Perigestational Hemorrhage: Causes, Symptoms & What to Expect

Question
Hi

I am 36 yrs old and pregnant with my second child and date of last period was 08/01/05.

I had a dating scan on 14/03/05 everything was normal except for a small 15mm perigestational haemorrhage.  When I saw my doctor she told me all this but with everything going on I forgot to ask what it actually is.

So the question is what is it and why?

Could it have anything to do with having retained placenta in my first pregnancy?

Thanks heaps  Kirsten

Answer
You may have developed a subchorionic hemorrhage, which occurs when blood is sequestered in the folds of the placenta (in the chorionic layer). This usually causes no problems for the pregnancy and is insignificant. It does not have anything to do with your retained placenta that you had after the first delivery. That would have been completely removed at the time. A subchorionic hematoma usually dissipates on its own. I have never heard the term "perigestatoional hemorrhage".