Discharge during Pregnancy

Attaining motherhood is every woman’s dream. But it has its own share of woes and agonies. A vaginal discharge during pregnancy is the scariest of them all. It may appear around the second month of pregnancy and continue as long as the eighth or ninth month. It is normal if it is not foul-smelling. This discharge occurs due to Leuchorrea and it might intensify as you approach the EDD (Expected Date of Delivery).

In fact this fluid or discharge protects the vagina and the cervix by keeping it clean. But if they are infected, it becomes foul-smelling, and that is definitely a cause for concern. The smell will be accompanied by an itch and may become inflamed and painful if a doctor is not consulted in good time. It can be further aggravated by the onset of fever. This happens due to an increase in the level of estrogen in the body, resulting in greater flow of blood in the genitals.

Prevention of discharge during pregnancy

It is normal and practically every woman has it at some time or the other during her entire pregnancy. Proper care should be taken to prevent any kind of infection occurring there.

• Wash the area with lukewarm water and pat dry it with a clean, dry soft towel. Avoid using soaps as that might destroy the flora which protects the vagina from infection.
• Avoid tampons as they increase the chances of infection.
• Avoid any under garment when you sleep. That will keep the area dry, which can otherwise remain wet and moist because of the frequent trips to the bathroom in the night.
• Use cotton panties and panty liners during the time of discharge. The liners are absorbents which will keep the place dry.
• Let your undergarments be slightly loose. As tight fitting garments may compress your lower abdomen and your genitals.
• After every visit to the bathroom, wash and pat dry yourself.
• Take care that you wash yourself in a front to back motion, gliding your hand behind as that will prevent any kind of infection that might occur by your stools.
• Avoid all kind of junk food, try healthy food instead.
• No using any douches. It might destroy the micro-organisms which keep your vagina protected from infections.
• Take special care of your personal hygiene. Try having a regular bath and wash yourself every time you urinate.
• In case of infections of any kind consult your doctor immediately.

Some women also have a discharge which is brown in color. This causes alarm bells to ring as the brown color is often misjudged as blood.

One of the most common reasons for a brown discharge during pregnancy is that as fresh blood is required by the baby, the earlier blood is being discarded by the body. Although it is always advisable to consult your doctor immediately in case of doubts, as that will prevent any further anxiety which is not good for the health of the mother and the child.

During the final stages of pregnancy you notice a different kind of discharge. This is larger in quantity and thicker in consistency, accompanied by a jelly like discharge called the mucous plug. This is usually followed by contractions, which means an onset of labour. If the discharge is pink in colour, it is an indication that the most awaited moment has come.

If this discharge occurs before 37 weeks it is a cause for concern and the doctor should be consulted immediately. Discharge during pregnancy is very normal, but if you find some changes in the consistency or quantity of the discharge, you should visit your doctor at once.

In the following cases it is advisable to consult a doctor to avoid further complications.

• If you observe any kind of bleeding
• If the discharge is thick and foul smelling
• If there is itching and inflammation in your genitals
• If there is pain while urinating.

These are sure indications that you have contracted an infection which needs immediate attention and cure.

Nipple discharge during pregnancy. Besides vaginal discharge, which is called leucorrhoea, another kind of discharge is observed during pregnancy which is called nipple discharge. As the body prepares itself for the new arrival, the breasts of the mother become tender and swollen. This is to facilitate lactation. It is pale yellow in colour and rich in proteins, carbohydrates and antibodies which raise the immunity of the baby.