Pregnancy Discharge: What’s Normal and What’s Not

When you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant, it’s natural to be on high alert. After all, pregnancy can change a lot about what’s “normal” for your body.

So, when you notice some discharge in your undies or after you wipe, you’re probably wondering what that’s all about.

Ob/Gyn Crystal Taylor, MD, separates what’s normal and what’s not.

What is pregnancy discharge?

Pregnancy discharge is a bit of a mucus-like substance you see in your underwear or on your toilet paper during pregnancy. Discharge happens when you’re not pregnant, too. But when you’re pregnant, you may notice more of it.

Why?

“Pregnancy discharge is usually a normal physiologic change. During pregnancy, your body produces more of the hormone progesterone. Among other things, it causes the cervix to produce a lot of cervical mucus,” Dr. Taylor explains.

That slippery or stringy fluid serves a specific purpose: Helping keep harmful bacteria from getting to your uterus and harming the developing fetus.

Vaginal discharge may be more prominent during pregnancy because of that surge of progesterone. You may have also noticed more of it when you were ovulating or if you used progestin-only contraceptives, like the “minipill” or an IUD.

Normal pregnancy discharge

Pregnancy discharge is common and expected throughout the course of a healthy pregnancy — even from before you get that positive pregnancy test right up through delivery day.

Normal pregnancy discharge is:

• Clear, white or pale yellow
• Thin in consistency
• Odorless
• Not accompanied by any itching, burning or irritation down there

Signs your pregnancy discharge might not be normal

But not every streak of goo is normal. The discharge you see during pregnancy can be a clue that something is going on that you should talk about with a healthcare provider. That’s the case if you find discharge that’s:

• Dark yellow, green or mossy in color
• Thick like cottage cheese
• Foul-smelling
• Associated with itch, burning or irritation

These can all be signs that something isn’t quite right. Remember, that gel-like discharge is there to help keep your uterus free from germs. But that doesn’t mean they can’t ever get in.

“Odor could be a sign of a condition like bacterial vaginosis. Clumpy, white discharge may be a yeast infection. Both can and should be treated during pregnancy,” Dr. Taylor shares.

Discharge in colorful hues, like green and dark yellow, are sometimes associated with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or other concerns.

What about pink discharge?

Now, pink discharge during pregnancy can go either way. Because pink discharge is a sign of blood. And while it can be very normal to have a bit of spotting, there’s a line where too much can be reason for concern.

A good rule of thumb? A bit of spotting can be normal. Heavy bleeding during pregnancy isn’t.

Here’s what may be going on.

Normal: Implantation spotting

Some light spotting or pinkish discharge in the very early days of your pregnancy (maybe even before you realize you’re pregnant) is normal. It’s called “implantation bleeding.” It happens when a fertilized egg attaches to your uterine wall.

Implantation spotting can look like regular discharge with a tinge of pink. Or like a very light bit of spotting, like you may have between periods.

Normal: Spotting after exams or sex

Sometimes, a touch of pink discharge can be the result of some minor trauma to your vagina.

It’s normal to see a little pink in your panties after a prenatal exam, for example, especially if your provider checks your cervix. It can also be common after engaging in intercourse, fingering or using sex toys in your vagina.

Maybe normal: Passing your mucus plug

Later in pregnancy, you may notice a slimy, jelly-like, stringy discharge with a bit of pink. Chances are, that’s your mucus plug. The mucus plug is a lot like it sounds — it’s a thick bit of mucus at the end of your cervix that acts to shield your uterus (and the developing fetus) from bacteria. You only have a mucus plug during pregnancy.

When your cervix starts to dilate (widen) as your body prepares to give birth, the mucus plug can get dislodged and pass through.

Whether passing your mucus plug is normal or not depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

It’s normal and expected to pass your mucus plug if you’re 37 weeks pregnant or further along. If you’re fewer than 37 weeks pregnant and think you’re passing your mucus plug, contact your pregnancy provider. It may be a sign of preterm labor.

Not normal: Period-like bleeding

During pregnancy, you should not have a period. So, if you notice pink discharge that crosses the threshold into heavier bleeding like a period, that’s not normal.

“Period-like bleeding during pregnancy is something to take seriously and head to an emergency room or labor and delivery triage to get checked out,” Dr. Taylor advises.

What to do about pregnancy discharge

Pregnancy makes your body work in mysterious ways. So, if you have any concerns about anything happening, it never hurts to ask a provider.

But in general, Dr. Taylor suggests these steps for abnormal pregnancy discharge.

Go to the emergency room if:

• You’re bleeding (not spotting) from your vagina
• You’re leaking clear fluid that soaks a panty liner (that can be a sign your water has broken)

Call your provider’s office if:

• You have discharge that’s not clear, white or pale yellow
• Your discharge has a foul smell
• Your discharge is thick or clumpy
• You have itching or irritation near your vagina