Bleeding in The First Trimester
Bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy is common and it can be very distressing. About 1 in 4 women will experience some sort of bleeding during the first trimester, but it does not always mean you are having a miscarraige.
Why am I spotting?
Spotting can occur due to embryo implantation, or from normal changes in the cervix that happen due to increased estrogen levels and blood vessels in the area. You may experience spotting after sex, a physical examination or even strenuous physical activity. However, bleeding can be serious and it is a good idea to have any amount of bleeding assessed by your doctor.
To assess the bleeding, your doctor may perform a physical exam to check for any obvious cases of bleeding, they may also check to see whether your cervix is closed, and perform an ultrasound to check for a heart beat.
What is a threatened miscarraige?
Doctors will often use the term threatened miscarraige if you have continued bleeding, but your cervix is closed, and the ultrasound finds a heart beat. In this case you may be told that there is nothing to do but wait and see what happens and to get as much bed rest as possible.
This can be very upsetting, and the ‘watch and wait’ approach can have you feeling like everything is out of your control. Often women can find themselves feeling isolated and without enough emotional support, especially if they haven’t yet told family or friends about their pregnancy.
How can we help?
If you are experiencing bleeding, or are faced with threatened miscarraige, Chinese medicine can be a helpful support.
Reducing physiological stress and promoting emotional wellbeing during the first trimester has been shown to reduce the risk of miscarriage(1). Research has shown that emotional support is a very important factor in the prevention of unexplained and recurrent miscarriage(2).
Acupuncture is beneficial for improving sleep and moderating stress and has regulatory effects on the immune system and the body’s inflammatory response. By affecting the body in this way, acupuncture may help to create a more favourable uterine environment and has been shown to relieve symptoms of threatened miscarriage, including vaginal bleeding(3).
We love being able to help women with Chinese medicine and we also understand the incredible importance of emotional support. Our clinic is a safe and nurturing space, where there is always someone to talk to, someone who will listen and someone who will support you.
Sury x
References
1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5431920/
