Everything you need to know about birthday period

Birthday period is the name given to bleeding that occurs in some pregnant people at the very beginning of pregnancy, during the first trimester. Birthday rules are “rules” in name only. Generally not serious for the mother or the baby, they are very common: one in four women have them. In the following article, we introduce you to this surprising phenomenon and answer any questions you may have.

Birthday period, what are they?

Birthday periods are bleeding that occurs in pregnant people at the very beginning of pregnancy . They are “periods” only in name because they have nothing to do with the usual menstrual cycle.

Birthday rules: definition

They correspond to vaginal bleeding which occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, from 0 to 15 weeks of amenorrhea or 13 weeks of pregnancy. It is estimated that one in four pregnant people experience this vaginal bleeding, also called metrorrhagia.

When this bleeding occurs on the expected date of the period when the pregnancy has indeed been confirmed, we speak of “anniversary periods”. Less abundant than periods, these metrorrhagia also last less long and are generally not accompanied by any pain.

Why do some pregnant women have metrorrhagia in their first month of pregnancy?

As you will have understood, vaginal bleeding occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy is different from periods. They have different origins. Some are physiological, others are not serious and still others can prove dangerous for the pregnant person and the embryo.

Causes of physiological and minor bleeding

Bleeding during the first month of pregnancy can be mild and resolve easily and quickly. Generally, the bleeding linked to these problems is very light, lasts a short time and is accompanied by very little pain, or even no pain.

• Detachment of a small part of the placenta: this is generally benign and resolves quickly on its own;
• Weakening of the cervix : during pregnancy, your cervix becomes vascularized. Sexual intercourse or a medical examination can therefore cause benign lesions at this level, triggering light bleeding.
• Embryo implantation phenomenon : when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, its installation in the uterine mucosa can cause very slight bleeding;
• Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy sees significant hormonal changes in the body. These can lead to bleeding.
• Vaginal infections: certain vaginal infections can also cause bleeding: candidiasis or sexually transmitted infections for example.

Formation of a uterine hematoma

Uterine hematoma is the accumulation of blood in certain uterine tissues. This is a relatively common occurrence during the first few weeks of pregnancy and can cause significant bleeding when it ruptures. In fact, in the event of a rupture, blood loss is abundant, but does not usually cause pain. One of the answers to this problem is rest.

Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy which, as its name suggests, takes place outside the uterus, for example in the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are favored by copper IUDs. In the context of ectopic pregnancy, the beginning of the pregnancy proceeds “normally”, however the development of the embryo outside the uterus puts the pregnant person in danger (risk of hemorrhage) and must be interrupted. .

Ectopic pregnancy causes significant vaginal bleeding but it is also associated with other symptoms such as:

• symptoms of early pregnancy
• ovarian pain
• powerful pain
• nausea and vomiting
• fever

Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency and its treatment requires emergency intervention. It can be detected during the first examinations or late, in the event of hemorrhage. If you are pregnant and experience severe pain and bleeding, consult a healthcare professional immediately.

Spontaneous abortion/miscarriage

Miscarriage, also called “spontaneous abortion” is certainly what we fear the most in the event of vaginal bleeding at the start of pregnancy. In the case of a miscarriage, the fertilized egg becomes detached from the uterine wall and is expelled, along with the uterine lining that had developed to accommodate it.

In addition to heavy bleeding, miscarriage is most often accompanied by:

• very severe pelvic pain – like periods;
• nausea and vomiting
• headache

Faced with these symptoms, a medical examination is necessary to check for a possible opening in the cervix. Consult your doctor. If the fetus is in good condition and it is a false alarm, you will most certainly be advised to rest.

🌸 Although often ignored, spontaneous abortion is a very common complication in the first months of pregnancy – it is estimated that it affects up to 50% of fertilizations. The causes of miscarriages are varied and sometimes come from the combination of several factors: we can only invite you not to feel guilty. 🙏 If you have just suffered a miscarriage, do not hesitate to seek support from your doctor and a psychologist. Our directory of healthcare professionals is there to direct you to caring people who will be able to support you .

Development of molar pregnancy

Although rare, molar pregnancy can also be the cause of bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy. Molar pregnancy is produced by abnormal fertilization, causing the uterus to grow in a distorted manner. No molar pregnancy comes to term where the abortion occurs followed by hemorrhage.

This specific form of miscarriage causes bleeding, as well as:

• significant development in the size of the abdomen, even if the pregnancy is only a few weeks old
• little pain

Faced with these symptoms, a medical examination is necessary, consult your doctor. It will control the development of the fetus. If all goes well, rest will certainly be recommended to you.

3 preconceived ideas about birthday rules

Although they affect many pregnant women, birthday periods are still little known. This leads to beliefs and preconceived ideas: let's respond together to three preconceived ideas about birthday rules.

"If I'm bleeding, that means I'm not really pregnant."

It's wrong ! ❌

Of course, the periods stop, in a majority of menstruating women, as soon as there is a pregnancy. However, different phenomena can lead to bleeding even though pregnancy is confirmed (denial of pregnancy, placental abruption, irritation of the cervix, etc.).

If your pregnancy has been confirmed by a positive pregnancy test and a blood test, this means that you are pregnant. Whether you have bleeding or not. And if you have this blood loss, consult a doctor to talk to him about it: vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is worrying, it is necessary to understand the cause.

“Bleeding during pregnancy is always a sign of miscarriage.”

It's wrong ! ❌

If vaginal bleeding can be a sign of a miscarriage (in this case, it will generally be accompanied by other symptoms such as severe pelvic pain), this is not necessarily the case, as we have seen in this article . Nesting causes bleeding as does the detachment of a very small part of the placenta: these two phenomena are not serious and in no way mean the end of the pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is worrying and is a reason for medical consultation. Consult your doctor or gynecologist but be aware that it is not necessarily serious, neither for you nor for your baby.

"If I have a 'birthday period', it means my pregnancy is at risk."

It's exaggerated ! ❌

Anniversary periods are bleeding which can have various origins – serious or not, dangerous for the embryo or not. If they can be linked to pathologies that could lead to a pregnancy at risk or even to ending the pregnancy, this is not always the case, we mentioned this a little earlier: implantation is therefore without consequences, just as a weakening of the cervix after sexual intercourse.

In the current state of research, the anniversary rules have been studied too little to give you a precise figure and percentages. However, a majority of pathological disorders linked to pregnancy complications are accompanied by other symptoms (pelvic pain, infection, etc.).

Generally speaking, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is a cause for concern: it is important to consult your doctor to find the cause.

I have my birthday period, what should I do?

You are pregnant and yet you are bleeding. Whether it's a few drops or a larger flow, it's cause for concern and you're right to wonder. The first step is to consult your doctor. Then to protect yourself.

Consult your doctor

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, is a concern. You must therefore consult your healthcare professional to identify the cause of this bleeding.

Various examinations may be carried out by your doctor, midwife or gynecologist to ensure that everything is normal and that the pregnancy is progressing well. :

• Palpation of your abdomen,
• Examination of the condition of your cervix with a speculum,
• Performing a vaginal examination, a pelvic ultrasound and/or a beta-HCG hormone measurement (pregnancy hormone)

Listen to your doctor

Depending on the causes of your bleeding, benign or indicative of a particular problem, your healthcare professional will be able to advise you on the actions to follow and the precautions to take.

Since bleeding at the start of pregnancy does not necessarily indicate a high-risk pregnancy, you may not have specific recommendations. Conversely , he may require you to do secondary examinations, take medication or even rest: we can only recommend that you listen to him!

Protect your clothes

Whatever your doctor's recommendations, however, you will need to protect your underwear and clothing from spills of blood that may occur. You may also notice abundant white discharge during your first months of pregnancy.

To protect your underwear from blood and white discharge, we recommend using classic menstrual protection. Avoid using the cup and tampons in this case and prefer to wear panty liners, menstrual towels or menstrual panties.

🌈 In our online store, we offer you panty liners and menstrual pads from the Jho brand. They have the advantage of being organic and thus protect your privacy and your future baby. You will also find menstrual panties for medium flow , perfect to accompany you during and after pregnancy.

Smoon panties for medium flow >

I have pain, how can I relieve it?

Your vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy may be accompanied by pain. The procedure to follow is simple: seek the advice of your doctor (midwife or gynecologist) .

Birthday rules are not classic rules. On the one hand, the products you usually use to soothe your painful period pains won't necessarily be effective. On the other hand, these products risk harming your embryo. In other words, do not use painful period products during your anniversary period , even if they are natural.

Indeed, beyond medications that can affect your baby, herbal teas like solutions based on electro-stimulating waves can prove dangerous for the young embryo that is currently developing in your womb.

The right approach is therefore to seek the advice of the professional who is monitoring your pregnancy and to stick to it. If you have techniques and solutions that you usually use for period pain, don't hesitate to ask him what he thinks about them before using them.