How to Avoid Mild Cramping and Spotting During Pregnancy

Some women will experience mild cramping and spotting during pregnancy. However, there are a few ways to avoid potential problems during all three trimesters of pregnancy. Learning the signs of danger before they occur can go along way in matters of prevention. Below is a list of 4 ideas to help you avoid potential pregnancy issues.

 # 1 Avoid heavy lifting while you are expecting. Lifting heavy objects can put unnecessary strain on your beck, stomach and chest. This can pose a threat and cause the stomach to tighten. Ask for help when heavy items need to be moved or picked up. If you find yourself with increased energy and want to move furniture around its best to find another activity or wait until someone else can help.

 # 2 Hormonal levels during the second and third trimester may be higher than usual. Some mothers to be experience an increased sex drive. However, avoiding sexual intercourse can help prevent spotting while pregnant. Some light bleeding during pregnancy is not a cause for concern and most often occurs immediately after sexual intercourse.

 # 3 Avoid any foods that cause gas. Gassy foods can cause discomfort and mild cramping in the chest and abdomen. Bouts of intense pain that can be mistaken for other serious problems can be caused by the diet. Food and drinks that may provoke gas are carbonated drinks, fried foods and dairy products. Severe gas pains can be mistaken for early labor so watching your diet during pregnancy is very important.

 # 4 the last idea may be the most important. You may find yourself more busy preparing for the new baby. However, it is important to get your rest. Force yourself to relax and enjoy the last moments of peace and quiet. Over exertion may also cause mild cramping and spotting during pregnancy. Taking a moment to sit down and elevate your feet may reduce pain and discomfort caused by cramps. The muscles in your body will relax reducing uncomfortable muscle tension in the stomach, back and legs.

Expectant mothers also notice how incredible it really is to carry another being within their womb when they relax. So take a deep breath and kick up your feet.
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Bleeding During Pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy occurs frequently and may not be a sign of problems.

Vaginal bleeding can occur frequently in the first trimester of pregnancy and may not be a sign of problems. But bleeding that occurs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy can often be a sign of a possible complication. Bleeding can be caused by a number of reasons.

Some basic things to know about bleeding are:

If you are bleeding, you should always wear a pad or panty liner so that you can monitor how much you are bleeding and what type of bleeding you are experiencing.
You should never wear a tampon or introduce anything else into the vaginal area such as douche or sexual intercourse if you are currently experiencing bleeding.
If you are also experiencing any of the other symptoms mentioned below in connection with a possible complication, you should contact your health care provider immediately.

First Half of Pregnancy:

Miscarriage:

Bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage but does not mean that miscarriage is imminent. Studies show that anywhere from 20-30% of women experience some degree of bleeding in early pregnancy. Approximately half of pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages. Approximately 15-20% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage, and the majority occur during the first 12 weeks.

Signs of Miscarriage include:

Vaginal bleeding
Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (stronger than menstrual cramps)
Tissue passing through the vagina

Most miscarriages cannot be prevented. They are often the body's way of dealing with an unhealthy pregnancy that was not developing. A miscarriage does not mean that you cannot have a future healthy pregnancy or that you yourself are not healthy.

Ectopic Pregnancies:

Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies that implant somewhere outside the uterus. The fallopian tube accounts for the majority of ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies are less common than miscarriages, occurring in 1 of 60 pregnancies.

Signs of Ectopic Pregnancies:

Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (usually stronger than menstrual cramps)
Sharp pain in the abdominal area
Low levels of HCG
Vaginal bleeding

Women are at a higher risk if they have had:

An infection in the tubes
A previous ectopic pregnancy
Previous pelvic surgery

Molar Pregnancies:

Molar pregnancies are a rare cause of early bleeding. Often referred to as a "mole", a molar pregnancy involves the growth of abnormal tissue instead of an embryo. It is also referred to as gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD).

Signs of a Molar Pregnancy:

Vaginal bleeding
Blood tests reveal unusually high HCG levels
Absent fetal heart tones
Grape-like clusters are seen in the uterus by an ultrasound

What are common reasons for bleeding in the first half of pregnancy?

Since bleeding that occurs in the first half of pregnancy is so common (20-30%), many wonder what the causes are besides some of the complications already mentioned. Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy due to the following factors, aside from the above mentioned complications:

Implantation bleeding can occur anywhere from 6-12 days after possible conception. Every woman will experience implantation bleeding differently—some will lightly spot for a few hours, while others may have some light spotting for a couple of days.
Some type of infection in the pelvic cavity or urinary tract may cause bleeding.
After intercourse some women may bleed because the cervix is very tender and sensitive. You should discontinue intercourse until you have been seen by your doctor. This is to prevent any further irritation—having normal sexual intercourse does not cause a miscarriage.

Second Half of Pregnancy:

Common conditions of minor bleeding include an inflamed cervix or growths on the cervix. Late bleeding may pose a threat to the health of the woman or the fetus. Contact your health care provider if you experience any type of bleeding in the second or third trimester of your pregnancy.

Placental Abruption:

Vaginal bleeding may be caused by the placenta detaching from the uterine wall before or during labor. Only 1% of pregnant women have this problem, and it usually occurs during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Signs of Placental Abruption:

Bleeding
Stomach pain

Women who are at higher risks for this condition include:

Having already had children
Are age 35 or older
Have had abruption before
Have sickle cell anemia
High blood pressure
Trauma or injuries to the stomach
Cocaine use

Placenta Previa:

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta lies low in the uterus partly or completely covering the cervix. It is serious and requires immediate care. It occurs in 1 in 200 pregnancies. Bleeding usually occurs without pain.

Women who are at higher risks for this condition include:

Having already had children
Previous cesarean birth
Other surgery on the uterus
Carrying twins or triplets

Preterm Labor:

Vaginal bleeding may be a sign of labor. Up to a few weeks before labor begins, the mucus plug may pass. This is normally made up of a small amount of mucus and blood. If it occurs earlier, you could be entering preterm labor and should see your physician immediately.

Signs of Preterm Labor include these symptoms that occur before the 37th week of pregnancy:

Vaginal discharge (watery, mucus, or bloody)
Pelvic or lower abdominal pressure
Low, dull backache
Stomach cramps, with or without diarrhea
Regular contractions or uterine tightening

Spotting During Pregnancy

The term "spotting" means very light vaginal bleeding during pregnancy or between periods. Spotting is usually light and brown, although heavy spotting can be red. A woman who is spotting might need only a panty liner rather than menstrual supplies to control the flow.

Spotting can be a symptom of impending miscarriage but can also happen in a normal pregnancy. Sexual intercourse in pregnancy may cause spotting, as might a vaginal exam or other irritation to the cervix, but this bleeding would stop. Any woman experiencing spotting should call her doctor if she is concerned.