Heavy bleeding in early pregnancy 4 weeks

If you’ve had bleeding early in your pregnancy, you’re not alone. Many other pregnant women have early bleeding, too. And in most cases, nothing is wrong. But your healthcare provider still needs to know about it. They may want to do tests to find out why you’re bleeding. Call your provider if you see bleeding during pregnancy. Tell your provider if your blood is Rh negative. Then they can figure out if you need anti-D immune globulin treatment.

Table of Contents Show

What causes early bleeding?
If you see spotting
If tests are needed
Warning signs
Questions you may be asked
Monitoring your pregnancy
Is it normal to bleed during pregnancy?
What are the causes of bleeding during pregnancy?
What should I do if I bleed during pregnancy?
How will my doctor or midwife diagnose the cause of my bleeding?
When should I seek medical attention?
Does bleeding mean I am having a miscarriage or might lose my baby?
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Can you bleed heavily at 4 weeks and still be pregnant?
Can you bleed heavily in early pregnancy and still be pregnant?
Can you heavily bleed and not miscarry?
Why am I bleeding heavily in my early pregnancy?

What causes early bleeding?

The cause of bleeding early in pregnancy is often unknown. But many factors early on in pregnancy may lead to light bleeding (called spotting) or heavier bleeding. These include:

Having sex
When the embryo implants on the uterine wall
Bleeding between the sac membrane and the uterus (subchorionic bleeding)
Pregnancy loss (miscarriage)
The embryo implants outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)

If you see spotting

Light bleeding is the most common type of bleeding in early pregnancy. If you see it, call your healthcare provider. Chances are, they will tell you that you can care for yourself at home.

If tests are needed

Depending on how much you bleed, your healthcare provider may ask you to come in for some tests. A pelvic exam, for instance, can help see how far along your pregnancy is. You also may have an ultrasound or a Doppler test. These imaging tests use sound waves to check the health of your baby. The ultrasound may be done on your belly or inside your vagina. You may also need a special blood test. This test compares your hormone levels in blood samples taken 2 days apart. The results can help your provider learn more about the implantation of the embryo. Your blood type will also need to be checked to assess if you will need to be treated for Rh sensitization.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Can you bleed heavily at 4 weeks and still be pregnant?

During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, vaginal bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. However, if you bleed at this stage of pregnancy it's likely you will go on to have normal and successful pregnancies.

Can you bleed heavily in early pregnancy and still be pregnant?

Bleeding during pregnancy may be cause for concern. Many moms-to-be experience bleeding while they are pregnant. In fact, the American Pregnancy Association says studies show that 20-30 percent of women experience some degree of bleeding during early pregnancy.

Can you heavily bleed and not miscarry?

If you bleed in early pregnancy it does not always mean that you are having a miscarriage; in fact it is quite common. One in four women will bleed in early pregnancy, many of whom go on to have a healthy baby.

Why am I bleeding heavily in my early pregnancy?

Implantation bleeding Early in pregnancy (sometimes before you know you're pregnant), you may have some spotting when your period is due. This common occurrence is called implantation bleeding. “It happens between 6 and 12 days after conception as the fertilized egg implants into your uterus,” Dr. Heber says.