What is Vaginal Discharge Like During Pregnancy?

Vaginal Discharge, or Leukorrhea in other words is a very common thing with women in general. It is a white or off-white, clear liquid that leaks out of your vagina. It is produced by your uterus, cervix and vagina. 

Vaginal Discharge helps keep the vagina clean and creates a barrier so that the bad bacteria do not enter your vagina.

It is usually of no concern until you find changes in the consistency, amount and color of the discharge, showing signs of infections or other issues.

It could also mean that you are pregnant. So, what does pregnancy discharge look like? Let’s find out.

What is Leukorrhea?

Leukorrhea, is a medical term for the vaginal discharge. It often occurs to women during pregnancy. The hormonal changes in a woman’s body increase the amount of discharge produced everyday. 

During pregnancy, the level of estrogen is very high, seemingly boosting the blood flow to your pelvic area and stimulating the mucous membranes. Vaginal discharge is said to be a self-cleaning system by keeping the vagina at normal pH level.

Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

A slight change in vaginal discharge shows the signs of pregnancy discharge.

It is normal to have an increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy. It keeps increasing with the stages of your pregnancy. During your first trimester, you will experience a very normal pregnancy discharge, just in increased amounts. 

With the second trimester, it gets thicker and more visible.Pregnancy discharge in the third trimester gets heavier, showing your body is ready for labor, as you are near your due date. 

Early Pregnancy Discharge: What to Expect?

A woman’s body can show signs of early pregnancy discharge with the hormonal changes in the body. 

Your body will undergo certain change and start producing high levels of estrogen causing the increase in creamy white early pregnancy discharge. It’s very normal and there’s no need to worry about it until it changes color or starts smelling different, remember, a healthy discharge has no color, except for white or smell.

If you experience these changes, it is advised to immediately consult your doctor.

Signs you need to worry about your pregnancy discharge

There are signs that show you your vaginal discharge is not normal. Things like change in color (green or yellow), a certain kind of smell with a pain in your vagina, are some of the signs and symptoms of vaginal yeast infections or other internal issues.

Other signs of pregnancy discharge to worry about are:

1. Thick white discharge
2. Colored discharge (pink or brown)
3. Watery discharge

Vaginal Health During Pregnancy

It is very important to maintain vaginal health, be it on usual days  or during pregnancy. A healthy vagina leads to good health.

1. Hygiene

Maintain proper hygiene by cleaning your vaginal area daily with lukewarm water or mild soaps. No use of harsh soaps and no internal cleaning, just the outer area.

2. Right Undergarments

Choosing the right underwear is very crucial during pregnancy. You must wear cotton underwears and avoid wearing tight and synthetic underwear.

3. Don’t go for Self-Medications

It is categorically advised to consult your doctor for everything during the pregnancy period. If you are facing any issue do not take medication without consulting your doctor.

How do Abortion Pills Affect Your Body?

Unwanted Pregnancy is a hurdle for many. Not just teenagers but married women and a mother of one can also experience unexpected pregnancy. 

Unwanted pregnancy leads to abortions. In 2023, there were around 77% of unwanted pregnancies and 22% of abortions. There are two procedures to end a pregnancy. 

One being the operation, going through a knife and removing the pregnancy from the uterus, and the other one is the medical abortion, where you just have to take a mifepristone and misoprostol abortion pill, the simple and quick procedure.

When you take these abortion pills, your body will suffer from bleeding and cramps. You will also experience white discharge after taking abortion pills, which is again, completely normal.

Take some rest after using abortion pills, as it makes your body tired and weak, so complete rest for a day is recommended. However, for which method to use for abortion you should talk with your doctor and only then take a step forward. 

Pregnancy Discharge at the End

When your due date is near, the amount of discharge your body produces increases even more. At the end of pregnancy discharge you may feel your discharge being sticky and pink in color with a jelly like texture. 

It’s called “Show”, when all the mucus collected during your pregnancy finally comes out. 

FAQs

Q.1) What color is pregnancy discharge?

Ans: It is normal to have increased discharge while you are pregnant. A white, clear, and thin or milky discharge is considered to be healthy during pregnancy, while if the color is changed and it smells different, it’s time to visit you doctor.

Q.2) Is pregnancy discharge thick?

Ans: Pregnancy discharge is usually the same during the first and second trimester during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. It becomes thicker as you near the third trimester.

Q.3) How does pregnancy discharge look like?

Ans: It looks similar to the regular discharge, there are no major changes until the very end of pregnancy.