When to see a doctor

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Tell your healthcare professional about any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Be ready to say how much blood you passed, what it looked like and whether it had clots or tissue in it.

First trimester

During the first trimester, weeks one through 12:

  • Tell your healthcare professional at your next prenatal visit if you have spotting or light vaginal bleeding that goes away within a day.
  • Contact your healthcare professional within 24 hours if you have any vaginal bleeding that lasts longer than a day.
  • Contact your healthcare professional right away if you have moderate to heavy vaginal bleeding, pass tissue from your vagina, or have any vaginal bleeding with belly pain, cramping, fever or chills.
  • Tell your healthcare professional if your blood type is Rh negative and you have bleeding. You might need a medicine that keeps your body from making protein substances called antibodies that may harm future pregnancies.

Second trimester

During the second trimester, weeks 13 through 27:

  • Contact your healthcare professional right away if you have any vaginal bleeding that lasts longer than a few hours or if you also have belly pain, cramping, fever, chills or contractions.

Third trimester

During the third trimester, weeks 28 through 40:

  • Contact your healthcare professional right away if you have vaginal bleeding or vaginal bleeding with belly pain.

In the final weeks of pregnancy, vaginal discharge that is pink or bloody might be a sign of labor starting. That's called the bloody show. If you see pink or bloody discharge near the end of pregnancy, contact your healthcare professional to make sure what you're having is bloody show. Sometimes, it might be a sign of a pregnancy complication.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Jan. 24, 2025