If a pregnant woman experiences intermittent drops [of blood], should she complete her prayer, or are these drops considered an excuse that permits her to stop praying and then make up for it?

The discharge of blood from a pregnant woman can be categorized into three situations:

1. Postnatal bleeding (nifas): If it occurs at the time of labor or two or three days before childbirth, as it is a result of the delivery.

2. Menstrual blood (hayd): If it has the characteristics of menstrual blood and occurs at its usual time. In this case, the woman must refrain from prayer and fasting. This is the view of some scholars, such as Ibn Ibrahim and Ibn Uthaymeen, though its occurrence is rare.

3. Irregular bleeding (istihadah): If the blood is red and is neither menstrual nor postnatal blood, it does not prevent the woman from praying or fasting, and she is considered ritually pure. This applies to the spotting mentioned in the question.