One of the first symptoms of pregnancy is missing a period. Thus, one cannot get a period while pregnant. Moreover, one should be aware that pregnancy and menstruation are like an antithesis, they can never occur together. Some pregnant women who say that they have experienced a period are probably mistaken about the nature of the "bleeding" they have had. Menstruation or "period" occurs when the body is ready to let go of all the material it had collected in case the woman was to conceive. This includes the womb. However, when at the end of the cycle, the woman has not conceived, the body discards those materials. In the process, there is a bleeding as well. During the period, a woman does not only release blood, but a specific fluid known as menstrual fluid, as well. So, it is clear that if the woman were to have conceived and been pregnant, it would be positively impossible for her to have a period. It has been observed in many cases, that in the initial stages of pregnancy, the woman bleeds. This tends to happen on her period dates. This gives her the illusion that she is menstruating. However, there is a difference. This bleeding does not contain any menstrual fluids and is basically, mostly, just blood being released from the body. More so, it will not be the same as one's normal or regular menstrual bleeding. It will either be much lesser or more. However, the number of days that it occurs could be the same as the period or less. This is often called pregnant period bleeding. Bleeding during maternity, though normal, should be a hint for vigilance. Mothers should be very vigilant about the stages of pregnancy development and should visit their doctors for routine checkups every once in a while. As this bleeding mostly happens in the initial stages, the couple is not aware of it. In case there is a complication, it would be terrible for them to learn about the pregnancy and the complications in it at the same time. As such, women should be aware of their menstrual cycle and the nature of their menstrual cycle. Why the Confusing Bleeding During Pregnancy? There could be many reasons for the bleeding during this phase:

• Implantation Bleeding: Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg implants into the wall of the uterus. The flow during implantation bleeding is normally very light and pink or brownish in color. It doesn't last very long, just a couple of days or so. This normally happens 6-10 days after ovulation, so it might seem like an early light period.
• Hormonal Bleeding: A few women go through hormonal bleeding during maternity. This is a lighter bleeding and occurs around the time of the period. This is also known as "decidual bleeding". It occurs due to hormonal fluctuations causing inactive layers of the womb lining to shed.
• Ectopic Pregnancy: This reason for bleeding during maternity requires immediate medical attention. Ectopic pregnancy is pregnancy that occurs when the fertilization happens outside the womb, mostly in the fallopian tube. This bleeding will be accompanied by pain on one side of the lower abdomen, fainting, nausea, collapse, and pain on shoulder tip.
• Early Miscarriage: Some pregnancies get miscarried in the earlier stage itself causing the mother to bleed heavily. The signs of an early miscarriage are heavy and clotted bleeding. This bleeding is more intense than the usual period and comes with lower abdominal pain and cramps. It is important to get medical help at the earliest in this case.

It is important for one to know their body and listen to it. Get regular checkups done. If one does not agree with one doctor, she can get a second opinion till her mind is at ease. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.