More commonly called leukorrhea, this discharge in the first few months of pregnancy is the form of secretions from the cervical tract and vagina, which is normal. Leukorrhea is a thick, slick, smooth, white, usually tasteless, expanding, spit-like fluid released from your cervix that occurs early in pregnancy. The white ooze that you see prior to a period is leukorrhea, it is loaded with fluids and cells that are released from the vagina, sometimes appearing yellowish.
Pinkish or brownish discharge is likely a result of minor bleeding from a cervix that was bumped while having sex or being examined in your vagina. As long as it is not severe bleeding, it is probably fine, but you may want to talk to your health care provider if you are concerned. Any discharge that is greenish or yellowish, causes itchiness or pain in the vagina, smells foul, or has a strong smell should be checked by your healthcare provider, as this may signal infection. If you have a very watery discharge, talk to your healthcare provider because this may mean that you are losing amniotic fluid and should be monitored.
See a healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned discharges during your pregnancy and afterward (for example, discharges that suddenly get very thin or very thick while later in your pregnancy may be a sign of premature labor). You may be surprised at how much your discharge may get thicker in the time period between the beginning and end of your pregnancy. Because your discharge varies over the cycle, you may not notice these subtle changes.
Your discharge typically fluctuates to reflect your estrogen levels depending on where you are at in your menstrual cycle. Now, it is important to note that discharge typically changes color and consistency over the course of a menstrual cycle, because your hormone levels fluctuate. The appearance of your vaginal discharge can vary at different points throughout your pregnancy, and a change in color or consistency may mean that something else is going on, like irritation or infections.
However, you can expect to have vaginal discharge during the entire course of pregnancy if you are pregnant. If your vaginal discharge increases in volume and is thinner, milky, and muffled, this may be a sign that you are in early pregnancy. Healthy vaginal discharge in pregnancy is similar to daily vaginal discharge, meaning that it is thin, clear, or milky-white, and only slightly odorous, or none.
The clear, white-ish appearance may take some women by surprise, but rest assured, this is completely normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy. This initial discharge of pregnancy helps to keep the birth canal free from infections and helps to keep the bacterial levels healthy. A thick lining of mucilage is thicker, or has more of a gel-like texture, compared to regular pregnancy drainage, which is thinner and white in color.
Later, this discharge will form a plug of mucus that acts as a barrier between your vagina and your uterus, protecting your growing fetus from infections throughout your pregnancy. Once sperm and eggs have met, the amount of discharge may increase as the vagina attempts to rid itself of bacteria which may be harmful to the new pregnancy. Pregnancy causes higher levels of estrogen, which causes your body to make more discharge and increases the flow of blood into the uterus and vagina.
Along with this hormone rise, an increase in blood volume starting early in pregnancy can also boost the amount of discharge that your body produces. After becoming pregnant, you might notice a boost in the normal discharges you have — called leukorrhea — thanks to the extra estrogen in your system and increased blood flow. During pregnancy, your term production increases because of increased estrogen and blood flow in your vaginal area. During your first trimester of pregnancy, the vaginal discharge increases, an attempt to get rid of dead cells and bacteria in your uterus and vagina, which helps to prevent infections.
Because pregnancy-related vaginal discharge is caused by thickening of vaginal cells starting at the time of conception, seeing an increase may be a sign that you are pregnant. Even right after conception, your pregnancy-related discharge will probably have changed consistency, color, and smell because of hormonal fluctuations. Days after your ovulation, during the later part of your cycle, there are even more hormonal changes that can alter your cervical mucus consistency as you prepare to get pregnant. Immediately following ovulation, estrogen levels decrease, and you may experience reduced flow, or even a few days with complete drying.
However, if your white discharge is lumpy and in between itching or burning, you are going to get a yeast infection. If the white discharge starts smelling or looking different from what you are used to, this may mean that you have one of the following underlying conditions, which require treatment. In the last case, the excess discharge may have a white, splotchy, thick, or thinning look, and may have an irregular consistency. As long as spotting or bleeding from spotting does not progress into bleeding, this is generally only a sign you need to take a break from exercising.
Arousal fluid is generally clear, but can blend in with regular vaginal discharge, looking white. Vaginal discharge is normal, and can tell a person a lot about their body, including if they have an infection, where they are at in their menstrual cycle, and even how well hydrated they are.
Regardless of any pregnancy concerns, if a person notices changes in vaginal discharge, they should talk to their healthcare provider, who can help diagnose the problem and provide any needed treatments. Knowing what to expect is important, so we talked with experts to get the lowdown on what is normal vaginal discharge in pregnancy, what the color of your vaginal discharge may mean (and believe us, there is a rainbow of possible discharge colors), and when to call a doctor. We have also discussed other symptoms in early pregnancy, other factors that may influence discharge, and when you should visit the doctor.
Any unusual changes in appearance or nature of the discharge should be brought to your midwifes or doctors attention. However, you should be vigilant for any changes in the discharge such as spots, yellowing, foaming discharge.