Is it normal to have lots of discharge while pregnant

One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is an increase in vaginal discharge, and this continues throughout pregnancy. When a woman becomes pregnant, her vagina largely takes on a personality of its own, says Dr. Normal vaginal discharge , known as leukorrhea, is thin, clear, or milky white, and mild smelling. You may want to wear an unscented panty liner.

Avoid tampons in pregnancy. Once you become pregnant, hormones continue to play a role in the changes to your vaginal discharge. Changes to the cervix during pregnancy also affect vaginal discharge.

As the cervix and vaginal wall soften, the body produces excess discharge to help prevent infections. Here are some signs of abnormal discharge:. Management of normal labor and delivery. Karisa Ding is a freelance health writer and editor with expertise in preconception, pregnancy, and parenting content. A mother of two, Ding finds great joy in supporting new and expectant parents by providing information they need for the life-changing journey ahead.

Ding lives in San Francisco with her family. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: Jianing Pan for BabyCenter. What does creamy white discharge mean during pregnancy? When is vaginal discharge in pregnancy a warning sign of a problem? Can changes in my discharge be an early sign of pregnancy? How can I tell if this is vaginal discharge or my mucus plug? How can I tell if this is vaginal discharge or amniotic fluid?

What can I do about vaginal discharge during pregnancy? Healthy vaginal discharge is usually: Clear to milky white. Thin to thick or mucus-like. Mild-smelling or odorless. Also, call your doctor or midwife right away if: You're not yet 37 weeks along and notice an increase in the amount of discharge or a change in the type of discharge.

For example, if you're continuously leaking clear and watery fluid, these can be signs that your water has broken or you're in preterm labor. Your vulva looks inflamed, or you have an odorless, whitish discharge that's causing pain with urination or intercourse, soreness, itching, or burning. This means you could have a yeast infection.

You have thin white or gray discharge with a strong fishy smell which may be more noticeable after sex when the discharge mixes with semen. This might be a condition called bacterial vaginosis. Your discharge is yellow or green and frothy with an unpleasant odor. Use water or aqueous cream to wash your genitals - if you are using aqueous cream be careful not to slip, as it can make your bath or shower slippy.

Wipe from front to back after going to the toilet. Have showers rather than baths. Pat your genitals dry after showering, bathing or swimming. Wear underwear from breathable fabrics like cotton.

Know when to get medical help. When to get medical help Go to see your GP, midwife or obstetrician if you have any of the following: Bleeding from your vagina Get medical advice immediately.

In later pregnancy, this could be a sign of a problem with your placenta Unpleasant or unusual smell from vaginal discharge Get medical advice - within the next day.

Colour of discharge changes to green or brown Get medical advice - within the next day. Itching around vagina or feeling uncomfortable Mention this at your next appointment or sooner if you can't wait that long. Pain on passing urine or blood in the urine Get medical advice as soon as possible. This could be a sign of a urine infection.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Thrush or Candidiasis is a common vaginal infection, caused by an overgrowth of yeasts and is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection. Read more on SA Health website. For women who have a regular menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Read about some of the other early pregnancy signs and symptoms.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus womb. Read more on WA Health website. By week 17, you may want to start thinking about antenatal classes to help you and your partner prepare for the birth and beyond.

A cancer diagnosis during pregnancy is very rare, but it can happen. People can support and advise you in making decisions about your treatment. By the end of week 37, your baby is considered full-term. You'll probably be very tired because of the extra weight so try and get as much rest as you can. Your baby's weight gain should slow down since they are now ready to be born. You might soon start to notice the early signs of labour.

Read more on Better Health Channel website. Going into labour before your 37th week of pregnancy is called preterm labour, or premature labour.