Spotting: Second trimester What can cause second trimester spotting?

Second Trimester Bleeding
You may also notice some spotting during your second trimester. There are common conditions, such as cervical growths or inflammation, that could cause bleeding in the second half of pregnancy. Bleeding can pose a threat to both the mother and the unborn baby. The most common cause of heavy vaginal bleeding in the later parts of pregnancy is a problem with the placenta. You need to contact your health care provider if you experience any type of bleeding or spotting. Your caregiver will try to determine the reasons for the bleeding. Do not be shy about explaining your symptoms, including how much blood you passed, what it looked like and whether it included any clots or tissue. If you use pads to soak up the blood, keep track of how many you have used. All this information can help your health care provider decide if your spotting or bleeding is a normal part of pregnancy or something more serious.

Although miscarriage is less common in the second trimester, there is still a chance that you could have a miscarriage. If you are experiencing cramping and spotting, call your doctor immediately. Sometimes, threatened miscarriages can be detected early enough to save the pregnancy.



Vaginal bleeding in the second trimester can be caused by a cervical infection, inflamed cervix or growths on your cervix. Sometimes, light bleeding from the cervix can be a sign of cervical incompetence. This occurs when the cervix opens spontaneously and leads to preterm delivery. This usually occurs between 18 and 23 weeks of pregnancy and needs immediate medical attention. Doctors can prevent the cervix from opening, if caught in time, by performing a cerclage.



If you are experiencing moderate to heavy bleeding in the second trimester, you may be suffering from placenta previa. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta lies too low in the uterus and covers the opening to the birth canal. The main symptom for placenta previa is bright red vaginal bleeding without pain. The bleeding may stop on its own at some point but almost always comes back. This is a serious complication of pregnancy and requires prompt medical care.



When the placenta begins to separate from the inner wall of the uterus before birth it causes bleeding within the uterus. This rare condition is known as placental abruption. The bleeding from placental abruption may be light or heavy. There is usually abdominal pain associated with the bleeding.


See the third trimester spotting topic for a bigger picture.

A rare but dangerous cause of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is uterine rupture. This occurs in women who have had a previous cesarean birth. A disruption of the surgical scar in the uterus causes intense abdominal pain and tenderness. It causes the baby to become partially or completely expelled into the abdomen.



Light bleeding from 20 to 37 weeks can indicate preterm labor. Preterm labor is generally accompanied by pelvic or abdominal pressure, dull backache, abdominal cramps or uterine contractions. If you have any signs or symptoms of labor before 36 weeks, call your health care provider right away.



Another reason for spotting or bleeding during the second trimester could be the expulsion of the mucus plug. During pregnancy a thick plug of mucus seals the opening of the cervix to prevent bacteria and other germs from entering the uterus. As your body prepares for labor the cervix begins to thin out and the mucus plug is dislodged. When this happens, you may notice a thick or stringy discharge that may be tinged with blood. Known as the bloody show, this is a normal sign of labor that may occur up to a week or two before delivery day. Some women may lose their plug further in advance though.



Call your health care provider if you have any spotting or bleeding in the second trimester. You should expect to go to the hospital or doctor's office so your doctor can determine the cause of the bleeding. Call your health care provider immediately if you have any amount of bleeding accompanied by pain, cramping, fever, chills or contractions. Many times there will be an explanation for the bleeding that isn't threatening to you or your baby, but it's not possible for your health care provider to come to that conclusion over the telephone. Your health care provider will likely suggest an ultrasound to check for placenta previa. If placenta previa is ruled out, you'll have a vaginal exam to see if your cervix is dilated. You may also be hooked up to monitors that can detect contractions and track your baby's heart rate. If you've lost a significant amount of blood, you may need intravenous fluids or a blood transfusion. Plus, doctors will closely watch your baby for signs of distress.





Comments: Spotting - Second-trimester

Comments 1 to 24 of about 51.
1 2 Next

andreat - 28 days ago.
im very scared today, as this is my third pregnancy in the last year, having miscarried before hitting the 12 weeks, i felt positive this time getting to 14 weeks had bleeding and pain at the start but it went away and the baby was growing kicking and moving when i had my scan last wed! so i woke up last night went to the toilet and passed a large strawberry sized clot and bleeding bright red blood! havent needed a pad yet as its only been when i go to the toilet! ive got no pain except fpr servere headache that ive had from sat! can anyone help or been thro the same! im terrified!

mommyrock - 34 days ago.
I had a threatened miscarriage three weeks ago. It was very scary a lot of bleeding and cramping. I got it taken care of early enough that everything should be okay. 20 weeks is kind of our breathing point. I've heard that if you can make it to 20 weeks after having a threatened miscarriage, you will most likely carry the baby to term. I have two and a half more weeks to get there. I still examine my underpants and toilet paper every time I go to the bathroom to make sure there isn't any blood. I would call the doctor if you are having any type of bleeding or cramping, like jennlb said, 'it can't hurt either way.' We were blessed that the baby was okay when we went in. I would rather over react than under react because you don't want to take any chances with the pregnancy.

jennlb30 - 45 days ago.
Sarena, that's scary! I would see a Dr ASAP! It can't hurt either way. So I've gone 5 days with no bleeding! :) Can cervical polyps go away on their own?

sarena - 48 days ago.
hi, when i was about 9 weeks i had very light pink spotting but that stoped within 2222 days now i am 22 weeks ans have been havin irregular bleeding for the past couple of weeks it looks like old blood but i have been haveing stabbing pains at the bottom and top of my belly back pain also can any one shed some light on this?

ariel1 - 53 days ago.
well I was having some light pinkish brown spotting not enough to wear a panty liner or anything. I called my doctor just to make sure I shouldn't be concerned and they got me right into an apt. The doctor did an exam and said everything felt right and they did an ultrasound, and everything looks fine. He said the blood was old blood so could be from sex. I was told to let myself heal for a week or two. After my exam though then I really did bleed for a little bit! I am just glad everything is okay!!

roosa - 54 days ago.
I have now been bleeding mildly for 6 weeks and today I saw another doctor who seemed to have much more knowledge than the previous one who put a lot of fear into me saying it could be placenta issues. This doctor denied it when considering I have no pain and ultrasound shows placenta is in the right spot. She seemed very confident that it is either a polyp or hormonal changes that causes changes in the lining of my uterus (If I remember the explanation correctly). She was also convinced that the tissue I passed was old blood, so just a blood clot. I feel so much more positive now and feel I can be excited about the baby. Please, if you are not happy with your doctor, if he/she can't answer your questions, find someone else who can!

braenel - 55 days ago.
I was spotting this morning and it subsided. Then started back in the afternoon. I called my doctor and was told to come in. I went in, was checked and everything was fine. Had a sonogram done on the spot. It's not as clear as the scheduled one, but clear enough for them to see my little one busy. They also said that I have a UTI(Urinary Tract Infection) but not sure if that's what caused the spotting. They said many women just spot for unknown reason. If anyone out there is spotting in the least, call you're doctor to be sure. I was pregnant in July with twins. Just a little bit of spotting, but found out in my eleventh week that I had a M/C. Now I am in the twenty first week, Thank God. U just never know, always get it checked it out no matter the amount of spotting you see.

roosa - 58 days ago.
staar, I am no doctor, but if you only had one bleeding or spotting and it stopped, I wouldn't worry too much and wait for your appointment. I had my first bleeding on a Saturday and didn't see a doctor until several days later. You still need to do what you feel is right and best though. All the best!

staar80 - 60 days ago.
Weds night I used the bathroom and when I wiped there was blood. then it stopped. Im 25 weeks and have had no other symptoms. I do have a cerclage (cervical stich) they may have torn a bit. I have a doc appt mon, is it ok to wait? I dont want to go to the hospitol since my hospitol will admit you for anything, at least 24 hrs. it seems so minor, but I don't want to be admitted when all I need to do is lay down. I can do that at home

roosa - 66 days ago.
Hi everyone, just thought I would share my journey with others who go through similar situations... I am 16 weeks pregnant now and have been bleeding/spotting for 4 weeks. My spottings would be red, pink and then brown and almost dissapear. At 14 weeks I had an ultrasound that showed nothing wrong with the baby or the placenta. My bleeding has picked up these last 5 days, bright red with lumps that almost look placenta like. Yesterday I went and saw a doctor at the maternity clinic and she gave me an internal examination. She could see tissue coming from the cervix. What really frustates me is that she couldn't tell what it was. It can be something as harmless as a polyp or it can be the placenta (either parts of it coming off or the whole thing separating). I don't understand why the doctor can't determine what it is, but I guess I am no doctor... Still everything looks fine with the baby so I go through stages of hope and stages of anxiety. Something I am sure all of you can relate to. It is comforting with websites like this where you can read about other women bleeding throughout pregnancy and yet end up with a healthy baby. Hope my story will end up being a good one too.

indy5225 - 76 days ago.
hello.. everyone ! and congrats to all. i am 15 weeks pregnant and bleeding the past 3 weeks, i've had a cople of u/s done and the dr. say all is well with my baby. the blood started off so much i had to chage pads every 5 to 10 minutes. i rushed to the er and the baby's heart beat was perfect,, they could not determine why i had bled so bad. for the next 3 weeks i've been spotting everyday. i've been to my dr. about 3 time since the first bleeding and thet stillsay all is well with the baby. is any one else expirencing the same bleeding?

babylove2 - 76 days ago.
Hiya - firstly all my sympathies for those of you having spotting/bleeding. This is my first pregnancy and I am in absolute bits just wishing the spotting and bleeding would stop. I try my best not to worry because I know it is bad for the baby but it is hard not when every time I go to the toilet I am spotting. I spotting very lightly pink/brown at 8weeks got scan and baby was fine. Then at 14 weeks I had a huge gush of bright red blood with a couple fo clots (no pain) and bled nonstop for two hours in the ER...thought the baby was gone. But baby was find again. Now for the past 6 days I have spotted dark brown/blackish spotting with stringy clots. Doctors can't tell me what it is. I'm 17weeks 2 days and going in for another scan next week. My sympathies to all.

aliciathefirsttimer - 77 days ago.
I am 31 wks pregnant... Ok so March 20th I had a lil scare... I callled the drs office the day before to complain of back and stomach pain and the nurse told me to take tylenol... So I went out got some tylenol and the next day I took it before work.... I guess it worked for a while but around 2 I was having period like cramps and I went to the bathroom and saw a microscopic amount of blood on the toilet paper, although it wasnt much it was enough to scare me half to death so I called the drs and they told me to go to the hospital up the the labor and delivery floor.... I was histerical so I called my boss told her I had to leave and my mom came and got me cuz I was a little shook up to drive... They get me to the hospital and hook me up to the monitors to make sure the baby was ok and thank the lord he was.... but as they were watchin they saw that I was having contractions (I couldnt feel them at all) and more than 4 contractions in 1 Hour is considered more than just braxton hicks and I was having like 2 every 20 minutes so they decided to give me fluids to make them stop... After and hour of that through my IV it didnt work so they had to give me a shot in the arm to stop the contractions... I was so scared because I didnt even feel them but I wasnt dialated my cervix was still high, thick, and closed so thats what matters... But yeah I thank god everything is ok but it was a hell of a scare... I hope I have no more encounters like that.... Needless to say I finished the nursery the next day... :) My doctor said if you have any bleeding at all it doesnt hurt to call the office and get it checked out... hope all is well... If you wanna chat send me a message

Carmione - 94 days ago.
Hello all...another scare this morning waking up to pooling of blood and large clots. I thought I was going to bleed to death. Taking a visit in the er showed that Bunny Bun is just fine it's the subchorionic hematoma acting up again. I just don't understand how the baby can be alright when there was just so much bleeding. It's since stopped but now I feel completely exhausted. I know other mothers out there are dealing with this and having pregnancies progressing as they should despite this complication. My prayers go out to all of us...hoping that I could ask for a couple for myself... Take care all, will report back soon.

Avocat29 - 94 days ago.
first timer, it's entirely possible it's linked to the rough sonogram. I had spotting at week 18 and it was right after a very vigorous yoga class. Intercourse or just exerting yourself can cause it. I'm now 31 weeks and all is well. But yes, go see your doc and get her/him to do an internal exam to make sure everything is closed up nice and tight.

jessmartinez - 115 days ago.
Well, I also had some 2nd trimester bleeding. It started when I woke up in the middle of the night with some bleeding and clear liquid. ER, couldn't really say what it was, but the baby was fine. I was put on bedrest for a week and it went away. I then went back to work and then it started up again. Another week out of work, finally they did an ultrasound and foudn that I had a Subchorionic Hemorrhage. I had never heard of it, but it turns out that it's pretty common, basically a piece of the placenta breaks off and starts bleeding. It has not affected the baby at all and they said that he is actually measuring about 5 days further! So, for all that may be experiencing something weird, just take it easy. Until they get the U/S done they really don't know much of anything!

MOMMYOFDEUCE - 122 days ago.
Hey, Tomorrow I will be 8 weeks pregnant with my fourth baby. I had some brown bleeding about four weeks ago. Not much... I haven't had any since. I just wanted to pop in to say hey to you ladies because my last pregnancy I bled in the second trimester. The signs were there... I ended up having my son three months early! He was a trooper. He lived for 5 weeks in the NICU. You can read his story here: http://www.pregnancy-prep-101.com Just make sure that your doctors are absolutely 'on it' when you have bleeding. It was too late for my sweet little boy. I've learned, and now I plan to teach... I promised my little boy that before he passed away. Mommy Of Deuce

preciousangels2 - 129 days ago.
So, I'm almost 17 weeks along and today I had noticed some brown and pink blood when I wiped. It wasn't too much but it was enough to alarm me. I called my OB and they had me come in immediately for an ultrasound. Turns out I have placenta previa. The doctor said she thinks that it'll most likely move up and resolve itself. If not, I'll have to have a c-section and if bleeding gets worse, go to the ER. Not sure what they would do, but I know that after 24 weeks, if the bleeding is severe they'll give you a shot to help babies lungs develop faster and then do an emergency c-section. This happened to one of my friends. She was high risk her whole pregnancy though. I really hope that this will resolve itself. I was wanting to avoid c-section and I want my baby full term. I am also on restrictions with no intercourse, no heavy lifting, no exercise etc. until this is gone. I'll do anything to have a healthy baby.

bec1008 - 133 days ago.
Hi i am not sure if i am in the right area, but i need to know if what i am going through is normal... I am 21 weeks and last night when i urinated and wiped, i had a bloodstain, it wasn't a heavy, clot-like just very thin and bright red in colour. For the past 2 days i have had cramping like i am getting my period. I was taken to the emergency ward at my hospital and they said they couldn't see anything abnormal, but i have to go in for a scan tomorrow to check for an 'abruption' to my placenta.. I am so scared. Is there anyone else out there who may have experianced anything similar? Thankyou

fergusona - 138 days ago.
I am almost 20 weeks and had brown spotting (light) last night - no cramps. Called my ob this morning and he examined me and says everything is ok. He put me on 'pelvic rest' for 2 weeks(no sex, heavy lifting or exercise). This is my 1st pregnancy & I am 41 yrs old. Anyone have a similar situation?

Shellie77 - 142 days ago.
Just an update, I had a very major bleed on Dec 12, shortly after my last post on this page. I thought for sure I had lost the baby there was so much blood. Spent 8 hours in the ER to find out baby is fine. Followup from my OB suggested I have a previa, she didnt say if it was marginal or complete. I have my next appt on Dec31 and I will be sure to ask more questions then!!

rox - 143 days ago.
I've had non-stop bleeding (all colors) and clots (all sizes) since I was 9 weeks... I am currently 16 weeks. At first Dr.'s said 'cervical cyst' than 'no cyst...mass' Now they say my uterus is bleeding and the blood is pushing away the sac (from the uterine wall) of one of my twins. The words 'Chorio and Amnion' were used together to describe the problem. Anyone familiar with this situation? P.S. Lots of holiday cheer to your babies.

usagi - 146 days ago.
I'm almost 22 weeks and just got back from the hospital from a bleeding scare. I have a cervical polyp and I've been having spotting once a week since 11 weeks because of it. Monday was different though when a gush of bright red blood came out... the hospital did an u/s, monitored for contractions (I only had a few minor BH contractions that the iv fluids got rid of) and I had an internal exam... I wasn't dialated, thank goodness. They said bleeding could happen periodically for the rest of my pregnancy, and each time I need to go to the hospital to get checked out. I'm going to be a basket case by my due date! I am so thankful that my little girl is okay though!!!

kayleigh - 148 days ago.
at 16 weeks and 5 days i noticed some pinkish blood when i wiped so i went straight to the labour unit where they listened to babys heartbeat which was nice and strong, the doctor did an internal and said he couldnt see anything wrong or any other bleeding, so providing it doesnt get worse or begins again with contractions etc everything should be fine. im now 18 weeks and have been okay since so fingers crossed everything will show up okay at our 20 weeks scan! xoxo

Shellie77 - 153 days ago.
My spotting has stopped, but I get so worried every time I feel a little wetness...I rush to the bathroom to check.


1 2 Next


All forums   latest comments
Trying to conceive   latest comments
Pregnancy   latest comments
Birth   latest comments
Birth defects   latest comments
Babies   latest comments