Wet discharge during pregnancy. Abnormal character of white vaginal fluid. Watery discharge during pregnancy: diagnosis

White discharge during pregnancy can cause great anxiety in a woman. There are several reasons for this kind of exclusion. First of all, such secretions are directly related to pregnancy, since the body at this time is doing a tremendous job in preparing for the bearing and birth of a child.

As the doctors explain, with the onset of pregnancy, a mucous plug appears on the cervix, which prevents the infection from entering from the outside, in connection with this, the discharge from a woman may increase slightly. In this case, the discharge is considered quite normal and should not cause panic in a pregnant woman. Natural secretions during pregnancy are considered mucous, transparent or milky white, without a specific smell. Allocations, in principle, disturb the woman, do not irritate the vaginal mucosa. With personal hygiene, such discharge is almost invisible. Allocations after childbirth pass on their own, without any additional treatment.

Before childbirth, the amount of discharge may increase. This is also a natural process that precedes childbirth. If the discharge occurs painlessly, then you should not worry about them, the time has not yet come for the baby to be born. But if moderate clear discharge is observed within a few hours, most likely the water has begun to break, in this case it is better to immediately go to the doctor.

Pathology is considered to be discharge that occurs against the background of fungal, bacterial or infectious diseases. When this kind of discharge appears, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible and begin appropriate treatment. If the discharge has a greenish, gray (or any other) hue, an unpleasant odor, you need to consult a doctor and, if necessary, take tests. Such secretions are characteristic of a yeast infection, bacterial vaginitis, trichomoniasis. Timely treatment reduces the risk of developing severe consequences for both the woman herself and her unborn child. You cannot self-medicate during pregnancy, because in order to correctly determine the causative agent of the disease, it is necessary to take a smear and then carry out appropriate treatment, taking into account the condition of the woman and the duration of pregnancy.

A pregnant woman must necessarily pay attention to the color, texture, amount of discharge, as this will help to identify pathological processes in the genitals in time. If the nature of the discharge has changed, the reason for this may be hormonal surges in the body, diseases of the reproductive system, infection, etc. The most common cause of discharge in pregnant women is candidiasis (thrush). In this case, the discharge has a curdled consistency, they are plentiful, with a beer smell. Also, the possibility of developing other conditionally pathogenic flora of the genital organs is not excluded.

During pregnancy, erosion of the cervix sometimes develops, while a woman can observe discharge from a yellow to brownish hue. If symptoms of erosion appear, it is necessary to inform the doctor about it.

In pregnant women, discharge of a white or pinkish hue appears during the period when menstruation was supposed to begin. The discharge is odorless, does not cause anxiety and discomfort. If such discharges cause pain in the lower abdomen, you should inform the doctor as soon as possible, since such conditions may indicate various pathologies (ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage, etc.).

Watery discharge during pregnancy is a common phenomenon. Sometimes they are normal, and sometimes they are a symptom of a bigger problem. What are the causes of this phenomenon and how to act in a given situation?

Abundant clear watery discharge during pregnancy may appear in its first weeks and be one of the signs of an interesting situation. This feature is due to the hormonal background of the expectant mother. This shouldn't be a concern. The main thing is that there are no bloody or brown streaks in the discharge. This is a sign of an incipient miscarriage or detachment of the fetal egg or chorion (placenta).

Watery discharge during early pregnancy can be dangerousif they are a symptom of an infection. And in this case, not only the discharge is usually noted, but also their gray or greenish color, as well as an unpleasant odor. Many so-called latent infections no longer have symptoms but require treatment. If there is abundant watery discharge during pregnancy, you need to take smears from the vagina to detect pathogens and determine treatment tactics. In the first trimester of pregnancy, this is especially necessary, since if there is no action, there is a high probability that the mother's illness will adversely affect the health of the fetus.

Discharge during pregnancy, like water, in its second half, may be a sign of amniotic fluid discharge. And if this is true, and the gestation period is less than 28 weeks, everything can end in the death of the fetus. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely stop the leakage of amniotic fluid, although water tends to constantly form. The fact is that if the amniotic sac is damaged, an infection can easily go to the child - and this is deadly not only for him, but also for his mother. Therefore, when diagnosing amniotic fluid leakage, a woman is hospitalized and treated with antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection of the membranes.

Unusually abundant watery discharge in the third trimester of pregnancy necessarily requires a diagnosis. A woman should contact a gynecologist at a antenatal clinic or a maternity hospital for a special amnio test, which will help determine if there are traces of amniotic fluid in the vagina. At home, you can also conduct an independent diagnosis, although not as informative and reliable, using a sanitary napkin soaked in special safe reagents.

Any woman is faced with the fact that the cervix of her uterus regularly secretes mucus.

During the monthly menstrual cycle, the color and density of this mucus change, and this does not happen by chance. At the very beginning of the cycle, watery discharge is observed in women like water, which ensures the unhindered rise of spermatozoa in order to successfully fertilize the female egg. Then, after ovulation, the discharge definitely acquires a greater degree of density, and its volume is significantly reduced, which prevents the penetration of any infections and helps protect the possible embryo from external microbes.

Natural discharge while expecting a baby

The mucus expelled from the cervix does not disappear even during the period when the woman is already preparing to become a mother. In general, watery discharge during pregnancy belongs to the category of absolutely normal phenomena, the expectant mother should not be too worried for this reason. However, among such secretions, there are those that really become a cause for concern. Noticing the allocation of a certain plan, a pregnant woman really should immediately consult a specialist.

In the first trimester of waiting for a baby in the female body, an increased production of such a hormone as progesterone is inevitably carried out, which creates the necessary conditions for the fetal egg to be viable and the expectant mother not to lose her child. It is because of the effect of this hormone that watery secretions in women become inherent in increased viscosity, the pregnant woman notices that they are thick and too mucousy.

However, with the normal course of the waiting period for the baby, discharge usually does not occur at such an early date. More often they can be noticed already with the onset of the next trimester, when more than 12 weeks pass after conception.

During the second trimester of waiting for a baby, the amount of a hormone called estrogen in the body increases significantly, by the time of birth, its content is increased by about 30 times. This hormone helps prepare the expectant mother for the upcoming breastfeeding. Thanks to estrogen, fetal cells divide, and other processes that are important for the developing organism occur.

Due to the huge amount of estrogen, the mucus secreted by a woman also changes significantly, as a result of liquefaction, the expectant mother has liquid, like water, discharge. They are very plentiful, sometimes a woman with shame thinks that she had urination before she had time to get to the toilet. Such a situation can be safely considered absolutely normal, this applies not only to the second, but even to the very last trimester.

But such discharges, like water, should absolutely not cause discomfort and pain, except for a feeling of some moisture inside the perineum. Normal secretions of a pregnant woman do not have a smell and color, they are quite liquid, but they can also be with a certain amount of mucus. Their number also usually varies, a woman can fix a few drops or rather large volumes. Because of this situation, you should not worry; for the time of bearing a baby, it is natural.

Estrogen continues to be actively produced in the body until the very birth, therefore, in the third trimester, a pregnant woman has discharges that are clear, like water. But closer to childbirth, the possibility of leakage of amniotic fluid increases, which must be unambiguously excluded. A woman can carry out such a procedure at home using a special test, but it is advisable to visit a doctor and pass an appropriate analysis.

Discharges, including amniotic fluid, acquire a special sweetish odor and yellowish color. In this case, the supervision of a specialist is necessary; a woman preparing for the birth of a child should insure herself and check for leaks.

Discharge of pregnant women, alarming

All of the above discharges are normal and natural when expecting a baby. However, the presence of discharge in a woman that is anything different from those indicated can be a symptom of certain diseases, the threat of losing a child, and various dangerous pathologies.

The expectant mother should immediately contact a specialist when she sees abundant discharge, like water, with a clear, noticeable unpleasant odor or conspicuous color. The color of the discharge can be yellow, pink, brown, greenish, gray, but in any case, this phenomenon is a cause for concern and urgent consultation in a medical institution.

Alarming symptoms also include the changed consistency of the discharge of a pregnant woman, they can become curdled, viscous, sticky, a woman should also pay attention to such a situation. If a pregnant woman fixes redness, irritability, swelling, itching or burning in the area of the mucous membranes of her genitals, she should not postpone a visit to a professional, these phenomena indicate some disturbances in the course of bearing a child. The expectant mother also should not ignore the sudden rise in temperature and pain during urination, which clearly indicates problems in the condition of the fetus and the woman herself.

When a pregnant woman discovers at least one of the above signs, she should urgently visit a doctor, such a visit cannot be postponed under any circumstances. When expecting a baby, the general immunity of a woman is always somewhat reduced, as for the intimate sphere of her body, the vaginal microflora is vulnerable to any unwanted microorganisms. It is likely that the expectant mother will develop thrush, vaginosis, genital herpes and other genitourinary infections if disturbing symptoms are ignored and the appropriate necessary measures are not taken in time.

If the watery discharge throughout pregnancy is liquid and completely transparent, odorless and does not cause any particular discomfort to the woman, then she has no reason to worry. During the period of bearing a baby, the mother should only adhere to an enhanced hygiene regimen.

The cervix of every adult woman constantly produces mucus, which in gynecology is called cervical or cervical. During the menstrual cycle, the consistency and amount of cervical mucus under the influence of sex hormones change, which has a specific meaning and performs important functions. So, at the beginning of the cycle, cervical mucus is quite liquid: this is necessary for the unhindered movement of spermatozoa and further successful fertilization of the egg. After the onset of ovulation, the discharge thickens and decreases in volume: this condition prevents the penetration of infections and serves as a natural defense of the future embryo from pathological microbes.

Changes in the cervical mucus do not stop even with the onset of pregnancy, and therefore vaginal discharge is also observed in expectant mothers. But not all of them are the norm.

Very often, women are concerned about why there is abundant watery discharge during pregnancy and whether it is necessary to go to the doctor in this case.

Watery discharge in the first trimester

The first trimester of pregnancy occurs against the background of an increased level of the hormone progesterone in the body of the expectant mother. It creates the conditions necessary for the viability of the fetal egg and the preservation of pregnancy. Under the influence of progesterone, vaginal discharge acquires a viscous consistency, becomes mucous and thick.

Watery discharge in the early stages, as a rule, is not characteristic. They appear closer to the second trimester, not earlier than after 12 weeks: it is during this period that estrogen production begins to activate.

Watery discharge in the second trimester

During this period, the hormone estrogen begins to be produced more actively, and by the end of pregnancy, its amount produced by the placenta increases by about 30 times.

Estrogen prepares the expectant mother's body for childbirth and subsequent breastfeeding. Also, a high level of this hormone contributes to the division of cells of a growing child and other vital processes in the body of the fetus.

Under the influence of a large amount of estrogens, the cervical mucus also changes: it is greatly liquefied, which is why the pregnant woman has abundant liquid discharge. Sometimes it even seems to a woman that she did not have time to run to the toilet.

This is the absolute norm in the second and even third trimester of pregnancy. However, such physiological secretions should in no case cause any discomfort, in addition to a feeling of wetness in the perineum. Normally, watery discharge during pregnancy is odorless and colorless (well, maybe it can be slightly whitish), they are quite liquid, but sometimes they are a little slimy. The amount of watery discharge can vary from a few drops to quite large portions.

Watery discharge in the third trimester

The active production of estrogen during pregnancy continues until the end of the term, and therefore watery discharge in the third trimester is also quite common and normal.

Meanwhile, it is in the later stages that the risk of leakage of amniotic fluid increases, and such a possibility should be excluded when liquid secretions appear. To do this, you can buy a special test for amniotic fluid leakage at a pharmacy and conduct it at home. Even better and more correct - go to the doctor and pass the necessary analysis (more precisely, conduct an amniotest).

Water can leak at any stage of pregnancy, both little by little and in large quantities. The discharge containing amniotic fluid acquires a yellowish tint and a sweetish odor. Such a violation is dangerous (after all, it indicates the loss of integrity of the fetal bladder) and requires, at a minimum, medical supervision. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and exclude the possibility of leakage.

Dangerous watery discharge during pregnancy

Any watery discharge during pregnancy that differs from the physiological norms described above may be a sign of a disease, a threatened abortion, or other pathology. The following changes in discharge during pregnancy should cause concern:

the appearance of a noticeable smell (putrid, beer, fish, sour or any other);
color change (grayish, yellow-green, beige, pink, brown, sanious, scarlet red);
change in appearance and consistency (viscous, sticky, curdled, foamy, flaky);
changes in the condition of the mucous membranes of the genital organs (swelling, irritation, redness, itching, burning, any rashes and formations);
other concomitant signs and symptoms (fever, pain, urination disorders, and others).

If at least one of the described symptoms is detected, an unscheduled visit to the gynecologist should be made. The immunity of a pregnant woman remains somewhat reduced, including local immunity: the vaginal microflora is now very vulnerable to pathological microorganisms. There is a high probability of developing thrush during pregnancy, colpitis, vaginosis, genital herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases and genitourinary infections.

If the discharge is simply liquid, plentiful, transparent, does not smell of anything and does not cause unnecessary discomfort, then most likely this is an absolute norm, you can limit yourself to only enhanced compliance with the rules of personal hygiene during this period:

take a hygienic shower at least twice a day;
do not use cosmetics with synthetic ingredients for this;
change clothes regularly for clean and dry ones;
wear underwear made of cotton fabrics, it is better to refuse thongs now;
Use panty liners that are breathable and fragrance-free. Do not forget that tampons cannot be used now. And gynecologists recommend doing without any hygiene products at all, replacing them with more frequent changing of underwear.

It should be noted that among the wide variety of changes that normally occur in the body of a pregnant woman and can occur during this period, watery discharge during pregnancy is one of the most common. If in other cases, doctors say that this happens or happens, then in this case we can say with confidence: liquid vaginal discharge appears in almost all women who are carrying a child.

So there is no need to worry! Enjoy your special position!

Especially for - Elena Semenova

From the moment of the onset of menstruation and throughout life, women can observe mucus in the vagina. Its presence is the norm and indicates the absence of violations in the work of the genital organs.

At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the discharge is liquid, which ensures the normal passage of spermatozoa and the fertilization of a mature egg. Since the onset of ovulation, mucus is also secreted and becomes much thicker. Its number is decreasing. The change in the nature of the secretions occurs under the action of the hormone progesterone. The secreted mucus is necessary to protect the embryo from infections.

The fixation of the embryo in the uterus is accompanied by changes in the hormonal background, which causes an increase in the amount of vaginal mucus. White watery discharge found during pregnancy is not abnormal. They mean that the woman managed to get pregnant.

Watery discharge can be observed not only in early pregnancy. They accompany the expectant mother during the entire period of expectation of the child. Their character changes depending on the duration of pregnancy.

First trimester. An increase in the body of the pregnant hormone progesterone leads to an increase in the amount of mucus. Normally, it is thick, white, odorless. Very liquid discharge is undesirable during pregnancy, as it indicates the presence of a pathological process.
Second trimester. This period is characterized by the activation of the hormone estrogen in the body of the expectant mother. Under its influence, watery discharge during pregnancy liquefies in the second trimester. The mucus becomes copious, resembling urine. Such changes are the norm, but only if the liquid does not acquire color and smell.
Third trimester. Estrogen continues to be produced in large quantities, making clear leucorrhoea even more abundant.

Distinguish between normal discharge and pathological discharge. The main symptoms of the latter are a change in color, smell and texture.

The most noticeable and alarming sign of problems in the body of a pregnant woman is a change in the color of the discharge. Their color may indicate the presence of a particular pathology. The appearance of an unpleasant odor also gives the liquid a painful character.

Mucus of bright or pale green color appears in the presence of a large number of leukocytes in the microflora of the vagina. This is a sign of the inflammatory process that occurs with infections, including genital ones. The mucus may be scanty or profuse, but the leucorrhoea is discharged in any case. Wet greenish spots on linen and hygiene products, sometimes with a smell, may indicate the presence of a serious illness: chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and others.

In addition to secretions, infectious diseases are characterized by:

Pain in the lower abdomen.
Weakness and deterioration in general well-being.
Feelings of pain in the vagina.
Sometimes - an increase in temperature to subfebrile.

Yellow liquid discharge, like water, during pregnancy can be the result of both an allergic reaction to intimate hygiene products and an infection of the genitourinary system.

A characteristic mucus with a sweet and sour odor occurs when amniotic fluid leaks. The color of the discharge in this case is also yellowish. Yellow discharge and smell are the first signs of this pathology. The fact is that before birth, the baby is in the fetal bladder, surrounded by water or amniotic fluid. This is necessary for nutrition, maintaining temperature and pressure indicators, depreciation and protection. Normally, the water should leave just before the onset of childbirth. The later the amniotic fluid leaves, the better.

If cracks form in the fetal bladder, water begins to be released in large or small quantities, and the fetus becomes vulnerable to infections. A similar phenomenon may occur due to infection of the fetus or the development of inflammation - chorioamnionitis.

Pathology develops at any time. It is especially dangerous at the beginning of pregnancy. During this period, the laying of the most important organs and systems takes place. In most cases, doctors recommend abortion, as a child can be born with severe visual, hearing, and respiratory disorders.

You can diagnose amniotic fluid leakage on your own by observing the color and smell of the vaginal secretion, as well as using a special amniotic test in the antenatal clinic.

White mucus is not an anomaly, but only if it has a watery consistency and does not smell. Sometimes white discharge becomes lumpy, taking on the appearance of a curd mass. This is one of the symptoms of candidiasis, which is also called thrush. The disease is quite common among pregnant women and is the result of a violation of the microflora of the external genital organs. In addition to curdled discharge, thrush is characterized by burning and itching sensations in the vagina.

Also, whitish mucus is one of the symptoms of herpes. In this case, small, sometimes painful, bubbles are noted in the genital area. Patients complain of discomfort.

Vaginosis has similar symptoms. Whites with this pathology are thick, frothy, white. Pregnant women may experience unpleasant itching.

Pink or reddish liquid discharge in pregnant women is a symptom of an incipient miscarriage. Fetal loss can occur at any time, but the first trimester is most dangerous. Reasons for miscarriage can be:

chromosomal abnormalities;
different Rh factors of the father and mother;
some serious pathologies of internal organs in a pregnant woman;
disorders of the immune system in the mother;
polycystic ovary syndrome;
severe stress and physical activity;
some medicines;
anomalies in the structure of the uterus;
bacterial and viral infections;
hormonal imbalance - insufficient production of progesterone or an excess of male hormones.

In addition to blood stains, with spontaneous abortion, there are false or real contractions, convulsions. Harbingers of an imminent miscarriage can be: weight loss, the disappearance of nausea and swelling of the mammary glands, discharge without bleeding. If such symptoms are detected, urgent hospitalization is required.

There are also brown discharges. They are the norm if they have a light shade and do not have a smell. The appearance of dark odorous mucus, accompanied by other symptoms, may be a sign of threatened fetal loss, ectopic pregnancy, infection, hormonal disorders. Also, watery discharge can be during pregnancy in women suffering from endometriosis, fibroids and abnormalities in the structure of the uterus.

ALL of the above symptoms, including staining of mucus and the appearance of an odor, require immediate consultation with a gynecologist.