Can u have a heavy period and still be pregnant

Not really. Once your body starts producing the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), your periods will stop.

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Path to improved health
Things to consider
Questions to ask your doctor
Can you bleed heavy like a period in early pregnancy?
What are the symptoms of being pregnant while on your period?
Why is my pregnancy test positive but I got my period?
What are the signs of hidden pregnancy?

However, you may be pregnant and have light bleeding at about the time that your period would have been due. This type of bleeding in early pregnancy is surprisingly common.

Early bleeding is most likely to be caused by the placenta developing. Once an embryo has implanted in your womb (uterus), the cells and tissues of the placenta start to grow. But until the placenta is established enough to become your baby's lifeline, your body does the job of supplying your growing baby with nutrients and oxygen.

By about six weeks of pregnancy, the placenta is big and complex enough to take over the job of nourishing your baby. It's at this point that you may get some light bleeding.

It’s only natural to be worried if you're pregnant and you have spotting or bleeding. Tell your doctor or midwife, just in case.

Sadly, bleeding can sometimes be the first sign of a miscarriage. Bleeding from a miscarriage can sometimes feel like a period, but it's usually heavier, with more painful tummy cramps.

Ectopic pregnancy is another type of worrying bleeding, when the embryo implants in a fallopian tube instead of the womb. Ectopic pregnancy usually causes dark or watery bleeding, and sharp pains in your lower tummy, especially on one side. It needs swift treatment, so call your doctor if you have these symptoms.

Although it’s most likely that your bleeding is nothing to worry about, your midwife may suggest checks, to make sure your pregnancy is going well.

If you’re only just pregnant, your midwife may offer a blood test to check your hormone levels, or she may refer you to an early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU) for an early scan.

Jenny Leach is an editor and writer specialising in evidence-based health content.

If you thought you were pregnant and you got your normal, heavy period (not just spotting) are you safe to say you aren’t pregnant for sure?

Getting your normal, heavy period is a really strong sign that you’re not pregnant. It’s actually impossible to get a period while pregnant. You can always take a pregnancy test if it’ll help ease your mind.

Unprotected vaginal sex can lead to both pregnancy and STDs. If you want to avoid pregnancy while having sex, your best bet is to use birth control, like the IUD, shot, and pill (among others). It’s also a good idea to use condoms too, since they can help prevent STDs along with some bonus pregnancy prevention powers.

Learn more about your birth control options.

Tags: pregnancy, periods

Light amounts of vaginal bleeding early in your pregnancy can occur. In most cases, it’s not serious. It can happen in the first 20 weeks for different reasons. It can be the result of something serious or non-serious. Continued bleeding throughout the pregnancy is not common. Call your doctor immediately if you are bleeding heavily. Go to the emergency room if you have severe pain.

Path to improved health

Vaginal bleeding can happen from conception to delivery. Spotting is a type of light bleeding. You may see just a few drops of blood in your underwear. Heavy bleeding is more noticeable. It will require a sanitary pad to protect your clothing.

Call your doctor whenever you experience bleeding of any kind. Call your doctor if you have vaginal bleeding or spotting. This is important even if an ultrasound test confirms your pregnancy is normal. An ultrasound is where a technician moves a wand around your stomach to see an image of the baby.

Non-serious reasons for bleeding early in your pregnancy can include:

Implantation (as the egg settles into your uterus the first 6-12 days)
Sex
Infection
Hormones.

More serious causes of vaginal bleeding during the early part of pregnancy can include:

An ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that starts outside the uterus and will not survive but can be life threatening).
A miscarriage (losing the baby early in a pregnancy).
A molar pregnancy (a fertilized egg that implants in the uterus that does not live).

In later pregnancy, the following serious medical conditions can cause vaginal bleeding:

Placental abruption (the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus before birth).
Placenta previa (the placenta is lying too low in the uterus and nearly covers the cervix).
Placenta accreta (when the placenta invades the uterus and doesn’t separate from the uterine wall).
Preterm labor (labor that starts before completing 37 of 40 weeks of pregnancy).

Bleeding may be just one sign of preterm labor. Preterm labor also can include vaginal discharge, pressure in your pelvis or abdomen (lower stomach), a dull backache, cramps, contractions, and your water breaking.

If you are bleeding early in your pregnancy, your doctor will want to know how long and how much. If you have cramps and pain early in the pregnancy, he or she will order tests. This may include an ultrasound, blood, and urine tests.

If continued bleeding is not serious, your doctor may treat it by recommending that you rest, relax, stay off your feet, and not have sex. Keep your body healthy. Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid daily while pregnant. Take it earlier if you plan to get pregnant. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking illegal drugs. Talk to your doctor before taking prescription medicine. When you are pregnant, you should never douche (use vaginal cleansing products) or use tampons. Serious bleeding may need to be treated with a long-term bed rest, hospitalization, or surgery.

You cannot prevent a miscarriage after it has started. The exact cause is usually unknown. It’s rarely something the mother did wrong. Most women can have healthy pregnancies in the future. If you have lost more than 3 pregnancies, talk to your doctor.

Things to consider

If you experience bleeding or spotting at any time during your pregnancy, your doctor will want to collect as much information as possible. That will include:

How far along is your pregnancy?
Have you had bleeding at any other time during your pregnancy?
When did the bleeding start?
Is the bleeding heavy or spotting?
Does it start and stop?
How much blood is there?
What color is the blood (bright red or dark brown)?
Does the blood have an odor?
Do you have cramps or pain?
Do you feel weak, tired, faint, or dizzy?
Have you experienced vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea?
Do you have a fever?
Were you recently injured (such as a fall or car accident)?
Have you engaged in any physical activity?
Are you under extra stress?
When did you last have sex? Did you bleed afterward?
Do you have a bleeding disorder? Women with bleeding disorders are at risk of complications during and after pregnancy. This includes iron-deficiency anemia, bleeding during pregnancy, and serious bleeding after delivery (postpartum hemorrhage). Talk to your doctor before getting pregnant if you have a bleeding disorder. Also, bleeding disorders are genetic.
What is your blood type? If your blood type is Rh negative, you will need treatment with a medicine called Rho(D) immune globulin. This prevents complications with future pregnancies.

Vaginal bleeding is usually blood without clots or tissue. If you see something other than blood, call your doctor immediately. Try to collect the discharge in a container and bring it with you when you see your doctor. It may mean you have miscarried. If that is the case, your doctor will provide additional care. If not all the tissue from the miscarriage has passed, your doctor may need to perform a procedure. This procedure is called a dilation and curettage (D and C). It involves opening (dilating) the cervix. Your doctor will gently suction out the remaining tissue from the miscarriage.

Questions to ask your doctor

Can certain foods (such as spicy foods) cause bleeding?
Is it best to avoid having sex throughout your entire pregnancy?
Is spotting during later pregnancy normal?
Is my life at risk?
I feel sad. Is there someone I could talk to about my feelings? Is there a support group?

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Can you bleed heavy like a period in early pregnancy?

Spotting or bleeding may occur shortly after conception, this is known as an implantation bleed. It is caused by the fertilised egg embedding itself in the lining of the womb. This bleeding is often mistaken for a period, and it may occur around the time your period is due.

What are the symptoms of being pregnant while on your period?

The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:.

Missed period. If you're in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. ... .

Tender, swollen breasts. ... .

Nausea with or without vomiting. ... .

Increased urination. ... .

Fatigue..

Why is my pregnancy test positive but I got my period?

Getting your period a week after a positive pregnancy test can be confusing and frightening, but it's actually much more common than you might realize. You may have experienced what's often referred to as a chemical pregnancy. Many women who have a chemical pregnancy actually don't even realize they've conceived.