Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy: The Whys, Hows, and Whats of Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy

Last Updated: May 5, 2022

Being pregnant comes with a lot of unusual symptoms but you may be in the dark about what might appear on your undies. Vaginal discharge in early pregnancy might be surprising, to be honest. Here’s what you need to know about all kinds of vaginal discharge in early pregnancy and beyond.

Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy: How Do You Identify It?

Once you are pregnant, you will notice an increase in your vaginal discharge (called leukorrhea), thanks to increased blood flow and more estrogen in your system. This is quite normal and the discharge has a mild smell, is milky white, and has a thin texture. You will have this discharge at any time during your pregnancy and expect it to spike as your pregnancy progresses.

Is Vaginal Discharge an Early Sign of Pregnancy?

Before being pregnant, you might wonder whether your vaginal discharge is an early sign of pregnancy. Well, the answer is maybe. Discharge is not one of the most common early signs of pregnancy. However, during the early days of pregnancy and in pregnancy in general, there will be an increase in vaginal discharge and there’s a small chance that it is a signal that you have conceived.

Spotting is yet another early sign of pregnancy. It is a discharge that is a little pink or brown lasting a day or so. This spotting might be occurring due to implantation bleeding which is an early sign of pregnancy.

Is Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy Normal?

Normal vaginal discharge in early pregnancy is milky. Sometimes you could find spotting or white leukorrhea. The cervix of pregnant women is very sensitive which is why you might find light spotting after sex.

Different Types of Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy

Keep an eye out for anything out of ordinary with your vaginal discharge during your early pregnancy days. This may include:

Smell: If vaginal discharge in early pregnancy has a fishy smell, it could indicate bacterial vaginosis, a vaginal infection.
Thick: If your vaginal dischrage has a cottage cheese-like texture, it could mean you have a yeast infection.
Colorful: green or yellow-colored vaginal discharge in early pregnancy could be due to trichomoniasis, and STD.
Itchy: if you got an irritation down there like a burning sensation, inflammation, and/or an itch along with early pregnancy discharge, it could be the signs of a yeast infection.
Bleeding: If you are bleeding during pregnancy, it may not always be a sign of miscarriage, however, it needs to be medically checked asap. Although spotting is usually not a worry during pregnancy, it could tell your healthcare provider if you are having a miscarriage or not.

Keep in touch with your doctor if you come across any of the above vaginal discharges in early pregnancy. Also, if later in your pregnancy, the discharge becomes thin or thick all of a sudden, it could be an indication of preterm labor. Do not assume that you have developed a condition on your own and try to treat it yourself. You need to go to a healthcare provider and only with their go-ahead can you resort to any DIY measures. It is important to get a proper diagnosis.

How to Deal With Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy?

The vaginal discharge could show an increase between early pregnancy and late pregnancy. If you think your vaginal discharge is interesting now, just wait for your pregnancy to progress. Do not use douche or tampons during your pregnancy. Noth of them could lead to an infection in your vagina. Absorbent underwear or pantiliners may help if you have a lot of vaginal discharge. These come in handy with those random bladder leaks too.

The Bottom Line: What Are The Causes of Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy?

Vaginal discharge is a usual sign of pregnancy but it is quite difficult to differentiate it from the normal discharge. Look out for a creamier texture and a mild smell to know if the vaginal discharge is due to early pregnancy. Even spotting could indicate early pregnancy however, consult a doctor if you get spotting so they can rule out any complications in the pregnancy. As you progress through your journey of pregnancy, you will find that vaginal discharge has increased. Do not use tampons or other such mediums to absorb the discharge as it could lead to an infection.

Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy: The Whys, Hows, and Whats of Vaginal Discharge in Early Pregnancy FAQs

1. How early in pregnancy does discharge start?

Vaginal discharge can see some changes as early as 1 to 2 weeks of pregnancy, i.e., even before you miss your periods. Once your pregnancy progresses, vaginal discharge will become even more noticeable. It will be the heaviest as you near giving birth and at this time you may want to wear an unscented panty liner.

2. Why is there extra vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

The extra discharge during pregnancy is due to the hormone estrogen. There is a boost in estrogen production along with an increased blood flow during early pregnancy. Normally, the vaginal discharge will be thick, odorless, and clear to white-colored.

3. What is the difference between period discharge and vaginal discharge?

Any vaginal discharge before you get your periods is an early sign of pregnancy. A vaginal discharge because of pregnancy and the discharge from your periods can be hard to differentiate but it is typically creamier and thicker than the normal vaginal discharges.

4. Are you wet or dry in early pregnancy?

Early pregnancy days are days when you feel wet down there more than usual. You will also notice a large amount of yellow-whitish discharge on your undies overnight or at the end of the day.

5. What does vaginal discharge look like after implantation?

After implantation, the mucus becomes clear in color, thicker, and gummy. Some mothers even experience spotting or implantation bleeding. It occurs between 6 to 12 days after conception. Implantation bleeding stops after 24 to 48 hours, unlike period bleeding.

6. What happens during pregnancy discharge at week 10?

During the 10th week of your pregnancy, you will notice your vaginal discharge to have increased caused by the high levels of estrogen. It could be thin and milky with a mild smell.

On behalf of the editorial team at Parenthoodbliss, we follow strict reporting guidelines and only use credible sources, along with peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and highly respected health organizations. To learn about how we maintain content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Parenthoodbliss

You want to create something that you're proud of," following this motto, our passionate team is devoted to curate parenting blogs that you, as a parent, would love to read and derive value from. It is our endeavor to make parenting enjoyable, if not easy, one blissful family at a time!

Share this Article

Disclaimer: All content found on our website is published for informational and/or educational purposes only; not intended to serve or offer any form of professional/competent advice. We put in every effort to ensure that all information is just, accurate, fool-proof, useful, and updated but do not assume responsibility or liability, to loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence of information provided. Parenthoodbliss may earn commissions from affiliate links in the content.