There isn’t much that will scare an expectant mother more than bleeding in late pregnancy. There are several causes of bleeding in the third trimester. Some can be quite serious. Others are not as serious. Any bleeding during the last trimester of pregnancy should be immediately reported to your doctor or midwife.
In some cases, bleeding can be a sign of placental abruption. This occurs when the placenta begins to separate from the wall of the uterus. Most of the time, the bleeding will be accompanied by cramping. This can be severe, but may be mild. Call your doctor immediately if you experience bleeding and cramping. Placental abruption is very dangerous for you and the baby.
Placenta previa can also cause bleeding in late pregnancy. This condition happens when the placenta is partially or completely blocking the cervix. In most cases, placenta previa is diagnosed prior to labor. It is often diagnosed during the ultrasound. Most women with placenta previa end up having a c section.
Trauma to the abdomen is another possible cause of vaginal bleeding in late pregnancy. If you have any trauma to the abdomen, call your doctor. If it is serious, go to the hospital right away. Trauma can result in placental abruption and this can be very dangerous for the baby.
Certain infections can cause some bleeding in late pregnancy. You are tested for some of these during early pregnancy. A Pap smear can detect some problems that may lead to bleeding later. Your blood is tested for other infections, such as Chlamydia or other vaginal infection.
The least serious cause of bleeding in late pregnancy is labor. Often bleeding occurs just prior to labor or in very early labor. This happens naturally as the cervix begins to dilate. This bleeding should not be heavy. Any amount of heavy bleeding should be reported to the doctor right away.