Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy: What’s Normal and What’s not?

During pregnancy, your body goes through numerous changes to support your baby’s development. However, you may not always be able to tell which of these changes are normal and which could be a cause of concern. One such change is vaginal discharge. 

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy could vary in consistency, frequency, and amount. You may notice a lot of discharge during early pregnancy, or little to none. Both are totally normal. To learn more about this early pregnancy symptom that could persist throughout your pregnancy, check out the information provided below.

What is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge, or leukorrhea as it is medically known, is the discharge that you may experience between periods. The normal vaginal discharge could be:

• Thin or watery

• Clear or milky-white

• Mild-smelling or odorless

This vaginal discharge increases in amount when you get pregnant. 

One of the early signs of pregnancy, you could notice this increase in vaginal discharge within 1-2 weeks of conception, even before you miss a period. As your pregnancy advances, this vaginal discharge increases in amount and generally becomes more prominent. It becomes the heaviest as you near the end of your pregnancy. While increased vaginal discharge could be a sign of vaginal infection, it usually is harmless and completely normal.

Is vaginal discharge during pregnancy normal?

It is normal to experience vaginal discharge during the course of your menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Vaginal discharge varies across your menstrual cycle, increasing and decreasing based on your changing hormone levels. Once pregnant, you most likely will experience increased vaginal discharge due to:

• Softening of your cervix and vaginal walls creates an increased vaginal discharge 

• Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which trigger a heavier flow of vaginal secretions

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy helps keep you and your baby healthy and safe in a number of ways:

• It removes dead cells from the vagina, keeping it clean.

• It helps prevent any infections that could travel up from the vagina to the womb, protecting the birth canal.

• It maintains a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina.

It is also completely normal to have no discharge during pregnancy. While increased discharge is a normal part of pregnancy, it is important to keep a track of it and consult your doctor if you notice any changes.

How does vaginal discharge change during pregnancy?

Increased vaginal discharge is one of the early signs of pregnancy. The amount increases as your pregnancy progresses, becoming the heaviest towards the end of your pregnancy. While some changes in the color, consistency, and amount of vaginal discharge during pregnancy are considered normal, there are others that could be a source of worry. 

Let’s see what the various types of vaginal discharge experienced during pregnancy actually indicate. 

Vaginal discharge that’s sometimes normal and sometimes not

White and watery discharge during pregnancy

Thin or watery, white vaginal discharge, or leukorrhea, is considered normal throughout the course of a pregnancy, especially if:

• It smells mild.

• There is no sudden change in its amount or consistency.

However, it could be a sign of an infection if it turns lumpy or thick and occurs with other symptoms like itching.

As your pregnancy progresses, this watery discharge usually gets heavier and is the heaviest as you near the end of your third trimester. It could indicate that, as your due date approaches, your body is preparing to give birth.

To learn how to manage this normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy, check out the tips given below.

Brown discharge during pregnancy

Brown vaginal discharge usually occurs due to old blood exiting the body. During early pregnancy, it could be due to implantation bleeding. 

This early pregnancy symptom is usually harmless. However, if you are experiencing dark brown discharge during pregnancy, contact your doctor at the earliest, especially if the discharge is watery.

Pink discharge during pregnancy

Pink vaginal discharge during pregnancy could be normal or abnormal. It usually occurs: 

• During early pregnancy, due to implantation bleeding

• In the final weeks of pregnancy, as the body prepares to give birth 

Mild spotting is usually considered normal. It could also occur after having sex or a pelvic exam.

However, the pink vaginal discharge could also happen due to an infection, before a miscarriage, or during an ectopic pregnancy.

So, talk to your doctor to eliminate any cause for concern, especially if: 

• Your pink vaginal discharge is watery 

• Your due date is more than a few weeks away

Red discharge during pregnancy

During early pregnancy, the red vaginal discharge could be due to:

• Implantation, which is normal 

• An infection, for which you need to see a Doctor

Later in pregnancy, heavy red vaginal discharge or bleeding could be a symptom of a serious issue, such as:

• Miscarriage 

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Preterm labor

All of these require immediate medical attention. 

Consult your doctor right away if you’re experiencing red vaginal discharge that:

• Is heavy

• Contains clots

• Occurs along with cramping and abdominal pain

Vaginal discharge that’s usually not normal

White and lumpy discharge during pregnancy

The vaginal discharge could indicate a yeast infection if it is: 

• Lumpy

• White or off-white

• Like cottage cheese inconsistency

Your body is especially vulnerable to yeast infections during pregnancy. Other symptoms that indicate a yeast infection are: 

• Itching

• Burning

• Pain during urination or intercourse

If your vaginal discharge during pregnancy is white and lumpy, consult your doctor at the earliest.

Yellow discharge during pregnancy

The yellow vaginal discharge could indicate an infection, especially if it is: 

• Watery 

• Frothy inconsistency

• Unpleasant-smelling

Some common causes of yellow discharge are bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

Sometimes, what you may consider as yellow discharge turns out to be urine, which is normal. However, if you think you’re experiencing yellow discharge during pregnancy, consult your doctor right away.

Green discharge during pregnancy

Green vaginal discharge usually indicates an infection, particularly if it is: 

• Watery 

• Frothy inconsistency

• Unpleasant-smelling

Some common causes of vaginal discharge turning green are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

If you experience green discharge during pregnancy, visit your doctor immediately.

Gray discharge during pregnancy

If the vaginal discharge is gray, it may be a sign of bacterial vaginosis, especially if it is: 

• Watery

• Fishy-smelling, which grows stronger after sex

One of the most common vaginal infections during childbearing years, bacterial vaginosis occurs when there is a bacterial imbalance in the vagina. Douching and multiple sexual partners can precipitate this condition.

Consult your doctor immediately if you notice gray vaginal discharge during your pregnancy.

Bloody mucus discharge during pregnancy

You may experience increased vaginal discharge during your third trimester. As you near your due date, particularly in the last week of your pregnancy, your vaginal mucus could become: 

• Thick

• Clear, pinkish, or brownish 

• Slightly tinged with blood

This is your mucus plug coming away, which is referred to as a “show”. 

The mucus plug contains the gelatinous secretions that fill the cervical canal during early pregnancy. It forms a protective barrier for most of the pregnancy. The mucus plug getting released indicates that your cervix has started to dilate and your body is readying for birth. You may experience a few small “shows” in the days leading up to labor.

While not everyone loses their mucus plug if you do notice an increased vaginal discharge that could be confused for urine, consult your doctor right away.

How to determine if it’s a vaginal discharge or amniotic fluid?

Normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy is thin or watery, clear or milky-white, and mild-smelling or odorless. It gets released sporadically, in small quantities. 

On the other hand, amniotic fluid is clear or slightly yellowish, watery, and odorless or slightly sweet-smelling. It comes out continuously, either as a trickle or in one big gush, which continues till the baby is born.

If you think that you could be leaking amniotic fluid, see your doctor immediately. It's important to determine if you’re going into labor. If you're pregnant for less than 34 weeks, and you suspect your water has broken, consult your doctor right away. You may need medications to: 

• Delay labor

• Speed up your baby’s lungs’ development 

• Protect your baby against infection

Tips to manage vaginal discharge during pregnancy

Here are some home remedies to help you manage vaginal discharge during pregnancy:

• Take regular baths and dry your genitals after showering. You should also dry yourself after swimming and exercising.

• Wear loose, breathable clothing and cotton panties. This keeps the bacteria in your vagina in balance and prevents vaginal infections.

• Use unscented pads or pantyliners to absorb pregnancy discharge and feel more comfortable. While these are safe to use, frequent use could cause irritation in your genital area.

• Don’t use tampons to control pregnancy discharge. This could expose your vagina to germs and increase the risk of infection. 

• Don’t douche as it affects the normal balance of good bacteria in your vagina. In rare cases, it can cause serious complications by introducing air into the circulatory system through the vagina.

• Eat yogurt and other fermented foods to promote the growth of healthy bacteria.

• Avoid self-diagnosis. Always consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

If a change in your vaginal discharge has you worried, consult your doctor right away.

When to See a Doctor

If a change in your pregnancy discharge has you worried, it is better to consult your Doctor. 

Visit your doctor if your vaginal discharge:

• Turns yellow, green, or gray in color

• Smells foul

• Burns or itches

• Causes vulvar swelling

• Grows very thick or watery

These signs of abnormal vaginal discharge may indicate an infection, such as a bacteria infection, a yeast infection, or a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It could also indicate a problem in the pregnancy.

Keep a track of any changes in your vaginal discharge during pregnancy to help your doctor rule out any cause of concern.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pregnancy or your baby’s growth, ask our Doctors for advice.