Spotting?????

I have just noticed in the last 24 hrs that I have started lightly spotting (blood that is). I am now 33 1/2 wks, so realistically that's not long to go. Is this normal? Its not really anything I would consider significantly but certainly something that hasn't happened at all throughout my pregnancy. I also was told at my 19wk ultrasound that I have a low lying anterior (on the front wall) placenta. I am due to have another scan on Tuesday, but this has made DH & I a little concerned.

Has anyone experienced this? or is this just a natural part of the body getting ready for childbirth? I would love your responses asap.

Thanks

Is this spotting bright red blood?
Have you recently had sex?
Have you done any heavy lifting?

The blood just seems the usual colour. No I haven't been doing any heavy lifting or had sex. We did go for a reasonable walk today (30 mins) which seemed to put a lot of pressure on down there, but after resting for a while, that passed.
I haven't had any 'unusual' things happen during my pregnancy, everything seems to ahve been straight forward, apart from the low lying placenta....

OK I think it may be a good idea to get it checked. There is a chance that you are having a bleed from where the placenta attaches to the wall of your uterus. This would be more probable if you have been having lots of BH over the past couple of days

Sounds like a good idea, do you think it could wait until Tuesday given I do think its just light? provided nothing more really happens or it stays the same? I just dont want to get DH all in a panic, particularly given we have an ultrasound on Tuesday for that reason.......I know if it gets anything like the start of a period or anything more then I wouldn't hesitate to call the OB during the middle of the night...

I dont think I've really had any BH at all, just the occasional belly pain, plus bubs moving around a lot, particularly after dinner.

Thanks for your advice Alan, I will keep a very close check on it.

It is more than likely not a problem and I would expect your placenta to have moved higher. However one persons idea of spotting can be a lot diferent than anothers. If you are having to change your pad more often than you normally would I think you should get it checked before tuesday. If you are still bleeding at the same amount tomorrow then I would go and get checked tomorrow. If the bleeding increases then go to hospital. If your bleeding is only the occasional spot and it stops overnight then it would be ok to wait until tuesday

Thanks Alan,

I haven't had any more spotting overnight so I will just wait & see I guess, but I will go see the OB on Tuesday just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for your advice. DH (& myself) are very relieved that we have access to such a great website & to great people so that we are not panicking unnecessarily & rushing off to hospital everytime something happens. I guess its just from experience that you learn.

Thanks again