Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

Face it ladies, it is the little things that get us really worked up because we think small things lead to big things and eventually we would be in a huge mess. For example, don’t deny the fact that you don’t get worked up over a weird discharge, a spot of blood, a wet pair of panties or an annoying itch that just won’t go away.

These little things create big worries for a lot of expectant mothers all over the world. So, for now let’s tick a couple of them off our list and get them off your minds!

Is vaginal discharge normal?

This may or may not surprise you but yes, vaginal discharge is completely normal. Almost all pregnant women have vaginal discharge during their pregnancy. This is very normal and happens for a few reasons.

During your pregnancy, your cervix and vaginal walls get softer, this results in discharge increasing to help prevent any kinds of infection travelling up from the vagina to the womb.

So, if you see something that is thick, sticky and looks a lot like mucus most of the time, calm down. Your vagina is working overtime, making normal vaginal discharge gunk to keep the cervix moist, sealed, healthy and infection free.

At times, body heat will liquefy it and make it come out in larger quantity than we are used to. If it comes out chunky, a weird colour, smells bad or causes discomfort to your vagina, make sure to see your doctor about it as you might have an infection.

What is normal vaginal discharge?

Normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy called luekorrhea is thin, white, milky and smells very mild. This is completely normal and there is nothing for you to worry about.

During pregnancy, some things to avoid would be;

• Using tampons – They might introduce new germs into your vagina
• Assume that it is an infection and decide to treat it yourself

However, you can;

• Use panty liners if you do not want to get the discharge onto your panties
• Notify your healthcare provider so that they can provide further advice

What is abnormal vaginal discharge?

As mentioned earlier, if your vaginal discharge comes in a weird colour, smells bad and cause an irritation – this might be an infection. One of the most common infections during pregnancy is candidiasis, also known as a yeast infection. Your doctor would be able to treat any sort of infection.

Another cause of an infection could be a kind of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) as well.

When should I notify my health care provider?

You should notify your healthcare provider at any time if there is a change in your vaginal discharge. One thing to bear in mind is to never ever try to treat yourself because you might end up making things worse for you.

Spotting during pregnancy can sometimes be normal but should definitely be mentioned to your healthcare provider. Be sure to notify your healthcare provider immediately if your spotting lasts for more than a day and comes along with cramps and other discomforts.

How to deal with increased vaginal discharge?

Increased vaginal discharge is just one of the many changes that pregnancy brings. Some ways to deal with it would be to keep your outer genital area clean and dry, use unscented soap to wash your genitals and stay away from perfumed bubble baths and so on.

Don’t rinse out your vagina as this might irritate your skin and upset the natural bacterial balance. Vaginal discharge is normally quite acidic, so that good bacteria and natural antibiotics can keep harmful bacteria at bay. If you mess with this natural balance, it could cause inflammation or even an infection.

Below are some other things that you could take precaution of during your pregnancy;

Wet underwear

Could it be your water bag breaking? Possible, but not as likely as it is to be urine. If you made a splash or anything of that sort – let your doctors know and they would run some tests. If it is just a random wet spot, don’t worry about it too much, everyone has done it. Nothing to be proud of but face it, accidents happen.

Yeast Infections

Yeast lives on your body and in your vagina all the time, but pregnancy creates the perfect conditions for yeast to breed like crazy. Once they claim domination, symptoms start appearing. Let your doctor know about your symptoms and she might just give you medication for it.

You would also have to cut down on your sugar intake because yeast love sugar and change your panties often – or better yet, don’t wear any at all as this would help dry things out.

It’s easy to advice you and tell you not to worry but of course it is normal for everyone to worry. Just make sure it does not bug you too much and does not cause you to be too stressed up. Take it easy and it will all be okay in no time.