they are pregnant for a while. Again, it is totally normal.