Allocations from the female genitalia for each woman, as well as for her gynecologist, are an indicator of the norm or pathology. Natural allocation is inherent in every female body, but the organism often communicates diseases of the genitourinary system among other things precisely by changes in consistency, color, odor of secretions. During pregnancy, a woman is not simply more attentive to her body, but also inclined to worry about the appropriateness of a particular allocation .
It is important to inform your gynecologist about any changes, but it is equally useful to form an idea of what discharge is during pregnancy and in which case they are a sign of danger.
What is the norm?
Pregnancy for the organism of every woman is a period of perestroika. Almost all systems, including the hormonal background, function in a special regime. Allocations during pregnancy may also differ from those previously observed in a particular woman. Specific for this period, excretions are not a cause for concern, but to report on those to your gynecologist will not be superfluous.
Increased progesterone production determines the consistency of secretions – they are usually thick, viscous and opaque. When under the influence of progesterone on the wall of the uterus the embryo is fixed and the formation of the placenta occurs, the secretions are scanty because the slime forms a cork, which protects the cervix from infections and other negative effects. To get rid of discomfort it is possible with the help of sanitary pads, and use of tampons is better to avoid.
White and yellow discharge during pregnancy fit into the scope of the norm, more precisely can only tell a woman watching a gynecologist. As in the case of pregnancy, only vitreous, colorless and odorless discharge are uniquely normal; in rare cases they acquire a milky or whitish shade.
What is the deviation from the norm?
When whitens become sticky, white and even more yellow, thicken or get the structure of flakes or lumps, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist who confirms or refutes the anxiety of a particular woman. Changed the structure of white and yellow discharge during pregnancy can be provoked by the following conditions that need professional adjustment:
- fungal infection;
- cervical erosion;
- anemia;
- weakening of the immune properties of the body;
- sexually transmitted diseases;
- constipation.
Expediency of treatment and its tactics are determined only after laboratory examinations and gynecological examination. Consultation of a doctor in this case is strictly necessary.
Another cause for concern is the brown discharge during pregnancy. Such, as well as light shades, can be developed within the limits of the norm, against the background of hormonal adjustment, however, they also need to be notified of their own doctor. The cause for concern is the brown discharge during pregnancy:
- with ectopic pregnancy;
- with the threat of miscarriage, in which case the bed rest and appropriate therapy can normalize the condition;
- in the pathology of the placenta, most often its detachment or presentation;
- in infectious diseases of the reproductive system, which requires therapy to prevent infection of the fetus;
- with erosion of the cervix;
- when leaving the mucous plug, which is a harbinger of childbirth.
Menstrual discharge during pregnancy
Often during pregnancy, women have to face discharges that resemble menstrual bleeding. Bloody discharge during pregnancy should be an excuse for prompt treatment to a specialist, as they often occur in pathological pregnancy:
- uterine bleeding with placental abruption is represented by prolonged and very abundant secretions – not critical, but dangerous for the course of pregnancy; timely professional measures can save a pregnancy;
- regular discharges with blood impurities may indicate a progressive infectious process, which can be confirmed or refuted after the analysis of a vaginal smear.
If discharge during pregnancy contains blood, accompanied by painful and uncomfortable sensations and acquires a regular character, you need to worry, but do not panic. Addressing a specialist in this case may not just be superfluous, but also extremely necessary for maintaining a pregnancy.
While a woman is recommended in this case to turn to a gynecologist, panic is not worth it at all, since similar to menstrual discharge during pregnancy can develop within the limits of the norm:
- unnecessary, sometimes pulling, in duration coinciding with the previous menstruation, rather than bloody, and dark brown discharge in days before pregnancy corresponding to the days of menstruation, are hormonal in nature and do not pose a particular danger to a normally developing pregnancy;
- bloody discharge in the early stages of pregnancy is due to an inadequate increase in the production of the necessary hormones; usually do not pose a particular hazard, but are the reason for careful observation of a specialist with the purpose of adjusting the hormonal background;
- unnecessary bleeding from the genitals after sex can be the result of trauma to the cervix or vagina, an occasion to monitor your health and for an unplanned medical attention if the bleeding recurs or does not stop.
Thrush in Pregnancy
Thrush or candidiasis of the vagina at least once, but it occurs in every woman and does not represent a special danger. This disease is provoked by an increase in the number of fungal microorganisms in the vagina, which can be caused by a huge number of factors. Thrush is amenable to simple treatment with short courses of available medications. However, the treatment of thrush in a pregnant woman is carefully controlled by a doctor, since penetration of infection deep into the body is fraught with a threat to the fetus, and the list of permitted drugs is somewhat reduced.
A pregnant woman is more susceptible to developing candidiasis due to changes in the acidity of the vaginal environment, the restructuring of the hormonal background, the weakening of the immune system. The discharge during pregnancy, which is caused by the fungus of the genus Candida, is characterized by curdiness and an acidic odor, usually accompanied by itching and burning, which increase after sexual acts or water procedures. Quite often the thrush accompanies a woman throughout pregnancy, not succumbing to treatment, however, the gynecologist prescribes treatment in the following cases:
- unbearable discomfort for a woman;
- complications of pregnancy and the threat of its interruption, intrauterine growth retardation, etc. against candidiasis;
- approximately at the 36th week of pregnancy, in order to prevent the irritability of the irritated mucosa during the period of labor and to prevent infection of the fetus.
Treatment of thrush is assigned to both the woman and her partner. If the latter are allowed systemic antifungal drugs like Diflazon or Flukonazol, then a woman will apply a number of contraindications. In the first trimester, it is necessary to exclude the influence of the active substance on the development of the child, preference is given to drugs with a temporary effect (eg, Pimafucin). In the second and third trimester, local complex preparations with antifungal and pro-bacterial action are acceptable (for example, Clion-D, Ginopevaril). At any stage of pregnancy, self-medication is unacceptable, since it may not only be ineffective, but also not appropriate, since isolation during pregnancy from thrush to philistine gaze is easily confused with those that have arisen for other reasons.
Allocations for nonspecific inflammatory processes and STDs
Uncharacteristic discharge during pregnancy can be triggered by a pathogenic microflora, probably present in the body and before conception, but worsened during pregnancy. The most common pathogens include staphylococci, protea and E. coli. Treatment of such, of course, is necessary, otherwise there is a threat of pregnancy and the likelihood of infection of the fetus, but treatment during pregnancy is limited to the list of acceptable medications, and therefore it is important to visit regular specialists and eliminate infections until conception, and take all possible preventive measures.
The insufficiency of the measures taken and the beginning of the inflammatory process are evidenced by all the same discharge during pregnancy. In this case, they will be yellow or greenish-yellow, offensive. Modern medicine allows you to eliminate the infection while maintaining pregnancy, but therapy should be appointed by a professional specialist after appropriate diagnosis.
Another cause of apparently abnormal discharge during pregnancy – fetid, purulent, uncharacteristic color, accompanied by burning, itching and palpable discomfort – may be sexually transmitted diseases. They are also prone to latent progression to pregnancy, and during the period of hormonal changes, weakening of the immune properties of the organism and the reorganization of metabolic processes, are easily exacerbated. In this case, the allocation is clearly different from normal, specific for a particular sexual infection and in a pregnant woman do not differ from those in non-pregnant patients. It is necessary to examine the gynecologist, conduct laboratory diagnosis and treatment with modern drugs that affect the pathogens of the infection and do not cause complications from the fetus.
Allocations on the eve of childbirth
Readiness of the organism for childbirth is also accompanied by natural secretions. Discharge during pregnancy in recent weeks is difficult to confuse with anything else. The first precursor of the impending labor activity is the departure of the mucous plug. Mucous plug is a viscous mucous clot that forms in the cervix of the uterus 4-5 weeks after the onset of pregnancy. The function of education is to protect the fetus from a pathogenic microflora that can penetrate the uterine cavity, for example, while swimming in an open reservoir. Under the influence of hormonal changes characteristic of the last weeks of pregnancy, the mucous plug softens and leaves the vagina on its own, which signals the approach of the birth process. Stand out mucous plug can whole gel-like clot, outwardly reminiscent of egg white, jellyfish or jelly, up to two tablespoons, up to two centimeters in diameter. The mucous plug does not always leave a clot, it can also be smearing discharge, similar to the end of critical days. The color of these varies from transparent and milky-yellowish to pinkish and with veins of blood. The admixture of blood in the decayed mucous plug is not an obvious sign of pathology: if it is veins, then their nature is explained by the rupture of small capillaries in the process of opening the uterus. If this is an impressive amount of blood, it can arise because of placental abruption, which should be an occasion for immediate consultation of a specialist.
Another type of “late” discharge during pregnancy is the passage of amniotic fluid. These outwardly resemble urine, but colorless and with a tangible smell of ammonia. Amblerous water is usually released in an amount of about 200 ml, but can be poured either completely or almost drip. In order not to confuse the partial discharge with the ordinary during pregnancy, it is recommended to put a white napkin and observe the filling for 15-20 minutes – if the stain increases, it’s time to seek professional help during the period of labor.
Allocations in each week of pregnancy
The following characteristic of the secretions as accurately describes normal discharge during pregnancy, depending on the week, but each organism is individual and exact match with the description may not be observed.
A week – Features of selections
1 – The first week of pregnancy can easily coincide with the last week of menstrual flow for the next 9 months.
2 – Mucous, egg-like secretions, perhaps with small amounts of blood, indicate the onset of ovulation and / or the attachment of the egg to the wall of the uterus.
3 – Probably implantation bleeding, which develops during the period of egg attachment in the uterine cavity, sometimes accompanied by painful, pulling sensations in the lower abdomen. It can easily be confused with premature menstruation, and the thought of having a conception that is being made is pushed by the absence of the next one either on time or earlier.
Egg implantation is not always accompanied by bleeding, alternatives may be creamy, yellowish, pinkish or brown discharge, stopping after a few days.
4 – At this stage, the same bloody discharge can be observed, sometimes confused with menstruation, but being an implantation bleeding. An alternative option may be caused by hormonal changes and increased blood flow of excretion – abundant, thick, transparent or whitish, odorless.
5 – Admixtures of blood and brown color in the second month of pregnancy are not the norm and indicate rather the threat of termination of pregnancy. Yellow, green, grayish discharge can be a sign of infections and venereal diseases, especially if accompanied by itching, burning and other discomfort in the genital area. In the same period, the thrush may become more acute for the first time with its characteristic manifestations.
6 – The norm is colorless or whitish discharge without a smell; cheesy, abundant, light shade can indicate thrush; other shades and stench – signs of an infectious disease, impurity of blood – the threat of miscarriage.
7 – Under the influence of developing hormones, normal discharges become more abundant, liquid, and slippery. The cause for concern should be bloody, greenish-yellow and other color, thick, curdled, unpleasant odor of excretion.
8 – Normal – moderate, light or whitish, having a slight sour smell. Changes in color of discharge, the appearance of pus, mucus, increased volume, itching, burning, pain in the genital area indicate the appearance of infection in the genitals of a pregnant woman. Extremely dangerous discharge, having a brown color and accompanied by pulling pains in the abdomen, weakness, dizziness. They usually accompany the separation of the fetal egg from the walls of the uterus, resulting in the leakage of blood.
9 – Previously, thick secretions are susceptible to estrogen and acquire a liquid, watery consistency. Beli remain transparent or whitish, without a smell, do not cause discomfort. Strongly smelling discharge of a different color or consistency (yellow, green, gray, brown, red, and also curdled or bubbly) should be the reason for going to the doctor and putting the smear on infection.
10 – Spotting bleeding can occur after a gynecological examination or sexual intercourse, is typical in the presence of cervical erosion: loose uterine tissue is easily damaged and bleeds, but there is no abdominal pain.
11 – Normal is still colorless or light discharge, a thin consistency; unpleasant odor, cheesy consistency, finding color indicate the development of infection, and the admixture of blood – the probability of miscarriage.
12 – Normal – moderate, light or whitish, having a slight sour smell. Changes in color of discharge, the appearance of pus, mucus, increased volume, itching, burning, pain in the genital area indicate the appearance of infection in the genitals of a pregnant woman. Emissions of cinnamon color or with impurities of blood usually accompany the separation of the fetal egg from the walls of the uterus, as a result of which the leakage of blood occurs.
13 – Bloody discharge at this stage is not the norm, should be a reason to call a specialist, but can develop because of the following circumstances: placental abruption; placenta previa; hematoma; erosion or mechanical damage to the cervix; neoplasms; fall or blow to the abdomen; fragility of blood vessels.
14-24 – Normal is still colorless or light discharge, a thin consistency. Strongly smelling discharge of a different color or consistency (yellow, green, gray, brown, red, and also curdled or bubbly) should be the reason for going to the doctor and putting the smear on infection. Bloody discharge at this stage is not the norm, should be the reason for contacting a specialist.
25-36 – Normal – moderate, light or whitish, having a slight sour smell. Changes in color of discharge, the appearance of pus, mucus, increased volume, itching, burning, pain in the genital area indicate the appearance of infection in the genitals of a pregnant woman. Bloody traces on the underwear can be a consequence of hemorrhoids or strong constipation. Bloody discharge from the vagina at this stage is not the norm, should be the reason for contacting a specialist. Probably leakage of amniotic fluid, having a watery consistency and a yellowish tinge, which should also be the reason for calling a doctor urgently.
36-40 – Along with the previously present secretions, mucous membranes can be observed, with impurities of blood, which means that the mucous plug disappears and the delivery is approaching. The appearance of liquid and unclear discharges usually means the outflow of amniotic fluid and the likelihood of the early onset of labor or exhaustion of the membranes. In any case, you need to seek professional help.