Decidual Bleeding – Symptoms, Causes and Complications during Pregnancy

Decidual Bleeding is a condition that is marked by vaginal bleeding in women during their pregnancy. Read and know all about this condition and what it is indicative of in pregnant women.

What is Decidual Bleeding?

It is a name given to a condition that is characterized by partial shedding of the lining of the uterus during the first three-four months of pregnancy. Decidual Bleeding usually occurs in early pregnancy. According to medical experts, this type of bleeding occurs from the specific part of the Decidua that is yet uncovered by the developing placenta and embryo.

Decidual Bleeding is not common as a medical term. The condition is often simply referred to as “First-Trimester Bleeding.”

Decidual Bleeding Signs & Symptoms

As the name indicates, this condition leads to bleeding from the Decidua which is the epithelial tissue of the endometrium or the innermost lining of the uterus. The endometrium is the mucous membrane lining the uterus. The Decidua is usually lost during each period of menstruation.

The bleeding in this case may be similar to release of blood during a menstrual period. Decidual blood discharge can prevent women from realizing about their pregnant state. These Decidual Bleeding signs are generally harmless. However, it can also be a symptom of acute conditions in some cases. It is for this reason that medical experts recommend that pregnant women should inform doctors about any amount or type of vaginal bleeding.

Decidual Bleeding During Pregnancy

Decidual Bleeding is one of the most common causes of “menstruation-like” bleeding during pregnancy. In some cases, there may be excessive imbalance of hormonal level in pregnant women. It can lead to a loss of parts of uterine lining in women. This is particularly common in the first few months of pregnancy, prior to complete attachment of the lining to the placenta. While shedding of parts of the lining of the uterus seems to be extremely dangerous, Decidual Bleeding is not usually a health threat to the health of a woman and her baby.

Decidual Bleeding In Early Pregnancy

Any amount of bleeding during pregnancy should be immediately reported to a doctor to eliminate chances of miscarriage or any other complication. This condition is quite rare and usually arises in a few women. It is best to see a doctor and get a pregnancy test done to rule out conditions like miscarriage.

Bleeding during very early stages of pregnancy may be Implantation rather than Decidual bleeding. Implantation bleeding occurs approximately two weeks following conception. At this time, the fertilised egg passes on to the uterus and implants in the soft uterine lining. Special cells around the egg make a deep burrow in the lining, much like a seed that is sprouting small roots. This is the early stage of the placenta. A few women release a small amount of blood when this occurs. It is only in rare cases that Implantation bleeding lasts for over a day.

What Does Decidual Bleeding Look Like?

It is characterized by odd, fibrous blood clots that the individual releases.

Decidual Bleeding Causes

During early pregnancy, rapid changes in hormone levels in the body can result in Ovulation or Uterine Lining Thickening in spite of the presence of an inseminated egg. The lining can be shed around the time when a pregnant woman is going through her normal menstrual period. Shedding of uterine lining can result in bleeding. It is due to this reason that some experts recommend pregnancy tests to anyone who show other signs of pregnancy such as

• Regular nausea
• Sudden weight gain
• Tenderness or increase in size of breast

These symptoms may occur even if the menstrual cycles appear to be normal. If positive results appear in an over the counter test in spite of bleeding, it is better to consult a doctor and get a more exact verification of pregnancy.

This condition is often confused with Implantation Bleeding, which is another cause of bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy. Implantation Bleeding is marked by light spotting, which is a consequence of egg implantation in the uterus. This type of bleeding, much like Decidual Bleeding, can make women have a misconception about their pregnancy and are going through a normal menstrual period. It is due to this similarity that both forms of bleeding are largely regarded to be harmless. Both Decidual and Implantation Bleeding are often collectively referred to as First-Trimester Bleeding.

Decidual Bleeding is not harmful to either the fetus or mother. Some experts indicate that harmless bleeding from the vagina such as decidual bleeding may arise in as much as 30% of pregnancies. Most women who suffer from Decidual bleeding during pregnancy can have normal pregnancy and delivery.

This condition is generally harmless. Bleeding is very common in early stages of pregnancy and is generally not a cause for any concern. Around half of all women who are pregnant suffer from minor bleeding in the initial months of pregnancy.

Most medical experts stress that women who experience any amount of bleeding during pregnancy should immediately inform a medical care provider. Bleeding may be a symptom of several conditions that may have an adversely impact on health. Such conditions can be

• Impending miscarriage
• Cervical cancer
• Ectopic pregnancies
• Molar pregnancies
• Cervical infections
• Vaginal infections

If bleeding persists for over one whole day or is heavy in intensity, a physical examination may be requested by a doctor to check the health of both fetus and mother. Physical examination may help eliminate potential complications.

How Long Does Decidual Bleeding Last?

This type of bleeding rarely persists for more than a day. The amount of bleeding is usually much less than it occurs in a normal menstrual period. It may be accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation. In some individuals, there may also be a heavy sensation and even pain.

Decidual Bleeding Complications

Some women may suffer from a future miscarriage due to this condition. However, most sufferers of this condition may have normal, healthy pregnancies. Some women suffer from bleeding for a few days around their expected menstrual periods. This can particularly occur during the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy.

Decidual Bleeding Vs. Period

Period or Menstrual Period occurs due to release of hormones in the female body during menstrual cycle. The hormones transmit signals to all the organs of the reproductive system to follow the normal biological rhythm of menstruation that helps the body to perform some biological actions.

Decidual Bleeding occurs due to hormonal imbalance in pregnant women. This leads to loss of some parts of the uterine lining. This is particularly common in early pregnancy, prior to the time when there is complete attachment of the lining to the placenta.

References:

http://www.women-health-info.com/297-Decidual-bleeding.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-decidual-bleeding.htm

http://www.wellsphere.com/videos/decidual-bleeding