How common is it for pregnant women to vomit blood?
It’s quite common for pregnant women to vomit blood. Studies have shown that blood in vomit is usually from the gastrointestinal tract, and most often results from ulcer disease. In fact, about 20-25% of pregnant women will have some form of gastrointestinal bleeding. While this may sound alarming, most of the time it’s not serious and will resolve on its own. If you are pregnant and vomit blood, it’s important to see your doctor to rule out any potential causes. Reference
Should pregnant women be worried if they vomit blood once?
If you are pregnant and vomit blood, it is important to seek medical attention right away. While it is not common, vomiting blood can be a sign of a serious condition called placental abruption. This is when the placenta partially or completely separates from the uterine wall before delivery. Placental abruption can be life-threatening for both the mother and baby.
There are other potential causes of vomiting blood during pregnancy, though they are less serious. These include:
– Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting are common in early pregnancy, and sometimes blood can be seen in the vomit. This is usually nothing to worry about and will resolve on its own.
– Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This is a condition in which stomach acid rises up into the esophagus, causing heartburn and sometimes vomiting. If you have GERD and vomit blood, it is likely that the blood is coming from your esophagus and not your stomach.
– Peptic ulcers: These are sores that form in the lining of the stomach or small intestine. Ulcers can bleed, and the blood can sometimes be seen in vomit.
If you are pregnant and vomit blood, it is important to seek medical attention right away to rule out a life-threatening condition. Otherwise, the cause is likely to be something less serious that can be managed.
Visit pregnancysicknesssuport.org.uk to learn more about blood with vomit during pregnancy. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.