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BLEEDING IN IVF PREGNANCY

Bleeding during pregnancy can be incredibly scary. Bleeding while in a surrogate IVF pregnancy can be doubly worrisome as so much care has already been taken to attain the pregnancy. 


IS BLEEDING NORMAL DURING IVF PREGNANCY?


Pregnancies achieved through IVF often have a higher rate of bleeding than a conventional pregnancy. Roughly 40% of women carrying an IVF pregnancy will experience bleeding. The elevated instance of bleeding could be attributed to a number of factors, including more vaginal exams and the medications being taken to increase blood flow. This type of bleeding can range from light pink to dark brown and everything from light spotting to menstrual-like flow. 


IVF PREGNANCY AND BLEEDING: POTENTIAL CAUSES


The first thing to realize is that many women experience bleeding in pregnancy and continue to have perfectly healthy pregnancies. Women often assume that the appearance of blood means an inevitable miscarriage is looming. Contrary to that misconception, there are several reasons a woman might experience bleeding during pregnancy, and not all of them are bad. Common causes for bleeding in pregnancy include: 


  • Implantation bleeding:  Caused by blood vessels rupturing as the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. (You may already be on pelvic rest during this period to protect the implantation.)

  • Sub-chorionic hemorrhage/hematoma: A common pooling of blood between the uterine wall and a membrane that surrounds the embryo.

  • Vaginal infection: Very common in early pregnancy, vaginal infections are treatable. Common diagnoses include both yeast and urinary tract infections.

  • Irritation from intercourse


Other times, bleeding may be present that is unexplained by any obvious cause. Sometimes, the bleeding is indeed a sign of a troubled pregnancy.


WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT BLEEDING DURING PREGNANCY?

If you experience bleeding, there are a few things you’ll want to do right away. Call or email your case specialist and nurse representative right away. They’ll likely put you on a form of modified bed rest as a precaution and have you increase your water intake. The most important thing to do is to stay calm and follow medical directions closely. 


We're here with you every step of the way. Contact Growing Generations to learn more about surrogacy.

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