Leucorrhoea during pregnancy, like what is normal and need to watch out for?

Have you ever experienced vaginal discharge during pregnancy? There will be many changes that occur in a woman's body during pregnancy. One of them that may also make you anxious is the sudden discharge of vaginal discharge. Is vaginal discharge during pregnancy normal or should it be treated immediately? The following is the full explanation.

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy, normal or not?

Leucorrhoea is a normal thing that occurs in a woman's body as sweating or urinating. In women who are not pregnant, vaginal discharge indicates that their vagina is cleaning itself and protects against the risk of infection.

So, what if you experience vaginal discharge during pregnancy? Do not worry. Discharge of discharge before and during pregnancy basically describes the function of cleaning the vagina that is still running well.

The condition of vaginal discharge during pregnancy is normal

Leucorrhoea when pregnant is a normal condition if the texture is thin, clear or milky white, and the aroma is light (not too thick).

Leucorrhoea is also included as an early sign of pregnancy. This whitish discharge is called leukorrhea.

Leucorrhoea can start to appear as early as two weeks after conception, even before you realize that your period is late.

The condition of vaginal discharge during pregnancy is also generally considered normal if it continues throughout pregnancy. This discharge usually tends to come out most in the last trimester of pregnancy.

In the last week of pregnancy, pregnant women will notice that the discharge has a thick mucus line that sticks with the blood. This is an early sign of labor and pregnant women do not need to panic.

Even so, not all pregnant women will always experience vaginal discharge. There are some pregnant women who experience vaginal discharge in greater numbers than before they became pregnant, some do not.

What causes vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

As explained above, vaginal discharge during pregnancy is a sign that the vagina is still functioning properly to clean and protect itself on a regular basis.

Leucorrhoea is not always a sign of danger or pregnancy complications to watch out for.

During pregnancy, the cervix (cervix) and vaginal walls will soften due to increased production of the hormone estrogen.

The increase in pregnancy hormones will also affect blood flow to the vaginal area so that it becomes more abundant and smoother than usual. This condition then triggers the discharge of vaginal discharge during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the cervix and vaginal walls become softer and produce more mucus or what is called vaginal discharge.

This is because the body produces more of the hormone estrogen and more blood flows to the cervix during pregnancy.

Leucorrhoea during pregnancy actually serves to protect the cervix or vagina from bacteria or germs from outside.

That way, vaginal discharge during pregnancy helps prevent vaginal infections that can move to the uterus and harm the fetus.

Towards the end of pregnancy, the baby's head pressing on the cervix can also cause more vaginal discharge to appear, as quoted from the NHS.

Sometimes, you may not be able to tell the difference between vaginal discharge and urine when the texture is quite runny.

The condition of vaginal discharge during pregnancy that makes you need to see a doctor

It is normal to have vaginal discharge during pregnancy, but it is important for you to keep an eye on it. So, if at any time there is something strange about vaginal discharge, immediately consult a doctor.

The following are signs of abnormal vaginal discharge that could be a sign of a vaginal infection.

Whitish changes color, for example, becomes more yellow or greenish
Give off an unpleasant odor
You feel itchy or painful in your vagina

Normally, vaginal discharge appears when it has characteristics such as white (like milk) and is clear and does not give off an unpleasant odor.

If you have a yeast infection during pregnancy, your doctor will recommend a suppository cream to avoid yeast infection.

How to distinguish normal and not vaginal discharge

Even though vaginal discharge is quite normal, you still have to be observant about its appearance, whether it is normal or not.

Fluid Normal vaginal discharge should be slightly thick and sticky mucus that is clear or milky white and does not smell strong.

The amount of fluid that comes out is usually small, not soaking the underwear. However, the older the gestational age, gradually the volume of vaginal discharge also tends to increase.

This aims to prepare the body, especially the vagina, for the birth process

On the other hand, there are certain health conditions that can cause vaginal discharge to be abnormal.

Here are a number of health problems during pregnancy that affect vaginal health:

1. Whitish signs of fungal infection (candidiasis)

Leucorrhoea during pregnancy can be a sign of vaginal yeast infection (candidiasis) if the texture is lumpy accompanied by a thick, foamy liquid and has a strong odor.

Candidiasis yeast infection also causes the vagina to feel itchy or hot due to irritation.

Quoted from Virtua, biological specialist dr. Eric Grossman says about one in four women will develop a vaginal yeast infection. But take it easy because most of these conditions do not harm the baby.

Although yeast infection can be easily treated with drugs at pharmacies, pregnant women are not advised to just buy and use it. We recommend that you consult with your doctor first about recommendations for dealing with it.

To avoid fungal infections, you can take preventive measures, namely:

Wear loose clothing so the skin can breathe
Dry the vagina after bathing, swimming, and exercise to keep it from getting damp
Eating fermented foods to maintain good bacteria in the body.

Abnormal vaginal discharge also indicates pregnancy complications. Call your doctor immediately for further consultation because it could be a sign of palsenta previa or placenta abruption.

2.Lucorrhoea is a sign of a bacterial infection (bacterial vaginosis)

Vaginal discharge when pregnant which indicates bacterial vaginosis is usually a cloudy white, gray, or yellow mucus with a fishy or sour smell.

Sometimes this condition is also accompanied by a vaginal itching and redness. About 10-40 percent of pregnant women who are infected with bacterial vaginosis are at risk of premature labor and infection in the form of amniotic fluid.

Therefore, do not ignore the vaginal discharge you experience when pregnant if the color and texture are not as usual.

3. Whitish signs of miscarriage

Discharge during pregnancy can indicate symptoms of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy if the mucus is brownish or accompanied by blood spots. These two pregnancy complications are potentially dangerous for both mother and baby.

Although spotting can be a sign of pregnancy, vaginal discharge accompanied by this condition may also indicate an injured cervix from sexual intercourse during pregnancy.

Another possibility could also be due to a pelvic exam, such as a pap smear during pregnancy.

If caused by these two things, vaginal discharge accompanied by blood spots can still be said to be normal. These blood spots will slowly disappear over time.

4. Leucorrhoea is a sign of sexually transmitted diseases

A yellow or greenish vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor may be a sign of trichomoniasis.

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease that can increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW). Meanwhile, vaginal discharge with a cloudy yellow color indicates gonorrhea.

How to deal with vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

Leucorrhoea is often uncomfortable and interferes with activities. How to handle it? First, make sure that vaginal discharge during pregnancy is still normal.

You are also advised to keep yourself and your female area clean by:

Get in the habit of washing hands first before touching the vaginal area.
Rinse the vagina with clean water (no need to use vaginal cleansers) from front to back every time you pee.
Avoid using vaginal cleaning wipes (feminine wipes) and vaginal douche because it can irritate the skin of the vagina.
Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight during pregnancy so that the intimate area can still "breathe".
Routinely change your underwear and pantyliners when you have a lot of vaginal discharge.
Dry the intimate area after bathing, swimming, defecating, and exercising so that it is not constantly damp.

When in doubt, consult your gynecologist to ensure that the vaginal discharge you are experiencing is not dangerous.

How to prevent vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

Preventing vaginal discharge during pregnancy is not possible because vaginal discharge is normal. However, you can do something to prevent vaginal infections from occurring.

Here are things you can do to prevent vaginal infections due to vaginal discharge:

Do not use pantyliners every day during vaginal discharge because they can irritate the vaginal area.
Do not use tampons because they can introduce new germs into the vagina.
Use unscented detergent to wash your underwear. Rinse the laundry until it is completely clean.
Avoid using scented soaps or antiseptic solutions that are added to the bath.
Wash hands before and after touching the genitals.
Make sure the vagina is well lubricated before sexual intercourse to prevent irritation.
Choose cotton underwear so it is easy to absorb sweat.
Also choose loose trousers, shorts, or skirts to wear so that sweat doesn't accumulate in the area around the vagina.
Clean the vagina from front to back so that germs or bacteria around the anus do not spread to the vaginal area.
Quit smoking because smoking makes you more susceptible to vaginal infections.
Eat foods high in probiotics, such as yogurt, because probiotics can help maintain the balance of good bacteria in the vagina.