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Bleeding during pregnancy
Warning:
Key facts
- Bleeding during pregnancy means spotting or bleeding from the vagina, which can happen at any stage of pregnancy.
- Light spotting in early pregnancy is common and does not always mean you are having a miscarriage.
- Heavy bleeding, bleeding with pain or bleeding after 20 weeks of pregnancy may be a sign that something needs medical attention.
- Possible causes include implantation bleeding, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or problems with the placenta later in pregnancy.
- Contact your doctor or midwife if you have vaginal spotting or bleeding at any stage of your pregnancy.
What is bleeding during pregnancy?
Bleeding during pregnancy means spotting or bleeding from the vagina. It can happen at any stage of pregnancy and may range from light spotting to heavy bleeding.
Spotting and vaginal bleeding are common during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
Spotting or light bleeding in early pregnancy does not always mean you are having a miscarriage. Many people who experience light spotting go on to have a healthy pregnancy.
Heavy bleeding, bleeding with pain or bleeding in later pregnancy (after 20 weeks) may be a sign that something needs medical attention.
Warning:
What causes bleeding during pregnancy?
The causes of spotting or bleeding during pregnancy often depend on how far along your pregnancy is. Some causes are more common in early pregnancy (the first trimester).
Others are more common later in pregnancy, such as after 20 weeks.
Causes which may happen at any stage of pregnancy include:
- urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- injuries to the genital tract
- growths or tumours of the reproductive system
- bleeding from vulvovaginal varicosities (varicose veins in the vulva or vagina)
Warning:
Bleeding during early pregnancy
Causes of early pregnancy bleeding may include:
- implantation bleeding — some people may have light spotting when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus (womb).
- miscarriage — bleeding in early pregnancy can sometimes be a sign of a miscarriage.
- ectopic pregnancy — bleeding can happen if a pregnancy develops outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening.
- molar pregnancy — a rare type of pregnancy where abnormal tissue grows in the uterus and forms small fluid-filled sacs instead of a healthy placenta. The pregnancy cannot continue.
Bleeding in later pregnancy
Bleeding in later pregnancy is usually caused by problems with your placenta, such as:
- placenta praevia — also known as a low-lying placenta. This happens when the placenta grows close to or covers the cervix (neck of the uterus). Bleeding can happen if the cervix starts to open or the uterus begins to contract.
- placental abruption — when part of or all of your placenta separates from the uterus before your baby is born. It can cause bleeding and may come with sudden and severe tummy pain.
- vasa praevia — a rare complication that happens when blood vessels from your placenta pass through the membranes and over the opening of your cervix. If your waters break, these blood vessels can tear. This can cause severe blood loss for you and your baby. Your doctor will monitor this closely and may recommend a caesarean birth.
When should I see my doctor?
Warning:
If you are bleeding at any stage of your pregnancy, contact your doctor, midwife or antenatal care provider for advice. They can support you to decide what to do next.
It can be helpful to note down details about what you have been experiencing. This may include:
- how much bleeding you have
- the colour of the blood (for example, bright red or dark brown)
- whether you have passed any blood clots
- whether you have any pain in your tummy
If possible, it's a good idea to keep your pads or stained clothes to show your doctor or midwife.
When to seek emergency care
Contact your obstetrician, birth unit or call an ambulance immediately if:
- your bleeding becomes very heavy (soaking 2 pads per hour or passing blood clots)
- you have strong pains in your tummy or shoulder
- you feel dizzy or faint
- you feel short of breath
How is the cause of bleeding during pregnancy diagnosed?
Your doctor or midwife may do the following:
- They will ask questions about your bleeding, any other symptoms you have, your pregnancy and general health.
- If you are not currently bleeding, they may do a speculum examination to look for a visible cause.
- They may recommend blood tests (Opens in new tab). For example, in early pregnancy, levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) will be checked to help diagnose miscarriage.
- They may suggest an ultrasound scan to check for signs of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, and to check the position of your placenta.
It may take time to find the cause of bleeding. You may need repeat blood tests or ultrasound scans over several days or weeks. Waiting for test results can feel stressful. You may find it helpful to talk to someone you trust. Consider seeking support from your partner, family or someone you trust.
Sometimes, the bleeding stops on its own and the exact cause may not be found.
Learn about the checkups, tests and scans available during your pregnancy.
Warning:
If you are bleeding at any stage of your pregnancy, contact your doctor or midwife for advice and support.
You should contact your doctor urgently, or visit the nearest emergency department, if:
- your bleeding becomes very heavy (soaking 2 pads per hour or passing blood clots the size of golf balls)
- you have strong pains in your stomach or shoulder
- you feel dizzy (Opens in new tab) or faint
- you feel short of breath
- your vaginal discharge smells bad
How is bleeding during pregnancy treated?
Treatment for bleeding during pregnancy depends on:
- the cause of the bleeding
- the stage of your pregnancy
- how heavy the bleeding is
If the bleeding is light, your doctor or midwife may suggest watchful waiting. This means monitoring your symptoms and having follow-up blood tests or ultrasound scans to check how the pregnancy is progressing.
If bleeding is caused by a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, you may need medicines, a procedure or surgery.
Urgent treatment in hospital may be needed if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, infection or signs of internal bleeding.
What are the complications of bleeding during pregnancy?
Bleeding during pregnancy can sometimes lead to complications, such as:
- anaemia (Opens in new tab), which may lead to tiredness and weakness
- your baby being born early (preterm birth)
- your baby not growing as expected
Can bleeding during pregnancy be prevented?
There is no clear way to prevent bleeding during pregnancy. It often happens because of conditions that cannot be prevented.
Resources and sources
The Women’s has information about bleeding in early pregnancy (Opens in new tab), ectopic pregnancy (Opens in new tab) and placenta problems (Opens in new tab).
Safer Care Victoria has a fact sheet on bleeding in early pregnancy (Opens in new tab).
Women and Newborn Health Service has information about bleeding or pain in early pregnancy (Opens in new tab).
Monash Health Women’s offers early pregnancy support and information about early pregnancy bleeding (Opens in new tab).
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has information about molar pregnancy (Opens in new tab).
For support in times of grief or loss:
- Red Nose provides grief and loss support (Opens in new tab) for people affected by miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of a baby or child.
- Visit or contact the PANDA National Helpline on 1300 726 306 for mental health support after pregnancy loss (Opens in new tab).
Languages other than English
The Royal Women's Hospital website has information pages about bleeding in early pregnancy in several community languages, including Arabic (Opens in new tab), Chinese (Opens in new tab), Somali (Opens in new tab), Turkish (Opens in new tab), Urdu (Opens in new tab) and Vietnamese (Opens in new tab).
Griefline offers translated information on coping with grief (Opens in new tab).
Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
Find out more about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pregnancy health at Stronger Bubba Born (Opens in new tab) or watch the How to Have a Safer Pregnancy (Opens in new tab) video.
Find out how we develop and review our content.
Last reviewed: March 2026
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