We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Show
Typical vaginal discharge is thin, clear, or milky white, as well as mild smelling. It will fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, the discharge will increase and may vary in consistency, thickness, frequency, and amount. Pregnancy can be as confusing as it is elating, and it’s not always easy to tell which changes are typical and which are cause for concern. One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is an increase in vaginal discharge, and this continues throughout pregnancy. When a woman becomes pregnant, her vagina largely takes on a personality of its own, says Dr. Sheryl Ross, an OB-GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Typical vaginal discharge, known as leukorrhea, will begin to change as early as one to two weeks after conception, even before you’ve missed your period. As your pregnancy progresses, this discharge usually becomes more noticeable, and it’s heaviest at the end of your pregnancy. You may want to wear an unscented panty liner. Avoid tampons in pregnancy. In the last weeks of pregnancy, you may also notice that your discharge contains streaks of thick mucus with streaks of blood, called “show.” This is an early sign of labor and should not be cause for alarm. Vaginal discharge ebbs and flows throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle due to a fluctuation in hormone levels. Once you become pregnant, hormones continue to play a role in the changes to your vaginal discharge. Changes to the cervix during pregnancy also affect vaginal discharge. As the cervix and vaginal wall soften, the body produces excess discharge to help prevent infections. Your baby’s head may also press against the cervix as you near the end of your pregnancy, which often leads to increased vaginal discharge. It’s important to let your healthcare provider know about any abnormal discharge, as it could be a sign of an infection or a problem with your pregnancy. Here are some signs of abnormal discharge:
Abnormal discharge may be a sign of infection. Yeast infections are common during pregnancy. If you develop a yeast infection during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend a vaginal cream or suppository. To avoid a yeast infection:
Abnormal discharge can also be caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend screening all pregnant women for STDs. Your healthcare provider may screen you for STDs at your first prenatal appointment. If you believe you have an STD, it’s important to let your doctor know as soon as possible to help reduce the risk of passing the STD to your baby. Abnormal discharge may also signal a complication in your pregnancy. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have bright red discharge that exceeds an ounce. This could be a sign of placenta previa or placental abruption. When in doubt, it’s always better to play it safe and call your doctor. Note when the changes to your vaginal discharge began and any defining characteristics. This will help your doctor determine if your discharge is cause for concern. Here’s the lowdown on pregnancy discharge: Why it happens, what it looks like, how to deal with it and when to get it checked by a doctor. Pregnancy can be a “juicy” time—and we’re not talking about “is she or isn’t she?” gossip. Some women might notice extra saliva, a runny nose and, yes, more vaginal discharge. “It’s just a normal thing that happens during pregnancy,” says Kerry Harris, a midwife based in Vancouver. This milky-white pregnancy discharge is called leukorrhea and it is usually nothing to worry about. In fact, an increase in discharge is sometimes a clue that you’re pregnant! From there, it tends to increase more toward the end of the third trimester. What is leukorrhea and what causes it?Leukorrhea is the medical term for vaginal discharge. During pregnancy, many women find leukorrhea, or discharge, increases. You can thank your hormones: Your body’s increased levels of estrogen during pregnancy boosts blood flow to your pelvic area and stimulates your mucous membranes. The discharge does have a purpose, though. Harris says that it makes the vagina a “self-cleaning system,” helping to prevent infections by flushing away bacteria, keeping the vagina at a normal pH level and getting rid of dead cells. Is discharge a sign of pregnancy?After implantation, your body immediately begins to produce pregnancy discharge. However, because discharge fluctuates throughout the course of your cycle, you may not notice these subtle changes. On the other hand, if you’re monitoring your cycle closely and you notice an increase in discharge, it very well may be a sign that you’re pregnant! What does normal pregnancy discharge look like?Normal vaginal discharge in pregnancy is thin, milky white and mild-smelling or odourless. “Everyone’s got their normal, and that can increase in pregnancy,” says Harris. “If it changes from normal, that’s a good thing to talk about with your healthcare provider.” When should I worry about discharge during pregnancy?Yellow or green dischargeAny discharge that greenish or yellowish, causes vaginal itchiness or pain, smells bad or has a strong odour should be checked by your healthcare provider because it could signal an infection. This can be easily treated once a diagnosis is confirmed by your doctor or midwife. Thick white clumpy dischargeThick, cheesy-looking discharge is also a sign of infection. Make sure you get checked out by your health care provider. Pink or brown dischargePinkish or brownish discharge is probably the result of mild bleeding from your cervix being bumped during sex or a vaginal exam. As long as it’s not heavy bleeding, all is probably well, but you can ask your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. Watery dischargeIf you have very watery discharge, contact your healthcare provider because it could mean that you are leaking amniotic fluid and need to be monitored. How to tell if it’s discharge or the mucus plug?When you’re pregnant, a thick plug of mucus blocks the cervix to stop bacteria from getting into the uterus. Toward the end of the third trimester, this plug may (or may not) move down into your vagina, resulting in more discharge that could be clear or tinged pink or brown if there’s blood in it—sometimes called a “bloody show.” “All it means is that the cervix is starting to ripen and change and that the mucus that previously filled the cervix now has enough space to fall out,” says Harris. The mucus plug is thicker or more jelly-like than normal pregnancy discharge, which is thin and milky-white. How do I deal with discharge during pregnancy?For most women, pregnancy discharge isn’t cause for concern and is just one of those oh-so-fun side effects of pregnancy. “I used panty liners through pretty much my whole pregnancy,” says Destinee Heikkenen, a mom of a four-month-old baby from Thunder Bay, Ontario. “I was a little surprised because I hadn’t noticed the discharge much with my other three kids, but my midwife assured me that everything was fine.” Don’t use tampons, douches or vaginal washes or wipes because you don’t want to interfere with the natural balance of bacteria and pH levels in your vagina. If you want to go commando at home to help stay clean and dry, well, that’s a pregnant lady’s prerogative. Is it normal to have tissue discharge during pregnancy?Passing Tissue from the Vagina
Some vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancy and should not be a cause for alarm. It may be caused by a cyst, an infection, or some other condition entirely unrelated to the pregnancy.
Why does my discharge look yellow on toilet paper while pregnant?Yellow vaginal discharge could be a sign of an infection. If you're pregnant and have yellow vaginal discharge, make an appointment to see your doctor. Your healthcare provider will likely collect a sample of your urine or swab the discharge from your cervix for laboratory testing.
What does pregnancy leukorrhea look like?What does it look like? Healthy vaginal discharge during pregnancy is called leukorrhea. It is similar to everyday discharge, meaning that it is thin, clear or milky white, and smells only mildly or not at all.
What does endometrial tissue discharge look like?Spotting that occurs outside of menstruation because of endometriosis can appear as pink or brown tinted discharge. Endometrial tissue that grows outside your uterus and bleeds into your discharge can make your discharge appear in these colors: pink. brown.
|
Discharge looks like pieces of toilet paper pregnant
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 pauex Inc.
