If you are having milky, thick vaginal discharge at the time of a missed menstrual period, it might be the first early pregnancy symptom. Other such symptoms include tiredness, nausea, and missing a menstrual period.
This milky, thick white discharge is known as leukorrhea. It exists because of increased and fluctuating levels of estrogen in the body. This increase in estrogen increases the blood flow to the pelvic area of the body that can lead to an increase in mucus discharge. This vaginal discharge will be similar to the one you see while ovulating. However, the volume will be much larger. This vaginal discharge will be pretty common throughout the pregnancy and will increase as the pregnancy progresses. In the end, this white discharge will be accompanied by a bloody tinge. This is caused after the mucus plug is released from the cervix.
If you are not pregnant, white vaginal discharge is caused by ovulation. Leading up to ovulation, cervical mucus becomes rubbery and will stretch between the two fingers. This is known as Egg-White Cervical Mucus or EWCM. It is this sticky, thick and fertile cervical mucus that holds the sperm and helps it travel safely to the egg through the vagina.
Some women go through vaginal yeast infections during pregnancy. The symptoms of this vaginal yeast infection are yellow or green vaginal discharge accompanied by itching and foul smell. If you see any of these symptoms, notify your doctor immediately. Do not try to use over-the-counter products before consulting your OB/GYN.
First, you need to make sure that your vaginal discharge is normal. Some discharge has a fishy odor which might be a concern for women. You should get it examined and consult a doctor regarding this. For curbing the scent associated with vaginal discharge, you need to keep the labia clean. In no case should you use a douche for cleaning your vagina. Also, vaginal washes and wipes have perfumes that can irritate the pregnancy skin. Also, such treatment methods can change the pG of the vagina and vaginal area leading to breakouts and irritation. You should not try to catch vaginal discharge using tampons during pregnancy or after birth for at least the first menstrual cycle. Instead, use panty liners and pads.
In the third trimester, there is an increase in vaginal discharge. This might be the result of the shedding of the mucus plug. This plug acts as a stopper for the cervix and its release signal the last phase of pregnancy. Most of the women don’t even notice this shedding but might see some blood-tinged vaginal discharge after the plug has shed. All these changes must be reported to the doctor immediately.
If you are going through a lot of spotting and abundant vaginal discharge, you might be tempted to use a tampon to stay worry-free. However, studies have shown that it is not safe to be used during pregnancy and you should avoid using them. If you want to stay safe, you can try using a sanitary pad. Even though tampons are clean in their sterile packaging, they can pick up a lot of germs on the way from the applicator to their final destination. In other situations, our body is fully capable of protecting against these bacteria. However, if you are pregnant, the bacteria can get into your baby's system and cause some serious complications. Toxic shock syndrome is one such complication caused by these bacteria. Also, tampons can disrupt the bacterial balance in the vagina resulting in irritation. Even though it is not bothersome, you don't want to deal with this while pushing out a baby from your vagina.
It is exceptionally important to practice safe sex during pregnancy. Vaginal discharge during pregnancy can be a symptom of an STD. While not all STDs are passed on to a baby, some quite severe diseases can be passed on to the baby, including HIV.
Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is common and all women will have to deal with the effects of it at some point during the pregnancy. After birth, the 4 to 6 weeks of menstruation will clean out the uterus and all vaginal discharge should return to normal.
