Spotting in Early Pregnancy: What to Know & When to Worry

Question
I am 32 with a 16 month old & my last period started around Dec. 27th give or take. I am about 6 weeks pregnant & don't see the Dr for about 3 more weeks. Yesterday I started some light spotting. Brownish in color, than lighter colored as the day went on. I had some very mild cramping on & off but nothing painful. Should I be worried? Also could this be signs of an ectopic pregnancy? Should I call the Dr & reschedule?  

Answer
If your last period started on December 27, you can onlybe 3 weeks 4 days pregnant. If yuou are 6 weeks pregnant at this time, your last period must have been on November 27, not December 27.  It is common to have some brownish spotting at this stage of pregnancy. As long as you do not have heavy bleeding with painful cramps, you need not worry. Bleeding can be a sign of a threatened miscarriage. An ectopic pregnancy appears with severe pain on one side of the abdomen or the other and can be accompanied with bleeding or no bleeding at all. There is no reason to suspect an ectopic based on a brownish spotting. Don't worry.