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Vaginal discharge during pregnancy

You may notice an increase in white creamy discharge early in pregnancy, due to higher levels of estrogen. White vaginal discharge (called leucorrhea) is nothing to worry about: This early pregnancy discharge is normal and can be clear to milky white, thin or thick, and mild-smelling or odorless. Vaginal discharge that's green, smells unpleasant, causes pain or itching, or seems unusual in any other way could be a sign of infection or another problem.

color decoder for vaginal discharge during pregnancy
Photo credit: Jianing Pan for BabyCenter

Is creamy white discharge normal during pregnancy?

Yes. It's perfectly normal to have a mild-smelling creamy white discharge even before pregnancy. (It's called leukorrhea.) There's just a lot more of it during pregnancy because your body is producing more estrogen, which signals the vagina to produce more discharge.

This discharge is made up of secretions from the cervix and vagina, old cells, and normal vaginal bacteria. Healthy vaginal discharge is usually:

  • Clear to milky white
  • Thin to thick or mucus-like
  • Mild-smelling or odorless

You'll probably also notice more vaginal discharge as you approach labor, although it's likely to look somewhat different (more on that below).

When to call your doctor or midwife about vaginal discharge

Anything that's unlike the normal white discharge you're used to is worth mentioning to your provider. Vaginal discharge that's different – in color, smell, or amount – could be a sign of a vaginal infection or other problem. (Vaginal infections are more common during pregnancy.)

Even if you don't have other common symptoms such as irritation, itching, or burning, you could have a vaginal or sexually transmitted infection.

"Always mention discharge to your doctor, especially if there's a change," says Layan Alrahmani, ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Chicago. "Chances are this is normal pregnancy discharge, but it can be a vaginal or cervical infection that requires treatment."

Call your doctor or midwife right away if:

  • You're not yet 37 weeks pregnant and notice an increase in the amount of discharge, or a change in the type of discharge. For example, more vaginal discharge than usual can be a sign of preterm labor. And if you're continuously leaking clear and watery fluid, this can be a sign that your water has broken.
  • Your vulva looks inflamed, or you have an odorless, whitish discharge that's causing pain with urination or sex, soreness, itching, or burning. This means you could have a yeast infection.
  • You have thin white or gray discharge with a strong fishy smell, which may be more noticeable after sex (when the discharge mixes with semen). This might be a condition called bacterial vaginosis.
  • Your discharge is yellow or green and frothy with an unpleasant odor. This may be a sign of trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection. Other possible symptoms of trichomoniasis (or trich) include a red, irritated, or itchy vulva or vagina and discomfort while urinating or during intercourse.
  • Your discharge has a strong and noticeable odor or has changed in color, amount, or consistency from your normal vaginal discharge.
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If you're having discomfort or you think you have an infection, don't try to treat yourself with over-the-counter medications or feminine hygiene products. Many of these products can aggravate an already sensitive area. Instead, see your healthcare provider.

chart called color decoder: discharge during pregnancy. Chart has text as per this article.

Can changes in my discharge be an early sign of pregnancy?

Typically, no. Vaginal discharge is common anytime. And while many women notice an increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy, you're not likely to spot this symptom in the week or two just after conception.

Changes in vaginal discharge isn't one of the early pregnancy symptoms that women commonly report during those first few weeks, either. If you suspect you might be pregnant, your best bet is to take a pregnancy test around the time you would expect your period.

How can I tell if this is vaginal discharge or my mucus plug?

The mucus plug is a collection of gelatinous secretions from your cervix. These secretions fill the cervical canal in early pregnancy and create a protective barrier that stays in place for most of pregnancy.

As you get closer to delivery and your cervix begins to thin out and open up (effacement and dilation), these mucus-like secretions may come out of your vagina. This can be a sign of early labor.

Rest assured, losing your mucus plug isn't like a cork popping. Labor still progresses on its own timeline, and your baby remains well protected.

Not every expecting mom experiences losing their mucus plug. If you do, it might seem like an increased amount of vaginal discharge over the course of a few days, or a glob of thickened mucus that's clear, pinkish, brownish, or tinged with a bit of blood.

How can I tell if this is vaginal discharge or amniotic fluid?

Regular discharge comes out sporadically in small amounts, but amniotic fluid leaks out continuously once your water breaks. Amniotic fluid is usually clear or slightly yellowish, watery, and odorless or slightly sweet-smelling. When your water breaks, amniotic fluid may come out as a leak or trickle, or in a big, dramatic gush. Either way, it will continue to leak out until you have your baby.

If you think it's possible you're leaking amniotic fluid, contact your provider immediately. It's important to find out if you might be going into labor.

If you're less than 34 weeks pregnant and you think your water has broken, you may need steroid shots and other medications to delay labor, speed up the development of your baby's lungs, and protect against infection.

What can I do about vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

There's nothing you need to do about your body's normal vaginal discharge. You can wear panty liners to absorb discharge if you want to, but it's definitely not necessary.

Here are some ways to keep your genital area healthy:

  • Always wipe from front to back.
  • Change out of sweaty workout clothes or wet swimsuits promptly.
  • If your vulva is irritated, avoid tight pants, leggings, and underwear made with synthetic materials.
  • Avoid bubble bath, scented pads, scented toilet paper, feminine hygiene sprays, and scented or deodorant soaps. These scents can be irritating to your sensitive areas.
  • Don't use tampons during pregnancy. If you're spotting or bleeding, call your provider.
  • Don't douche. Douching can upset the normal balance of bacteria in your vagina and increase the likelihood of infection.

Learn more:

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

ACOG. 2022. Vulvovaginal health. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/vulvovaginal-health [Accessed March 2023]

ACOG. 2020. Practice bulletin number 217: Prelabor rupture of membranes. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29266075/ [Accessed March 2023]

ACOG. 2021.Vaginitis. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/vaginitis [Accessed February 2023]

CDC. 2022. Bacterial vaginosis – CDC basic fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm [Accessed March 2023]

OWH. 2021. Labor and birth. U.S. Office on Women's Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/childbirth-and-beyond/labor-and-birth [Accessed March 2023]

UpToDate. 2019. Patient education: Vaginal discharge in adult women (Beyond the basics). https://www.uptodate.com/contents/vaginal-discharge-in-adult-women-beyond-the-basics [Accessed March 2023]

Karen Miles
Karen Miles is a writer and an expert on pregnancy and parenting who has contributed to BabyCenter for more than 20 years. She's passionate about bringing up-to-date, useful information to parents so they can make good decisions for their families. Her favorite gig of all is being "Mama Karen" to four grown children and "Nana" to nine grandkids.
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