Approximately one in four women detect a slight loss of blood caused by nesting the fertilized egg in the wall of the uterus. It is what is known as implantation bleeding.
The loss can last one or three days, is usually lighter than bleeding due to menstruation and darker. It occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy, at which time the uterus is very irrigated and bleeds easily.
When the embryo adheres to the wall of the uterus, small veins and arteries that normally supply the endometrium are broken, causing bleeding.
This happens between six and ten days after fertilization, period that matches the expected date for menstruation, so it is often confused with your arrival.
In Babies and more Implantation bleeding or menstruation: how to differentiate them?Sometimes it is just a drop of blood and at other times it can be confused with a light menstruation. Implantation bleeding does not follow a fixed rule, it can occur in one pregnancy or in all.
From fertilized egg to implanted embryo
When the sperm penetrates the ovum, fertilization and the formation of the zygote (first fertilized cell). In 72 hours the zygote becomes morula (segmentation of the zygote) and four or five days after fertilization, the morula becomes blast (or blastula).
The blast is composed of two groups of cells, one external and one internal. The internal group will become the embryo, and the outside, the membrane that will protect and nourish it during pregnancy. After the blast is implanted in the endometrium, it is when you start talking about a embryo.
When the blast reaches the uterus, usually six or seven days after fertilization, it begins to produce extensions that will allow it to adhere to the uterine mucosa and "bury" in the endometrium. It is what is known as embryonic implantation (view image).
Implantation is a fundamental phase of pregnancy, as it allows the embryo in its primary stage to receive nutrients and oxygen from the mother through its blood.
Fourteen days after fertilization, the embryo is firmly nested in its new home. That is where a new being will grow and develop.
In Babies and more Blood loss in the first trimester of pregnancyIt can be confused with menstruation
As we have commented, by the time it occurs, the implantation bleeding It can be confused with the arrival of menstruation when it is actually a sign of beginning of pregnancy.
This can cause anxiety since it is not known if bleeding is a sign of pregnancy or that the period has come. To avoid confusion it is important to observe the staining. It is not usually a usual rule, it is usually dark red or brown, mild, and lasts a few days (usually one or two and never more than cinnamon).
These days you should pay special attention to your body, since the observation of other signs can help you define whether or not it is a pregnancy. See if you notice other possible early pregnancy symptoms such as hypersensitivity in the breasts, nausea, increase in basal temperature, discomfort and tiredness.
Pregnancy confirmation
To get out of doubt, the most effective and fastest is to get a pregnancy test, however it may be soon for it. For the result to be reliable, it is important to know when to get tested.
In Babies and more The first signs of pregnancyIt must be done at least one day late to make sure that the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin) is detected, although certain tests claim to detect it from the first week after conception.
If you suspect you may be pregnant and notice heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain and cramping you should see a doctor, as it could be related to a problem.
