Any bleeding during pregnancy needs to be reported promptly to your physician.  However, bleeding is common during the first three months (12 weeks) of pregnancy and may or may not be a sign of a problem.  It can range from slight brown spotting to bright red bleeding, last from a day to weeks, and may be accompanied by mild cramping or low backache.  Many times, the bleeding stops on its own and the pregnancy continues normally. 

Note: mild, low abdominal cramping without bleeding is common in the early weeks of pregnancy. 

Causes         Most women fear that bleeding means that they are miscarrying.   There are other reasons for bleeding in early pregnancy: the hormonal changes of pregnancy; implantation bleeding, when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus; cervical bleeding.  Sometimes, no cause for vaginal bleeding can be found.

Treatment      Your physician will examine you to determine the cause of pain and/or bleeding.  The following examinations and tests may be ordered: pelvic exam, blood pregnancy test, ultrasound.  If your blood type is RH negative, a vaccination of Rhogam may be necessary.