Vomiting Blood During Pregnancy

Vomiting Blood During Pregnancy


Contents:


Vomiting is a common symptom of early pregnancy. Vomiting after 12 weeks, as well blood in vomit may be a symptom of a serious disease that could affect both the normal course of pregnancy and the upcoming delivery.

Causes of Vomiting Blood

Vomiting blood may be caused by the following conditions:

Overeating

Overeating can overload the stomach and cause vomiting. This condition most commonly occurs in late pregnancy. The growing uterus continuously puts pressure on the stomach, and its capacity is naturally reduced. Addiction to fatty, fried, spicy and other junk food increases the risk of vomiting in this period.

Blood may appear in case of severe prolonged vomiting. Permanent muscle spasm causes local damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus, which explains the fact that the vomit acquires red and brown color. This condition is accompanied by nausea, pain in the upper abdomen and general deterioration of the expectant mom’s state.

Food Poisoning

Law quality food can cause food poisoning, a dangerous condition accompanied by vomiting. In case of significant lesions of the gastric mucosa, the vomit may feature blood.

Other typical symptoms of food poisoning include:

  • nausea;
  • vomiting after 30min-2h after a meal;
  • undigested food in vomit;
  • pain in the upper abdomen and around the navel;
  • diarrhea;
  • increase in body temperature.

Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea lead to dehydration, loss of consciousness and seizures. In severe cases, this condition can provoke an abortion at any time of pregnancy. If you suspect food poisoning, you’d better urgently seek medical assistance.

Stomach And Intestines Diseases

The peptic ulcer disease may provoke vomiting blood.

This disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • pain in the upper abdomen;
  • pain after eating (gastric ulcer) or when the stomach is empty (duodenal ulcer);
  • nausea after eating;
  • heartburn;
  • sour eructation.

Vomiting blood occurs in case of a complicated peptic ulcer. The occurrence of such a symptom may indicate bleeding from ulcers. In this case vomiting masses grow darker and look like "coffee-grounds”. Blood pressure decreases sharply, the pulse quickens, appears shortness of breath. If the blood enters the bowl, occurs black stool (melena).

Ulcer perforation may also be accompanied by vomiting blood. This condition includes perforation of both mucous and other stomach layers. In case of ulcer perforation, a pregnant woman feels sharp pain in the upper abdomen. During an attack, you may lose consciousness.

Penetration is another terrible complication of peptic ulcer disease, accompanied by vomiting blood. Penetration is the transfer of the ulcer to the adjacent organs (pancreas or intestines) accompanied by vessels’ damage and bleeding. This complication is more common for the long-standing ulcer disease.

Vomiting blood in case of the peptic ulcer is a dangerous symptom. In the absence of adequate medical care, this condition may grow out to the peritonitis and even cause death. In such circumstances, it is not always possible keep the pregnancy.

Oncological Diseases

Gastric cancer is one of the possible causes of vomiting blood. Nowadays young women are more often being diagnosed with this disease and even pregnancy doesn’t protect against its development. On the contrary, fluctuations of hormonal levels and changes occurring in the body of the expectant mom may trigger the tumor growth and cause bleeding.

Stomach cancer symptoms:

  • pain in the upper abdomen when eating;
  • nausea;
  • intolerance to some foods;
  • general weakness.

Cancer symptoms are not specific, they are common for a great variety of diseases. Only after a complete examination it’s possible establish a diagnosis. To diagnose cancer it’s necessary to make a fibrogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and stomach tissues’ biopsy. Pregnant women rarely undergo such tests, only in case if the potential benefits for the woman is greater than the potential risk to the fetus.

Vomiting Blood in Early Pregnancy

Vomiting Blood During Pregnancy 1

Vomiting in first trimester of pregnancy is one of the toxicosis signs.

Besides vomiting, a pregnant woman may have the following symptoms:

  • nausea (especially in the morning);
  • decreased appetite;
  • intolerance to some foods;
  • addiction to unusual food;
  • sensitivity to smells;
  • excessive salivation;
  • weakness;
  • sleepiness.

The occurrence of vomiting blood may be caused by severe toxicosis. Vomiting becomes more frequent, nausea persists throughout the day. The future mom loses weight, has symptoms of dehydration (dry skin, thirst, decreased urination). The appearance of blood means that severe vomiting has damaged the mucosa of the stomach and the esophagus. This condition requires hospitalization and treatment in hospital.

Vomiting blood in early pregnancy may be caused by the ulcer disease flare-up. It was noticed that severe toxicosis more often occurs in women suffering from various stomach and intestines’ diseases. Toxicosis may trigger bleeding of the ulcer and cause other symptoms of this pathology. Cancer can also manifest itself in the early pregnancy.

What Should I Do?

Vomiting blood is a reason to immediately seek medical advice. It’s quite difficult to identify the reasons for this condition on your own.

To establish the cause of the malaise you may need to undergo additional tests:

  • abdominal ultrasound;
  • fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
  • biopsy of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines;
  • consultation with a gastroenterologist or a surgeon.

First aid in case of vomiting blood:

  • lay the pregnant woman in bed on the side;
  • put a bowl next to the bed in case of repeated vomiting;
  • control the heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate;
  • offer a warm drink (only clean water without additives).

In case of vomiting blood do not:

  • leave a pregnant woman on her own;
  • provoke vomiting artificially;
  • eat;
  • use any medications without a doctor’s prescription.

The occurrence of profuse vomiting blood, dark color of the vomit is the symptom of the stomach or duodenal lesion. In this case, you should act fast. If you suspect the stomach ulcer disease or another serious pathology, call an ambulance at once.

5 Comments

  • Yemmy says:

    Thanks so much,this really helped.I just came back from the hospital and they couldn’t find any reason why have been vomiting blood

  • Sravani says:

    Hi am in 22nd week, I come across with this situation today, is that normal or should I need to go to a doctor for checkup, kindly help me out, is this common for every one,

  • Babbie says:

    Hi.am 33 weeks old pregnant. Would severe vomiting stain with blood affect my baby?

  • Joyjannet says:

    Hy am joy jannet 3weeks pregnant buh am scared cause i vomit blood frequently with no appetite at all any help thanks

  • Lesley says:

    I’m 7wks 6dys vomiting with specks of blood could or harm the baby I’m concerned because I’ve already experienced a miscarriage I’m vomiting with little blood in it any advice

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *