Hello. I am 25 weeks pregnant. On Friday night after straining during during a bowel movement, I had some slight vaginal bleeding/spotting. I went into the emergency room and they did vaginal examination (where they saw some minor bleeding), an ultrasound (that turned out normal) and other blood tests etc. the bleeding stopped that night and was only light bleeding but they kept me in hospital for 3 nights for monitoring.

The doctor diagnosed me with a minor placental abruption even though this did not show up on the ultrasound (apparently ultrasounds only pick up about 50 percent of abruptions). My question is this: could the bleeding have been caused from straining too hard on the toilet? I am terrified about this placental abruption because everything I read on it says how rare and serious it is. The doctor came to this diagnosis through a process of elimination but I am wondering whether the spotting was caused simply from straining too hard on the toilet as this is when the bleeding occurred and it stopped almost immediately.

When it comes to things like this, I would definitely suggest following guidelines and cautions from your doctor. It could be that straining with your bowel movement caused it to be irritated. However, it could have just been coincodence. We don't know your health background, and the background of this pregnancy, so we can't give much sound advice to you. Placental abruption use to be seen as very serious, but today with proper medical care, and good medical supervision, and taking extra care on your end, most women and babies are just fine. So just make sure you follow your doctors orders strictly, and watch for warning signs.(make sure you drink plenty of water, and eat wisely, to avoid the need to strain with bowel movements as well. Even if this had nothing to do with the spotting, it will help you to avoid the discomfort of hemeroids/constipation.)

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Originally Posted by buggage

When it comes to things like this, I would definitely suggest following guidelines and cautions from your doctor. it could be that straining with your bowel movement caused it to be irritated. however, it could have just been coincodence. we dont know your health background, and the background of this pregnancy, so we can't give much sound advice to you. Placental abruption use to be seen as very serious, but today with proper medical care, and good medical supervision, and taking extra care on your end, most women and babies are just fine. So just make sure you follow your doctors orders strictly, and watch for warning signs.(make sure you drink plenty of water, and eat wisely, to avoid the need to strain with bowel movements as well. even if this had nothing to do with the spotting, it will help you to avoid the discomfort of hemeroids/constipation.)

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Thanks buggage. I am definetely following all of my doctors orders. I was just worried to get such a serious diagnosis as a placental abruption. I did read that straining can occasionally cause blood vessels in the cervix to break. I guess I was hoping some other women may have a similar story that wasn't diagnosed as placental abruption as I have now worried myself sick.