Ask Our Expert - Showing Really Early

May 16, 2008

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Specializing in pregnancy and birth.


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Ask Dr. Greenfield Showing Really Early

QUESTION


Dear Dr. Greenfield, I found out in April that I am pregnant. I should only be seven weeks now, but I am showing already. Could I have been pregnant and had a period? — Rocky

ANSWER	May 23, 2001


Dear Rocky, It is not that unusual to have some bleeding in early pregnancy that gets interpreted as a menstrual period. Usually when you really think about it, it wasn't exactly like your normal period--maybe longer, shorter, or lighter. Sometimes this bleeding is at the time that the embryo embeds into the uterine wall (called implantation bleeding) and sometimes it is actually bleeding from a threatened miscarriage that goes on to be a normal pregnancy. That said, there also are reasons that one may seem extra big in early pregnancy. Often a second baby will "show" earlier than the first one did. Twins can also make you grow quickly! The best way to sort out what is going on is to review your due date calculations with your practitioner. An ultrasound may be required to sort out the possibilities. — by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

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