13 Weeks Pregnant Bleeding – Causes & Symptoms

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Bleeding at any point of your pregnancy can be scary for pregnant women- but what does it mean if you experience vaginal bleeding at 13 weeks pregnant?

This article, “13 Weeks Pregnant Bleeding – Causes & Symptoms”, discusses the causes of bleeding at 13 weeks pregnant, the symptoms of each cause, and when you should contact your health care provider.

Vaginal Bleeding at 13 Weeks Pregnant Causes

At 13 weeks pregnant- light bleeding or spotting is usually no cause for concern. Pink mucus and brown mucus can be discharged throughout the second trimester and third trimester. Bleeding during the first trimester (or early pregnancy) is also common. Many women experience bleeding throughout their pregnancies, and go on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. However, if you bleed more heavily and you are 13 weeks pregnant, you should consult your nearest maternity ward as soon as possible- as this can indicate a more serious complication- such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

Implantation Bleeding

Implantation is when the fertilised egg implants itself onto the lining of the uterus- where it will grow into a baby throughout the 9 months of pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding is a positive indicator that implantation successfully occurred.

Implantation symptoms include:

• Light bleeding or spotting that is pink or light brown in colour
• Mild cramping
• Nausea
• Mood Swings

Bleeding from implantation typically occurs between 10 and 14 DPO (days past ovulation), but for some pregnant women, this can happen later in pregnancy.

Cervical Softening

During pregnancy- your body is flooded with hormones and many hormonal changes occur. These hormonal changes cause your cervix to soften, which makes it easily irritated.

Sexual intercourse, in particular, can cause the cervix to become irritated and bleed. This bleeding after sexual activity is called “postcoital bleeding”.

If you experience heavy bleeding, or pain during sex, you should consult your doctor- as it may be a sign of another issue. Your doctor will most likely want to perform a vaginal or pelvic examination to ensure there are no issues.

Vaginal Infection

Vaginal infections can cause vaginal bleeding at 13 weeks pregnant. Signs and symptoms of vaginal infections include:

• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain or burning when urinating
• Itching
• Vaginal bleeding

You can take home tests to see if you have a vaginal infection or not. If you think you may have a vaginal infection, or have tested positive for a vaginal infection, you should consult your doctor.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage is a pregnancy loss that occurs during the first 23 weeks of pregnancy.

Signs of a miscarriage include:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding
• Back pain that is more painful than your usual menstrual cramps
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Discharge of tissue or fluid from the vagina
• Blood clots
• No longer experiencing your usual pregnancy symptoms

If you suspect that you might be having a miscarriage, you should contact your local maternity ward or pregnancy unit as soon as possible.

Ectopic Pregnancy

 

In a healthy pregnancy- implantation occurs inside of the womb- where the baby will safely grow throughout the pregnancy.

An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilised egg becomes implanted outside of the womb- usually within a fallopian tube- the tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb.

In an ectopic pregnancy- the baby will not develop, and your health will be at risk if the pregnancy continues- as it may cause a fallopian tube to burst.

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancies include:

• Discomfort when urinating or having a bowel movement
• Pain on one side of your lower tummy
• Vaginal bleeding or brown watery discharge
• Pain in the tip of your shoulder

If you suspect you may be having an ectopic pregnancy, you should consult your health care provider for emergency treatment. Ectopic pregnancies can be serious and it is important to get advice straight away.