A blood clot is also called thrombosis, which is formed when a volume of blood becomes thick and leads to partial solidification. The same situation can take place around your placenta, inside the uterus, during your first trimester, which is called sub chronic haematoma, placental abruption, or placenta previa. This will be visible in the ultrasound test. Every situation of a blood clot in the uterus does not result in potential complications, although it is vital to keep a watch on the signs and start the appropriate treatment immediately.

Some pregnant women are at a higher risk of contracting sub chronic haematoma due to certain medical conditions like:

Blood Clot in the Uterus in Early Pregnancy

Preeclampsia

This is one of the major signs of placental abruption, generally characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. In this situation, your liver and kidneys stop functioning properly. Apart from that, your blood flows faster than its normal speed and result in clots around your placental cells.

Cardiac complications

Problems pertaining to the heart mostly affect your circulatory system and blood composition. A high level of cholesterol is the main culprit, which develops blockades in your heart and disrupts the blood flow. During pregnancy, your uterus is tender and hence the blood develops lumps and grows into the tissues of the foetus.

Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is an arterial cause of many pregnant women facing placenta previa. Among pregnant women, diabetes might affect the foetus and the blood flow through its tissues. In such a situation, the blood in the uterine region may develop lumps and start clotting.

Stroke

As already discussed, high blood pressure can lead to preeclampsia and clotting of blood. About 8 in 1000 pregnant women can face stroke due to distorted blood pressure and blockages. This leads to clotting of blood around the uterine region.

Pulmonary embolism

This is a situation in which a blood clot moves from its point of formation to another location. At times, during pregnancy, this lump can move to the bottom of the uterus and cause interference in the development of the foetus. The patient in this case usually coughs up blood and feels an acute sense of pain in the belly. In serious cases, this situation can even lead to death.

Placental insufficiency

This is a situation in which the placenta does not perform as well as it should, and hence the foetus receives oxygen and blood that is lesser then the required quantity. This can lead to big lumps of blood in the uterus and can affect the baby in the long term.

Intrauterine growth restriction

This refers to a situation that arises due to your foetus growing at a sluggish rate inside the womb. This causes blood to gush in and develop lumps or mingle with the tissue development. This seriously affects the baby in its very early days of growth. However, not only the baby, but also the mother is at potential risk of facing fatalities.

Dehydration

When you don’t drink the required amount of water, your body’s internal parts get dried up and cause the blood to thicken. This leads to the development of blood clots.

To make sure that this complication, which is generally mild, is treated in time, you must know the major symptoms. The possible signs of blood clot in the uterus in early pregnancy are:

Vaginal bleeding

Normally, after getting pregnant, women stop getting their regular periods. However, some women experience vaginal bleeding even during the early phase of pregnancy; usually in the first trimester ranging from week 1 to week 12. Research says that nearly 10% of pregnant women tend to experience this situation. Mild spotting is normal and generally disappears on its own. But it might be a sign of formation of blood clots inside the uterus if the bleeding continues for long and the quantity increases. Along with this, there might also be a tingling sensation in the uterine muscles. If such a condition persists for a day or more, consult your gynaecologist immediately.

Abdominal pain

This is another core symptom of blood clots in the uterus or placental abruption. Although there might not be a direct sign of blood clotting via bleeding, acute abdominal pains and sudden a sudden feeling of being bloated all the time can be a major thing to worry about. If this sign is indeed of a blood clot, you are very likely to see spots of blood in your underwear. However, even if you don’t see blood, don’t sit back. This is not a normal symptom and hence requires to be diagnosed immediately.

Vaginal cramps

In a placental abruption, the lump of blood grows into the tissues of the foetus and the surrounding vaginal area. As a result, while being discharged, some of your tissues are also being disposed of. This causes intense pain in the vagina. If you encounter this symptom, call the doctor to get yourself checked immediately.

Bloody excreta

As the lump of blood keeps growing in size inside your uterus, it also spreads to the surrounding areas. This puts pressure on the intestines and excretory tract. Hence, you might face difficulty in passing stool and may even pass blood-stained excreta.

The signs of thrombosis or placental abruption may be subtle as well as direct. You have to be careful throughout your period of pregnancy, in order to get diagnosed in the very first instance. The most important symptoms are unnatural bleeding during pregnancy and untimely abdominal pains that soon become overbearing. Make sure that you visit the gynaecologist as soon as you capture the first possible symptoms of blood clots in the uterus.

Although there are no hardcore treatments for this, there are some medical processes that can help avoid further possible complications. The following steps are generally followed for treatment and prevention:

Ultrasound test

When you visit the doctor, the first thing that will be done is an ultrasound test in order to diagnose the situation. As the situation is diagnosed, the doctor will test the intensity of internal bleeding and clotting. You will also be recommended an ultrasound on a regular basis, as a prevention tip for possible complications in future.

Oral medication

After you are tested by the gynaecologist, you will receive some oral medicines to keep your blood flowing at a smooth pace and to enable the development of the foetus. The most common medicines prescribed by doctors are anticoagulants like heparin and Coumadin, and the anti-platelet drug aspirin. These drugs slow down the body’s process of developing clots by slightly thinning the blood.

Transvaginal cleansing

If oral medicines don’t work properly during pregnancy, due to your changing system, doctors will have to resort to internal cleansing and removal of the clot. A medical device will be inserted into your vagina up to the opening of the uterus, and a fluid will be released, which will clean the blood clot and pull it out of your body.

Balanced diet

As a means of prevention, you will be advised by your gynaecologist to eat healthy. The cause(s) of your placental abruption will be diagnosed by the gynaecologist, after which you will receive a strict diet chart that will include fibre-rich foods, proteins, and vitamins. These will help the blood flow uniformly throughout your body and help in development of the baby.

Blood clotting during early pregnancy can be mild or life-threatening. Know the symptoms well and visit the doctor to get treated timely, and most importantly, follow a healthy diet plan.