Pregnancy Symptoms: HCG, Abdominal Pain & Spotting - Is It Normal?

Question
Hi, I first want to say thank you for responding to my question quickly. I wrote about 2 days ago about hcg levels. Now I am experiencing new problems. I have been taking prenantal vitamins for a week.Befor I was taking them I had abdominal pain and they went away once I started my pill. Today I took a prenantal pill late and my abdominal pain came back with spotting. But as soon as I took my pill the pain left and the spotting stop. Is that normal? I am 19 and 5 weeks pregnante.

Answer
The pain or spotting has absolutely nothing to do with the prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins merely ensure that you have enough iron and other vitamins to remain healthy during the pregnancy and to make sure that the bones and muscles of the baby develop properly.  If you have some spotting, that must be evaluated (if there is a large amount of bleeding). The bleeding may be due to problems with the position of the placenta, or you may have a "subchorionic bleed" which is a sequestration of blood in the folds of the placenta and usually does not affect the pregnancy. If you have abdominal pain or bleeding, consult with your obstetrician and get a sonogram to see what is going on.