Spotting is common in early pregnancy and usually arises from small blood vessels in the uterus as the placenta implants rather than from the baby. It can also be due to a VAGINAL INFECTION or CERVICAL EROSION. In any of these cases the baby is unaffected and the diagnosis is made by gentle vaginal examination. Bleeding is not a symptom of underlying abnormality in the baby. Many people believe that bleeding is more likely at times when a period would have occurred but this has not been substantiated statistically. However, as bleeding may be a sign of an impending miscarriage an ultrasound scan may be carried out to substantiate the cause.