How many women still had their periods even though they were pregnant?

Question

Oh and what were they like?

Answer 1

A period is the disposal of the unused egg and uterus lining. If that happened when you were pregnant it would be a miscarriage. About 20% of women experience bleeding (not counting implantation spotting) when they are pregnant. Of those, half will miscarry in the first trimester. Any bleeding needs to be reported to your OB right away as it could indicate a problem. Women who say they had periods when pregnant, are mislabeling the bleeding.

Answer 2

No and no one can, here is why...

This is one of the most FAQs that I encounter at both the WebMD Fertility Center and the Pregnancy Board at WebMD: "Is it normal to have a PERIOD while I'm pregnant?"...

I am amazed at how often intelligent women answer this question with things like, "I had my period for three months, even though I was pregnant," and "My mother had her period all along during her pregnancy..."

The bottom line is this: By definition, it is impossible to menstruate or have a period during pregnancy! That's because a period is the shedding of the uterine lining (the endometrium) that occurs in response to the fall of estrogen and progesterone when you're not pregnant.

So, bleeding during pregnancy is not a period even if it comes when a period is supposed to, and it's character and duration mimics menstruation. Any bleeding during pregnancy is not normal, although many women who bleed during pregnancy do just fine and go on and deliver healthy babies at term.

A universally correct response to any woman who is pregnant, bleeding, and concerned is to say that, "bleeding is never normal, but it does not always mean that a miscarriage is inevitable." If the bleeding is significantly heavier than a period, it could be an emergency, and it ought to call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. If the bleeding is about like a period, or less than that, it is probably safe to report the bleeding on the next office workday, UNLESS there is severe pain accompanying the bleeding. If you're in pain, better get it checked out, even if it's during the night or over the weekend."

Causes of bleeding in early pregnancy include impending miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy, but also less significant things like a raw cervix and placental aggressiveness (a term I coined for the fact that sometimes the placenta grows too close to a uterine blood vessel that starts to bleed). Later in pregnancy, placenta previa or cervix ripening can cause bleeding to occur. Usually the response to reports of bleeding during pregnancy is to perform an ultrasound, to document the presence or absence of a fetal heartbeat (early on), or to locate the placenta (late pregnancy). Rarely is the blood itself observed on the ultrasound; reports of "subchorionic bleeding or hemorrhage" are rarely useful.

So, I always reply that, "You can't have a period when you're pregnant. Bleeding is never good or normal in pregnancy, but it's not always really bad news. If it's not heavy, and you're not in pain, let your doctor's office know about it when they're next open."

There. Let this pregnancy Q&A occupy its place as the first real clinical post on this site. Enough said; let it rest.

Aloha,

RW, MD

Answer 3

I did until I found out I was pregnant at 28 weeks! Everything was fine with the baby even though my periods were normal ie as they were when I wasn't pregnant. Apparantly I had them because I was taking the pill and as soon as I stopped so did they.

Answer 4

I have known three women who went 7 months with periods and didn't know they were pregnant. They had normal periods, gained some weight but didn't know why.

Answer 5

My last pregnancy I had light bleeding that lasted fewer days than normal around the time that my period was due....and I also had cramps like my regular period was about to start

With my first daughter, I didnt' bleed at all.

Answer 6

yes i did. with my first i had spotting of brown blood on first couple of days when i would have had period. did test as this was not normal period and i felt sick. i was pregnant. also with my last daughter i had period then 2 wks later bleeding and bad stomach pain, hopsital told me i was pregnant and miscarrying. i said i couldnt be as had period 2 wks before. they did scan and found i was pregnant with twins, one miscarried and the other was fine.

Answer 7

i had implantation bleeding, and slight bleeding around the time my 2nd period would be due, but it was very light , just spotting really. i told my midwife who said it was quite normal, but that i should keep an eye on it to make sure it didn't get any heavier.

Answer 8

the first time i was pregnant i had my period for the first 4 monthes. and my doctor said it was normal

Answer 9

I had mine for the first couple months of my pregnancy. They were a lot lighter than normal and only lasted about 3 days each.

Answer 10

i had light bleeding around 14 weeks wouldnt pass it as period i got a scan done to check and everything was fine you should do same to be sure