Pregnancy Discharge: Types and What They Mean

Vaginal discharge—It’s totally normal and something that most women are familiar with. So, is it something you still have to deal with during pregnancy? In early pregnancy, your body may have increased vaginal discharge, and before labour begins you may notice a blood-tinged mucus discharge. Read on to learn more about what pregnancy discharge is, how to know if your discharge is normal, and the different types of discharge you might notice during pregnancy.

What Is Vaginal Discharge?

Vaginal discharge is a natural and normal occurrence for many women, serving the function of keeping the vagina clean, moist, and protected from infection. It typically consists of fluid and cells that are shed throughout the day. Typical discharge plays a vital role in maintaining vaginal health, and this discharge is often clear or whitish in colour.

What Is Leukorrhea?

Leukorrhea is simply the medical term for all vaginal discharge, not just the discharge that occurs during pregnancy. It’s usually a clear or whitish mucus-like substance, and it starts to appear at puberty. The colour, consistency, and amount of leukorrhea can vary depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. Remember, during pregnancy, you might be seeing more of it than usual, but this is normal.

Is It Normal to Have Vaginal Discharge While Pregnant?

Are you wondering “Do you get discharge when pregnant?” Yes, it’s completely normal to experience vaginal discharge during pregnancy. This is a common symptom experienced by pregnant women. As always, if there are any concerns about changes in vaginal discharge during pregnancy, consult with your healthcare provider.

What Does Normal Pregnancy Discharge Look Like?

What does normal early pregnancy discharge look and smell like? And does early pregnancy discharge look like egg white? Normal discharge during pregnancy is clear, milky white, or slightly off-white and usually a bit sticky; it should not have a noticeable odour. It’s OK if your discharge looks a little yellow on your underwear or panty liner during pregnancy, too. It’s common for pregnant people to ask, “Why do I have so much discharge while pregnant?” When you're pregnant, as your estrogen and progesterone hormone levels rise and blood flow to the vagina increases, you might find that you’re producing more discharge than before, especially during the second trimester. This actually helps to protect your growing baby from infection, as it’s your body’s natural way of keeping the vagina clean and flushing out dead cells. Once your pregnancy is full term (at 39 weeks of pregnancy), seeing a mucus-like discharge is also normal. This is the mucus plug, which is described below in more detail.

What Causes Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy?

As mentioned above, vaginal discharge during pregnancy is the body’s response to increased hormone levels and blood flow to the vagina. This causes an increase in discharge which serves the essential role of protecting the birth canal and your baby from infection.

Is Vaginal Discharge a Sign of Pregnancy?

Vaginal discharge is generally not a sign that you're pregnant, but in the early days of pregnancy, you might notice some light spotting called implantation bleeding. This can happen when the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining. This discharge is usually pink, a bit lighter in colour than normal menstrual blood and is commonly one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy.

Does Vaginal Discharge Change When You’re Pregnant?

It’s entirely normal to observe an increase in vaginal discharge during early pregnancy and throughout pregnancy, due to increased hormone levels. As the body prepares for childbirth, the volume of pregnancy discharge may further increase, often with slight variations in colour and consistency. It’s important to stay informed about these natural bodily changes and consult your healthcare provider if you notice anything unusual. You can find out more about abnormal vaginal discharge below.

What Is Considered Abnormal Pregnancy Discharge?

Unfortunately, you’re also more prone to vaginal infections when you’re pregnant. This is because pregnancy hormones change the balance of yeast and bacteria in the vagina, leaving you more vulnerable to yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. Any changes in the colour, odour, or consistency of vaginal discharge might indicate an infection, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on it throughout your pregnancy. Bacterial vaginosis can lead to changes in the discharge during pregnancy, usually giving it a strong, fishy odour and a grey, yellow, or green colour. A yeast infection can cause thick, white, or chunky-looking discharge. If you notice any of these changes, or anything else that you think is off, let your healthcare provider know as treatment may be required. If left untreated, vaginal infections can spread to the uterus and endanger your baby.

Pregnancy Discharge Colour Chart

What colour is pregnancy discharge? Whether your discharge during pregnancy is milky white, yellow, brown, green, or pink, check out our discharge colour chart below to discover what colours are generally normal during pregnancy and what colours may indicate something else like an infection.

How to Manage Pregnancy Discharge?

Dealing with normal pregnancy discharge involves understanding that increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy is generally a normal occurrence. Here are ways to manage and maintain comfort and hygiene during pregnancy:

1. Wear breathable underwear. Opt for loose-fitting, cotton underwear to allow air circulation and reduce moisture build-up.

2. Use panty liners. If the discharge is heavy and causing discomfort, consider using unscented panty liners to keep dry.

3. Maintain good hygiene. Clean the area with mild, unscented soap and water. Avoid douching or using scented products, as they can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and lead to infections.

4. Change underwear regularly. Change your underwear at least once a day or more often if it becomes damp. Keeping the area dry helps prevent irritation and infections.

5. Avoid tight clothing. Wear loose-fitting clothes to prevent moisture build-up and maintain a healthy environment around your vaginal area.

6. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps to flush toxins from your body, including the vaginal area, and supports overall health.

7. Monitor changes. Pay attention to any changes in the colour, smell, or amount of pregnancy discharge. While an increase in discharge is normal, significant changes could indicate an infection or other issues. If you have any symptoms like itching, discoloured discharge, or a strong odour during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider.

What’s the Difference Between Vaginal Discharge and a “Show”?

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes, and it’s common to have questions about what’s what. We’ve explained what pregnancy discharge is, but what is a “show” and how does it differ from discharge? A “show” refers specifically to a sign that labour is approaching and involves the passage of the mucus plug from the cervix. As the body prepares for labour, the cervix begins to dilate and efface (thin out), which can cause the mucus plug to dislodge. This pregnancy event is often referred to as the “bloody show” because the mucus plug discharge may be tinged with blood, giving it a pink, red, or brown colour. Here are some ways to distinguish between vaginal discharge and a “show” during pregnancy.

• Vaginal discharge is a normal bodily function that occurs regularly, including during pregnancy. A “show” is a specific event related to the onset of labour.

• Regular vaginal discharge during pregnancy is usually clear or milky white and does not contain blood. A “show” involves the passage of the mucus plug during late pregnancy and the discharge may be tinged with blood, making it pink, brown, or slightly bloody.

• An increase in normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy does not indicate the start of labour. In contrast, a “show” is a sign that the body is preparing for labour, although the exact timing of labour’s onset can still vary widely.

Understanding the difference between these two can help you interpret the changes in your body and have a better idea of when labour might be approaching.

When Do You Need to Contact Your Healthcare Provider?

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if your discharge changes colour or consistency or starts to smell bad. It’s also worth contacting your provider if you experience any itchiness or painful urination. If your discharge becomes watery or bloody during pregnancy, this could be your water breaking or your mucus plug being released; either of these may be a sign of preterm labour if it occurs before you’re full term at 39 weeks, so you’ll want to get checked out right away. Vaginal bleeding (other than occasional light spotting or bloody mucus) can be cause for concern at any point in your pregnancy and it's recommended to call your provider or visit the hospital.

How Can I Help Prevent a Vaginal Infection During Pregnancy?

To keep yourself clean down there, always wipe from front to back to avoid introducing any fecal bacteria into the vagina. Use a panty liner (not tampons) if you’re experiencing heavy discharge during pregnancy. Also take care to wash yourself in the tub or shower using water and a gentle soap. It’s also a good idea to choose underwear made from cotton or other natural, breathable fibres, and to steer clear of tight pants (sorry, yoga pants lovers!). If your discharge starts to smell unpleasant, you may be tempted to use products like douches to help mask the odour, but this is not advised. Instead, talk to your healthcare provider, who can recommend the best course of action.

Are There Any Other Types of Vaginal Discharge to Watch For?

Here are other types of discharge you may experience before, during, and even after your pregnancy:

• Ovulation discharge. It’s common to wonder about ovulation discharge vs pregnancy discharge or discharge before your menstrual period vs early pregnancy. Before you get your regular menstrual period (when you’re not pregnant), you’ll likely notice ovulation discharge which is typically clear, stretchy and resembles egg whites, indicating the fertile window of the menstrual cycle, while early pregnancy discharge is usually thinner, waterier, or milky white and continues throughout pregnancy. The amount of discharge you produce varies throughout your menstrual cycle. This amount will increase just before you ovulate (when you’re most fertile). After you ovulate, the amount of mucus discharged decreases and becomes thicker, but less noticeable. You might be more aware of these changes if you monitored your fertility before becoming pregnant.

• Mucus plug. Exactly as it sounds, the mucus plug is a thick accumulation of mucus that fills the cervix, blocking entry to the uterus. It develops during your pregnancy to help protect your growing baby from infection. Just before or as you go into labour, as your cervix dilates, the plug comes loose and is pushed out of the vagina. The mucus plug can look clear or slightly bloody and pinkish or brownish, and it will be thicker than normal discharge during pregnancy.

• Water breaking. A few hours before labour, the amniotic sac that contains your baby may break, and you could feel a watery discharge of amniotic fluid. It may not be as dramatic as it seems in the movies: Some women feel a small trickle, others leak a bit more, and some moms-to-be may not notice it at all.

• Lochia. After you’ve delivered your baby and the placenta, either vaginally, or by c-section, you’ll start to see a new type of discharge. Lochia is the name for the vaginal discharge consisting of mucus and blood that you’ll shed in the days after you give birth. It will start out red and thick, gradually fade to a pinkish shade, and then eventually become yellow or white. If you have a c-section, you might not have quite as much lochia as moms who have vaginal deliveries. You can expect this type of discharge to continue for about four to six weeks after you give birth.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}