Spotting During Pregnancy: Causes, Concerns & When to Call Your Doctor

Question
i am 18, first pregnancy..have been in good health through out the pregnancy. today i had a little spotting.. very little but it scared me.
is this normal and should i call the doctor?
i am 7 months along..also no cramping or anything like that

Answer
If you noticed some spotting at 28 weeks gestation, it probably means nothing. However, it can also be the start of some preterm labor. If you start to notice contractions at the level of your belly button that occur more than every 10 minutes and that last longer than 30 seconds each, call your doctor and have your cervix checked for possible dilatation. Soon you will start to have contractions on and off. When you start to get contractions at the level of your belly button that occur eveery 3 mintues (from the start of one to the start of the next) and each lasts for a full minute, and all of this continues for longer than 1 hour, you should be checked for labor (cervical dilatation). For now, drink plenty of water or liquids and notify your doctor if you notice any contractions like I described above. Good luck. The spotting may be from your vagina or from your rectum. If you had sexual intercourse recently, it is common to have some spotting. If you have hemorrhoids, it is common to have some rectal spotting. If you have any doubts, discuss it with your doctor.