Changes in vaginal discharge during pregnancy:
When a woman knows that she is pregnant, she may experience some fear of sudden changes in her body or of some signs that may seem suspicious to us, which she has never experienced before because these can pose a problem for her condition.
Having vaginal discharge in early pregnancy is very common among pregnant women and is considered normal, although it may lead us to suspect at first that it is a loss similar to the rule or an infection. How many unimportant reasons can worry about us during pregnancy!
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Changes in vaginal discharge in pregnancy: The first month’s
At the beginning of the first pregnancy, many women feel the need to go to the bathroom constantly, since they have the sensation of having suspicious vaginal discharge. This unusual increase in cervical mucus is normal and is due to hormonal changes that occur in the pregnant woman’s body.
The so-called ‘leucorrhea’ is characterized by being a whitish discharge with little odor and a milky appearance that is a normal and expected sign in pregnancy due to the effect of placental hormones and due to the manufacture of the mucous plug that protects the womb from possible infections.
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When is increased vaginal discharge a red flag?
- When it can be caused by a vaginal infection.
- In the case of a very watery flow once we have passed the embryonic phase.
- If it is due to a fissure or premature rupture of the membranes and that would require medical supervision and could entail an obligatory rest for the rest of the pregnancy.
- If it has a bad odor or is greenish or intense yellow, as it can be a fungal or bacterial infection that should be treated before delivery.
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What to do about increased vaginal discharge in pregnancy
To avoid the discomfort of this increased body flow, it is recommended:
- Keep the genital area clean and dry
- Increase hygiene measures when the flow is more abundant
- Use hygienic wipes, protectors, or cotton pads for your panties
In the last weeks of pregnancy, one of the tests performed is a vaginal smear to rule out possible type B streptococcal infections that can be transmitted to our baby through the birth canal, although it does not have to pose a risk with proper treatment.
Surely, you will also notice a more abundant vaginal discharge as the delivery is closer, this will probably be thicker and stickier and may even be accompanied by some threads of blood. This flow is produced by the progressive or sudden loss of the mucous plug that protects the womb and becomes detached when the cervix begins to blur and dilate for childbirth.