Expert: Pat G - 4/16/2010

Question
QUESTION: dear sir i m in pregranancy of 12 weeks and suddenly last week i experience bleeding which was finaly detected as placenta level is lower reaching os. doctor advice me for bed rest from last week i m not having any bleeding can u please guide me that what precautions i should take and which diet support to recover it. i oftenly having dust allergy and gas trouble please advise me for this. dr said with the time uteres grow and problem wil be resolved. is there any medicine to handle this problem

ANSWER: Hello, sam,

First, please know that I am a woman.

The risk of this type of situation is that you could hemorrhage, or the placenta could turn loose or be ripped loose at some point, so it will be vitally important to make sure the doctor watches you closely. Hopefully, he is right about your uterus outgrowing the placenta. Otherwise, it could prove to be a problem at birth, and may mean you would have to have a Caesarian section. But we will hope and pray this will not be the situation.

There are some things you can do to decrease the danger. The main one does indeed come from diet. You didn't say what part of Pakistan you are from, but I'm hoping it's from the part where spicy food is commonly eaten. The best spice to help prevent hemorrhage is red hot chili peppers. If you make sure to eat food that has this ingredient on a regular basis, this should help. If this is not food you are accustomed to, you can start to eat some of these dishes, or you can get cayenne in capsules as a supplement over the internet. Curries will also help, but not as much.

Some women develop sensitivities to foods during pregnancy, because they may not digest as well as usual. Common foods that may cause gas include onions, beans, chick peas, and lentils. You can try not eating these foods and see if that helps. The other problem is that something may have damaged the beneficial bacteria in your intestines, such as an antibiotic. The best solution for this is if you can get some good quality yogurt to eat. It should be naturally produced and have live cultures. If you are allergic to milk, ask your doctor to let you try a pro-biotic. Also, your digestion may be helped by eating pineapple.

Dust allergy is actually caused by dust mites, which are very, very tiny bugs. There are several remedies that might help. One is to filter your air with an air filter that has a HEPA filter. I don't know if you can get that in Pakistan, or over the internet. Dr. Mercola says Quercetin is a supplement that helps. Antihistamines may also help, but you would need a natural one, and you don't want to take it for a long time. Also, if you are having problems with your mattress, you may be able to get a cover for it. They make dust mite barrier cloths. I don't know where to get one. It's possible it's a problem aggravated by pregnancy, in which case, it will probably resolve itself to some extent after you give birth. Here is an article you also might find helpful: http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/index.htm I haven't worked with this idea, but it's worth reading. Personally, I don't think doctors have good answers for this question most of the time.

Good luck with your health problems. Feel free to talk to me any time. Have a safe pregnancy! Let me know how you do.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you verry much mam i m yery thankful to your kind advice this is my 2nd pregnancy three years ago i got a baby boy through cessarian i hav consulted the doctor she give me some medicine named duphistan from last 10 days i havnt experience any bleeding today i feel some brown blood of very small amount in urine and i m feeling abdominal pain as wellplease guide me

Answer
Hello, sam,

You're very welcome.

It sounds to me like your doctor is concerned about the possibility of you having a miscarriage, which is why she gave you the medicine. I share that concern. She is trying to save your baby. You'll just have to wait and see what happens. The pain concerns me for the same reason. Get plenty of rest, and don't have sex or do any lifting or strenuous chores.

Have you ever had a surgical abortion? If so, you might want to ask your doctor to fasten your cervix shut. This may be part of the problem. At the time of birth, the cervix will be opened again by the doctor so you can give birth.

Your situation is called "placenta previa." Caesarian sections can cause this condition (since you had one in the past). It is also a way a woman can give birth safely if she has a placenta previa. As your doctor mentioned, this problem often clears up in later pregnancy.

I'd say go with what your doctor says. It sounds like she has your best interests at heart and knows what she is doing. Please take care, and let me know how you do.