Pregnancy discharge is vaginal discharge—a fluid-like substance that comes from the vagina called leucorrhoea—that happens during pregnancy. Every adult with a female reproductive system has vaginal discharge, but many people notice an increase in discharge during pregnancy. In fact, an increase in vaginal discharge may be one of the first signs you are pregnant.
Although pregnancy discharge is normal and typically nothing to worry about, it might mean that you have an infection when it’s associated with a bad smell, itching, or pain. If left untreated, infections can lead to pregnancy complications. Talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice changes to your vaginal discharge to ensure you get a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Normal discharge during pregnancy resembles discharge you might have throughout your adult life. Similar to vaginal discharge when you aren’t pregnant, this discharge changes throughout the day.
Pregnancy discharge will also change throughout your pregnancy. You’ll typically notice more discharge during pregnancy than before pregnancy, but this can vary from one person to another.
Normal pregnancy discharge may:
- Look thin or thicker at times
- Be clear, white, or light yellow
- Have a milky look and texture
- Have a mild or musky odor
Pregnancy discharge may sometimes be mixed with blood, appearing as a light pink discharge. Older blood may cause brown discharge. Light spotting during early pregnancy is common and is usually nothing to be concerned about. However, contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience period-like bleeding or heavy bleeding.
In addition to vaginal discharge during pregnancy, you may notice your vulva is more swollen than usual and that the color of your vulva and vaginal area darkens in pregnancy. These changes are typical due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.
What Pregnancy Discharge Shouldn’t Look Like
It’s important to understand the difference between normal discharge during pregnancy and discharge that may indicate an infection. Abnormal discharge during pregnancy may:
- Look gray, yellow, or green
- Have a bad or fishy smell
- Look chunky, like cottage cheese
- Be accompanied by itching, burning, pain, or pain while urinating
Discharge is a normal part of pregnancy as long as it isn’t accompanied by other symptoms, like burning, itching, pain, foul smell, or unusual coloration (gray, green, yellow). There are many reasons why you might have normal or abnormal discharge during pregnancy.
Cause of Normal Pregnancy Discharge
All vaginas produce discharge. When you aren’t pregnant, you may notice your discharge changes throughout your menstrual cycle—changing in amount and consistency due to changing hormones.
Pregnancy is no different: During pregnancy, your discharge typically increases, which may be caused by a spike in the levels of the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. This spike also increases blood flow to your vagina and vulva, darkening the color and causing mild swelling.
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy—along with the weight and pressure of your fetus and uterus—also make you more vulnerable to developing varicose veins in your vagina and vulva. Varicose veins are twisted veins that are visible from under the skin.
You may also experience hemorrhoids (swollen, inflamed veins) in your anus from hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Causes of Abnormal Discharge
Bacterial or yeast infections are typically the cause of abnormal discharge during pregnancy. The discharge is yellow, green, or grayish and may have a different consistency. It’s also usually accompanied by other symptoms, like burning, itching, and pain.
In the same way that pregnancy hormones can cause you to have more vaginal discharge, these same hormones can change the bacterial and yeast balance in your vagina, making you more vulnerable to infection.
Some of the common infections that people develop during pregnancy include:
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV): An overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina
- Trichomoniasis (trich): A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that a parasite can cause
- Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection): A fungal infection that can develop from an overgrowth of yeast
Experiencing discharge during pregnancy is usually perfectly normal. It’s also normal to have more discharge while pregnant. Normal discharge doesn’t require a visit to your healthcare provider. However, if you have questions and concerns about your discharge or other changes to your body during pregnancy, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to your provider.
If you are showing any signs of a vaginal infection—burning, itching, discharge that smells foul, unusually colored discharge—you should speak to your provider immediately. The earlier you are diagnosed and treated for a vaginal infection during pregnancy, the less likely the infection will impact your pregnancy or your baby.
You should also contact your provider if you notice blood mixed into your discharge. Although light spotting can be normal in early pregnancy, it’s good to check in with your provider to be sure. Heavy bleeding in pregnancy requires immediate medical attention because it can be a sign of a more serious condition like a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
Normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy doesn’t require treatment. If you’re experiencing more discharge than usual, wearing a panty liner can help manage it if it becomes bothersome.
Abnormal discharge, however, typically does require treatment. Your healthcare provider will likely need to test your vaginal discharge to determine the infection causing the abnormal discharge. This usually involves taking a swab of your vagina and sending the sample to a lab for tests.
The type of treatment depends on the particular pathogen causing the infection. Bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and other bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics; your provider will choose a pregnancy-safe antibiotic. Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infections) are typically treated with antifungal medications.
Discharge during pregnancy is typically normal and doesn’t need prevention. You can take steps to prevent vaginal infections during pregnancy that could lead to abnormal discharge by doing the following:
- Keep your vagina and vulva dry
- Wear breathable cotton underwear
- Wash your vagina with plain water or simple soap
- Use condoms to prevent STIs
- Avoid douching
- Introduce probiotics into your diet or take probiotic supplements
- See your healthcare provider if you notice signs of infections
Normal pregnancy discharge doesn’t cause complications, but infections that cause abnormal discharge might. It’s important to seek treatment right away if you have signs of a vaginal infection. The earlier you get treatment, the less likely you are to experience complications.
Each vaginal infection comes with its own pregnancy risks. For example:
- Bacterial vaginosis may cause preterm labor, premature rupture of your membranes (water breaking), and postpartum endometritis (infection of the uterus).
- Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) may cause miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature birth.
- Trichomoniasis may cause preterm birth, low birth weight, and premature rupture of membranes.
It’s common to have vaginal discharge during pregnancy and for your typical amount of discharge to increase during that time. Pregnancy discharge is usually nothing to worry about and is caused by changing hormones.
People sometimes experience abnormal discharge during pregnancy, like discharge that smells unpleasant, is gray or green, and is accompanied by itching, burning, and pain.
If you’re having abnormal pregnancy discharge, it’s important to visit your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
