Approximately 33% of all clinically established pregnancies are complicated by first trimester bleeding. However, the generally quoted value for first trimester spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)is only 15%.

Patients with first trimester bleeding should undergo a pelvic ultrasound. If you are having spotting or light bleeding and have already had an ultrasound in which the fetal heart beat was visualized, your chance of losing the pregnancy is diminished.

Just because you are experiencing light bleeding, spotting, brown discharge, or even some mild cramping, does not mean you are going to lose the pregnancy. These are signs and symptoms of the threatened miscarriage. Unfortunately, there is no medical treatment that has been proven effective in preventing a threatened miscarriage from developing into a full miscarriage. But, remember, most threatened miscarriages do not develop into a full miscarriage. Many of these proceed to normal pregnancies. We advise you to refrain from intercourse, limit your activity, drink plenty of high water content fluids to avoid dehydration, and call our office the next working day, and we will bring you in for another ultrasound to confirm that your pregnancy is normal.

You may read in some books that bed rest is helpful, however there are few if any data to support that strict bed rest will prevent a pregnancy loss.

If you experience bleeding, abdominal pain, weakness, dizziness or cramping and have yet to have an ultrasound that demonstrated a fetal heart beat, you should contact our on call physician without delay. These signs and symptoms could be caused by an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus), and could represent a medical emergency.