Nesting: what it is, when it occurs and how to identify

Women know that any bleeding that appears can be cause for celebration or despair. Those who want to get pregnant don't even want to hear about menstruation, but realizing nesting can be like winning the prize ticket.

You may have children and have never heard of nesting. This is because it is a process that takes place inside the woman's body, but without much hype. Below we clarify the main questions about the nesting phenomenon:

What is nesting?

Nesting is the moment when the embryo is implanted in a woman's uterus after the egg is fertilized by the sperm. According to gynecologist and obstetrician Marcos Medeiros de Sousa, it is when the zygote (product of fertilization) reaches the uterine cavity and fixes on the endometrium. Whether in single or multiple pregnancy, there is no difference in nesting.


What are the symptoms of nesting?

Sousa explains that nesting usually has no noticeable symptoms. In fact, the most common is to have no symptoms unless the woman is very aware of her body signals and knows her menstrual cycle well.

What may occur during nesting is mild pelvic discomfort, colic and minor bleeding. Nesting bleeding occurs because, by attaching itself to the endometrium, the embryo releases debris from the uterine wall.

For those trying to get pregnant, that speck of blood that appears on their panties may be the first sign that the long-awaited baby is on its way. It is very difficult, however, to make sure that it is nesting, as bleeding can have a number of causes, from minor injury to menstruation itself.


Furthermore, it is important to note that neither symptoms nor nesting necessarily indicate pregnancy. Only a blood test can detect whether the woman is pregnant or not.

When does nesting occur?

Nesting usually occurs 7 days after fertilization. However, this period can vary widely, as it depends on when ovulation occurs, which is about halfway through the cycle, but in many cases happens before or well after? the so-called late ovulation. Therefore, nesting may occur within 7 to 15 days after the fertile period.

What is the difference between nesting bleeding and menstruation?

Nesting bleeding differs from menstruation bleeding in quantity, duration and coloration. Nesting bleeding is usually pink or brownish, more or less like coffee grounds.


"Bleeding, when it occurs, is different from menstrual flow because it is scarcer, lasts no longer than 3 days and has darker coloration," explains the obstetrician.

Also, in some cases, it differs from menstruation by the period in which it occurs. If ovulation occurs midway through the cycle and the egg is fertilized, nesting may occur one week later, ie around the third week of the cycle, while menstruation occurs at the beginning of the next cycle.

It is very common for women to find that it is menstruation that came a little earlier, when in fact it was nesting bleeding. Surely you know a woman who discovered her pregnancy late because she thought she had her period the month she got pregnant. This is more common in women who have very small bleeding due to contraceptive use or an unusual cycle.

So how do you know? The big difference is that menstruation bleeding evolves and increases, while nesting bleeding stops. When in doubt, taking the pregnancy test is the best option!

Does nesting bleeding happen to all women?

Nesting occurs in all women when fertilization is successful. But nesting bleeding is not the norm, meaning it may or may not happen. In fact, in most cases no bleeding occurs or it goes unnoticed by the woman.

What can harm nesting?

Some factors can impair nesting, all hormonal or anatomical.

Sousa points out that nesting occurs whenever fertilization occurs, but sometimes due to anatomical changes in the uterus, decreased ciliary tubal movements and endometriosis, can nesting not occur and abortion or ectopic pregnancy occur? when the embryo attaches to the fallopian tubes.

In any case, it is important to always have your gynecologist and obstetrician in case of any event or doubt, keeping track of what happens to your body.

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