Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What can bleeding later in pregnancy indicate?

    I'm 28 years old, and 30 weeks pregnant, and have started having some bleeding. This is my first baby, and I'm concerned that there is something wrong. Is this common, or should I be worried?
  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Dr Tilak Weerasiri

    Gynaecologist, Gynaecologist - Infertility (IVF) Specialist, Obstetrician

    Dr Tilak Weerasiri, an accredited private obstetrician and gynaecologist, is based in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne. His private consulting rooms are located at 11 … View Profile

    There are many causes of bleeding later in pregnancy. If bleeding occurs in your second or third trimester, contact your obstetrician or your hospital.

    Light bleeding later in pregnancy could be caused by inflammation or cervical polyps.

    Heavy bleeding is serious and could be a sign of:

    1. a problem with the placenta, or

    2. preterm labour

    There are several problems with the placenta that can cause bleeding late in pregnancy.

    1. Placental abruption, where the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus.

    2. Placenta praevia, where the placenta lies low in the uterus, sometimes covering the cervix.

    Sometimes, this resolves on its own, and only monitoring is required, but if it doesn’t resolve, you may have to have a caesarean section.

answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions