by Jennifer Shipp

Created on: July 21, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

First of all, if you're pregnant and you are bleeding and the blood is bright red and there is a lot of it, it would be wise to call a doctor and get some expert medical advice right away before reading this article. Seek expert medical advice immediately if you are bleeding heavily.

If you are pregnant and you are bleeding and the blood is not bright red, but there is a lot of blood, also seek medical advice immediately to determine your next step.

If you are bleeding and you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, contact your doctor. This may be a sign of complications.

If you are spotting however, and you are in the first trimester of pregnancy, and you have spoken with a medical professional who urged you to wait until Monday to see the doctor or call back in a few hours if it gets worse, then this article is probably for you.

It's likely, if you're reading this article about bleeding during pregnancy, that you're experiencing bleeding during pregnancy, or you're concerned about someone else who is bleeding during pregnancy. And although it would be terrific if all obstetricians and doctors were able to answer questions on weekends, in the middle of the night, or on holidays, the fact is, people look frantically for information about bleeding, if they, their wives, girlfriends, friends, or other loved one is bleeding and wondering if they and their unborn child are okay. It is difficult to pry information about vaginal bleeding out of nurses and doctors. Honestly, no one wants to admit that bleeding during pregnancy can indicate that the baby has died and the pregnancy is over, or perhaps that there are serious risks or medical complications associated with the pregnancy. And this is partly because sometimes, perhaps regularly, women will have a minor amount of bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy that is unexplainable but completely harmless.

That being said, bleeding during pregnancy can be a sign of a very dangerous medical situation (for Mom and Baby) called placenta previa. In placenta previa, the placenta is not in its proper place, at the top of the uterus. Rather, it is positioned at the bottom of the uterus, near the cervix. Women who develop placenta previa are often put on bed rest and carefully monitored throughout their pregnancy.

Placental abruption is another serious medical condition that can cause bleeding in the second or third trimester. In placental abruption, the placenta tears away from

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