Spotting or period as first day of cycle??

ca

Hi there! Just wondering... if I had consistent ‘spotting’ two days before my period that continued until my flow got heavier. Would I count the first day as my period when my spotting started (as it didn’t stop in between it just got heavier over the two days) or do I count the first day as when I got a heavier bleed.

Sorry for tmi, but the spotting was enough to need a liner changed a few of times a day.