Vaginal discharge during pregnancy: when should you worry?

PaulinaJonquères d'OriolaMom, psycho and family journalist Published onin collaboration withAnne-SophieMoulois (Midwife in Paris)

White, yellow, green discharge, streaks of blood, feeling of humidity… difficult to distinguish what is or is not normal to worry about during pregnancy. To see more clearly, find the advice of Anne-Sophie Moulois, midwife in Paris.

1. White discharge during pregnancy
2. Yellow or green discharge during pregnancy
3. Red discharge during pregnancy
4. Brown discharge during pregnancy
5. Loss of mucous plug
6. Fluid loss during pregnancy

White discharge during pregnancy

What does it look like ? White losses or "physiological leucorrhoea" are easily differentiated from a loss of liquid because they will stain black panties. ", says the midwife.

When should you worry? "There is no reason to worry about white discharge as long as it does not smell and does not change color," says Anne-Sophie Moulois.

What are they due to? The white losses will be more and more abundant throughout the pregnancy under the influence of hormones and the increase in blood flow. More specifically, these losses are the result of desquamation of cells in the vagina.

What to do: There is nothing in particular to do.

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Yellow or green discharge during pregnancy

What does it look like ? They look like white discharge, but with a potentially more compact consistency.

When should you worry? "The change in color of the white discharge must be questionable, especially if it is accompanied by a bad smell, itching, burning, irritation or if the discharge has an unusual, more compact consistency", recommend our specialist.

What are they due to? It is possible that these losses are linked to a yeast infection or a sexually transmitted infection. In both cases, it is an infectious problem linked to an imbalance of the vaginal flora. This can be caused by excessive hygiene, a change of sexual partner, or tobacco consumption.

What to do: Consult your general practitioner, midwife or gynecologist to take a vaginal sample. Depending on the germ found, the healthcare professional will choose an appropriate treatment in the form of a cream with eggs.

Red discharge during pregnancy

What does it look like ? Red discharge, or "metrorrhagia", is bleeding that occurs during pregnancy. In other words, the future mother finds red blood in her panties.

When should you worry? Blood loss should be taken seriously, especially if it is heavy, such as menstruation. However, do not panic, they do not always indicate a serious problem. It can happen that bleeding occurs after sexual intercourse or a vaginal examination during an examination.

What are they due to? There are many different causes throughout pregnancy. Before 8 weeks of amenorrhea, blood loss may indicate an early miscarriage. After 8 weeks, we will speak of a late miscarriage. As we have seen, a vaginal examination, sexual intercourse or the use of the Epi-no method can generate some bleeding due to chafing. "These are then small vessels of the cervix which will explode under the action of a contraction or a vaginal touch", specifies Anne-Sophie Moulois. More seriously, blood loss can also be linked to a hematoma or placental abruption. "The further you go in the pregnancy, the more harmful consequences it can have. A retroplacental hematoma can be linked to preeclampsia and the baby must therefore be delivered as soon as possible," says the midwife.

What to do: In the event of non-abundant blood loss and sexual intercourse or a vaginal examination 48 hours earlier, a call to the maternity ward should be enough to reassure you. For patients following the Epi-No method, a 5-day break will be required with the application of a healing lubricant. In case of moderate blood loss, it is better to consult quickly to do a cervical examination and an ultrasound to understand where the blood is coming from. If the bleeding is hemorrhagic, go to the nearest maternity hospital. "Mothers can be reassured: this situation is rare", specifies our interlocutor. In any case, even if the bleeding is of low intensity but is totally unexplained, never remain in doubt.

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Brown discharge during pregnancy

What does it look like ? Brownish discharge is brown in color. This is old blood.

When should you worry? There is a priori no reason to worry about these losses.

What are they due to? They can occur the day after sexual intercourse, or an examination with vaginal examination. “At the start of pregnancy, they are also a sign… of pregnancy”, reports Anne-Sophie Moulois.

What to do: There is no need to consult.

Loss of mucous plug

What does it look like ? The mucous plug looks like white discharge that has clotted. The heap then becomes much more consistent. It is often accompanied by a small trickle of red or brownish blood.

When should you worry? Nothing should worry you about the mucous plug. "It's not because you lose it that you will give birth within the hour. You can lose the mucous plug a month before," says the midwife. In addition, the loss of the mucous plug does not induce any risk of infection.

What is it used for ? The mucous plug is used to close the cervix throughout pregnancy.

What to do: If the labor contractions do not start, it is not yet time to pack your suitcase for the maternity ward.

Fluid loss during pregnancy

What does it look like ? Between a loss of urine or amniotic fluid, it is sometimes hard to tell the difference because the urine can be transparent and odorless.

When should you worry? For our midwife, there are two scenarios. If your water breaks frankly, you will know it. There is no doubt. "The most complicated is when there is a crack in the water bag because in this case, there is an infectious risk and the baby must be born within 48 hours maximum", explains Anne-Sophie Moulois.

What are they due to? If it's loss of urine, your perineum is just tired. But if it's a lot of amniotic fluid, it's because your waters are breaking. If the loss is moderate, it is cracking.

What to do: If your water breaks frankly, you have 2 hours to get to the maternity ward. Take a shower (not a bath) and quietly prepare your things. If you're not sure what's going on, put on clean black panties to see if there's white discharge. "If during half a day, you feel really wet 2 to 3 times, it is better to consult", advises the specialist. The maternity will then take care of taking a small sample to understand where these losses come from. You will have the answer in less than 10 minutes! If it is indeed amniotic fluid, your baby will be monitored under monitoring with a blood test to ensure that no infection starts. And in a maximum of 48 hours, it will have to be born.