Spotting is any uterine bleeding that occurs between menstrual periods or during pregnancy. Spotting is a very light bleeding, similar to the amount that you have at the very beginning or end of your period. The color varies from pink to red to brown (which is dried blood).

Spotting is typical in the first trimester of pregnancy. It does not usually indicate a problem or miscarriage, although if it changes in amount or heaviness of flow, you will usually need to be seen by your obgyn or midwife.

The following tests are routine prenatal tests for each visit to your obgyn or midwife:

Blood Pressure:

At each prenatal visit your blood pressure will be tested by armband. A spike in blood pressure can be an indication of preeclampsia - which can cause the placenta to separate from the wall of the uterus.

Urine:

At each prenatal visit your urine will be tested for protein, sugar, blood and bacteria.  Protein is another sign of preeclampsia, sugar can signal gestational diabetes and blood or bacteria can signal a urinary-tract infection. 

Weight:

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. It may implant in the fallopian tube, the uterus, the abdominal wall, or the cervix.

Signs and Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnnacy

• You may miss your period and have irregular bleeding and spotting.
• You may feel lower abdominal or pelvic pain.
• You may feel pelvic pain when having sex.
• You may experience normal pregnancy symptoms.
• If your fallopian tube ruptures you may feel severe pain in the area, shoulder pain caused by internal bleeding, and be dizzy or faint.

What are the Risk Factors for an Ectopic Pregnancy?
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So why are you all of a sudden nauseous, having food aversions and throwing up all the time?  Although everyone calls it morning sickness, this horrible feeling can sneak up on you in the morning, daytime, nighttime or all the time.

What is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness is a combination of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.  It affects anywhere from 50-80% of pregnant women!  

Cause of Morning Sickness?
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It’s one of those questions you’ll hear time and time again…  “so how far along are you?”  You have many options in explaining just how pregnant you are - and almost all of them will require some bit of explanation on your part!!

How Far Along - Weeks

One of the easiest ways to determine how far along you are is in “weeks”.  Typically you count from the week of your last menstrual period (lmp), so when you actually test positive (typically when your period is due) you are 4 weeks along.  Silly, I know!  If you follow this practice - your due date will be 40 weeks after your lmp.  Another way of counting weeks is from the date of conception (typically two weeks after your lmp) and your due date will be at 38 weeks. 

So what is my pregnancy due date and when is this baby going to arrive?  That’s one of the first questions you (and everyone else around you) wants to know! 

Dr. Naegele’s Pregnancy Due Date Calculation

The most common way of calculating your pregnancy due date is based on a method developed by Dr. Naegele.  He determined that the average woman had a menstrual cycle lasting 28 days, with an ovulation date of 14 days.  The calculation would then be:

Date of your LMP (last menstrual period) + 7 days - 3 months.

Example: April 15th, 2003 + 7 days - 3 months = January 22nd, 2004!

Ovulation Pregnancy Due Date Calculation

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