Neha Arti 
You’re probably used to discharge, but what should you expect in the first trimester? Many people wonder whether extra discharge is normal during early pregnancy and whether they should contact their doctor.
In this guide, we’ll discuss normal and abnormal first-trimester discharge and its causes. You’ll also learn about discharge combined with other symptoms, like light bleeding or stomach pain.
Ready to learn about your discharge? Keep reading!
What is Discharge?
Discharge, also called leukorrhea, is the fluid that your vagina naturally secretes.
Your discharge can tell you information about your body. At different times during your menstrual cycle, your discharge will change. How it looks—including its color, thickness and amount—will vary based on your hormones.
This can help indicate which stage of your menstrual cycle you’re in and if there are infections. If you are a person who pays attention to your discharge changes, you may notice all the changes once you become pregnant. In fact, changes to your discharge can be a sign you’re pregnant.
Healthy First Trimester Discharge: What’s Normal in Early Pregnancy
When or before you first discover you’re pregnant, you may notice an increase in vaginal discharge. This is caused by the extra estrogen in your body, which leads to many pregnancy symptoms, one being extra discharge.
Extra discharge may be bothersome and sometimes require you to wear panty liners. However, the increased discharge has a purpose in protecting your baby! All that extra fluid can make it harder for infections to travel up through the vagina and into your uterus. It helps trap any bacteria and dead cells and remove them from the body.
Around week 7, your body starts forming a mucus plug. Over time, the discharge creates a thick clump that acts as a plug, creating a barrier that keeps out bacteria. After week 37, as your body prepares for labor, you will lose this plug. Although this happens at a different time for everyone, it typically occurs between 2 weeks or a few hours before birth. Others don’t lose this plug until active labor.
Although you may first notice discharge during early pregnancy, it’s likely to last throughout your pregnancy. Some people may experience more discharge as their pregnancy moves along.
Healthy discharge during early pregnancy is usually:
- Clear or milky white
- Thin
- Odorless or mild odor
Unhealthy First Trimester Discharge
If you notice any of the following, you likely have unhealthy discharge:
- Yellow or greenish color
- Foul smell
- Lumpy discharge
- Accompanied by other symptoms, like itching around the vagina or pain while urinating
If you believe you have unhealthy discharge, you should seek medical advice to find out what’s causing the problem.
Below are some common causes for unhealthy discharge during early pregnancy:
- Yeast infection. Discharge that’s thick and chunky or lumpy (cottage cheese texture) may be caused by a yeast infection, AKA thrush or candidiasis. Yeast infections also typically cause itching around the vagina.
- Bacterial vaginosis. The first sign of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is usually discharge that smells foul and fishy.
- Trichomoniasis. This STI can cause foul-smelling discharge along with itching and pain while urinating.
- Chlamydia or gonorrhea. The STD chlamydia can cause increased discharge that’s yellowish with a strong odor. Similarly, gonorrhea can cause greenish, yellowish or white discharge. Both these STDs can be accompanied by pelvic pain or bleeding.
Although you may suspect a problem yourself, the only way to know for sure is to talk to your doctor. During pregnancy especially, it’s important to get the right diagnosis so you can get the proper treatment. For example, if you mistake a sexually transmitted infection (STI) for a yeast infection, over-the-counter medication won’t work and the STI may impact your baby. It is possible for infections to be passed onto the fetus while inside the womb, so identifying problems early is important.
First Trimester Light Bleeding
You might be wondering if discharge with light bleeding is normal during early pregnancy. Seeing some blood in your discharge could happen for a few reasons below.
- Implantation bleeding. At the very beginning of pregnancy (often before you even realize you’re pregnant) you might notice brown or pink spotting in your discharge. This happens when the embryo attaches to the uterine lining. Implantation bleeding only causes small amounts of blood. Although you may wear a pantyliner, the blood won’t be enough to fill a pad.
- Vaginal irritation. You might also notice some blood in your discharge if there has been vaginal irritation. This can happen after a vaginal exam or sexual intercourse. The increased blood flow in the area can make irritation more likely during pregnancy.
- Some infections, like STIs and STDs can cause bleeding.
- Miscarriage. Of course, bleeding in the first trimester can also be a sign of miscarriage. Miscarriage bleeding can include light spotting or can be heavier with blood clots and tissue.
Although light bleeding is usually normal during early pregnancy, it can also be a cause for concern. Since it’s hard to know which, you should always contact your doctor when you’re unsure of the cause.
Also read, Bleeding During Pregnancy: Is It Dangerous?
First Trimester Stomach Pain
If discharge is accompanied by first trimester stomach pain, you might be wondering if something is wrong. Some stomach pain and cramping are common and normal during pregnancy. However, it can also be a sign of something more serious.
Harmless causes for stomach pain in the first trimester include:
- Hormones
- Round ligament pain. This happens when your ligaments stretch to accommodate your growing baby. Although this is more common in the second trimester when your baby gets bigger, it may begin during the first trimester.
- Digestion issues. Digestion issues, like trapped gas and constipation, are common during pregnancy. Even if you haven’t experienced this type of pain before, it may be causing discomfort now.
When you’re unsure of the cause of your first trimester stomach pain, you should always talk to a healthcare professional.
Serious causes for stomach pain in the first trimester include:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs can cause pain in the stomach and sometimes when you urinate. Although it’s critical to treat UTIs during pregnancy, they’re usually easy to treat.
- Ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg implants outside of the womb. In this case, the fetus cannot survive and needs medical attention to be removed. Signs can appear between weeks 4 and 12 and can include stomach pain along with bleeding.
- Miscarriage. Cramping is another sign of miscarriage.
Other Signs of Pregnancy in the First Trimester
Increased discharge may be the first change you notice. However, it is not a surefire sign that you are pregnant. Increased discharge can happen for a variety of reasons unrelated to pregnancy, including being caused by your mensural cycle and infections.
Other signs of pregnancy in the first trimester that you may notice include:
- Increased fatigue
- Increased tiredness
- Morning sickness
- Food cravings or aversions
- Swollen or sensitive breasts
- Headaches
- Digestion changes, like constipation
- Mood swings
- Weight gain
During the first weeks of pregnancy, signs are generally subtle, if noticeable at all. Also, the symptoms listed here can have a variety of other causes, including being normal period symptoms.
The only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test and have it confirmed by your doctor.
When to Contact Your Doctor
If you have not confirmed your pregnancy yet, you should make an appointment with your doctor to do so.
If you’re pregnant and are unsure if your discharge is normal, you should contact your doctor for advice. It’s especially important to seek medical attention if your discharge is a different color or smells differently than usual. Discharge that’s accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, should always be a red flag.
Remember that during pregnancy, it’s especially important to find out the cause of any strange discharge you experience. Since infections can be passed onto your baby, getting the correct diagnosis and treatment is critical.
Summary: First Trimester Discharge
Discharge in the first trimester is typically normal if it is thin, clear or milky white with no odor or a mild odor. In fact, extra discharge may be one of the first changes you notice during early pregnancy.
With that being said, extra discharge should not be considered a surefire sign you’re pregnant. Discharge is a normal part of a regular menstrual cycle and may not signal pregnancy.
When discharge happens during the first trimester, it’s usually caused by increased estrogen. The purpose of this is to protect your baby from any harmful bacteria. Your discharge acts as a barrier and helps remove anything that can cause an infection.
Discharge that is yellow, green or that has an odor should always be reported to your doctor. If it’s accompanied by other symptoms, like intense pain or bleeding, it can also be a sign of a larger problem and you should seek medical attention ASAP.
P.S. Do You Have a Fetal Doppler?
Fetal dopplers are pocket-sized devices that amplify your baby’s heartbeat from inside the womb. It’s a magical bonding experience that brings the family closer to the baby!
