Understanding Threatened Abortion: Causes, Effects & Outlook

Question
Hello Dr. Rappaport - First I would like to thank you for your help in advance.  I found out on tuesday that I was 6weeks pregnant.  I also found out that I had a small "sub choronic bleed" or threatened abortion.  They nurses were not to specific on what this is so I would like to ask you if you could explain this issue a little more in detail.  Also how would this effect me and my unborn child?  Will I be able to carry the child to full term and if so could there be anything wrong with the child since i am leaking this fluid? Thank You

Answer
A trheatened abortion occurs when a woman who had a positive pregnancy test notices some vaginal bleeding. If the cervix is open and there is some tissue that has been expelled, it is called a sponganeous abortion. If all the contents of the uterus were expelled, it is called a complete abortion. If she is bleeding heavily with cramps and not all of the tissue is removed, it is called an incomplete abortion and she may need a D&C or some medication to contract the uterus.  However, a "subchorionic bleed" is merely some blood that has formed within the folds of the developing placenta (the chorionic layer). It usually does not affect the fetus and will stop on its own within a few weeks. It is not dangerous and is not synonymous with an abortion. If a sonogram shows that the fetus has a good fetal heargbeat, don't worry.