Wetness during pregnancy

Vaginal discharge - NHS

You will always have some vaginal discharge starting a year or 2 before puberty and ending after the menopause.

How much discharge you have changes from time to time. It usually gets heavier just before your period. When you're pregnant, it's normal to have more discharge than before.

Healthy vaginal discharge is usually thin, clear or milky white, and should not smell unpleasant.

Non-urgent advice: Call your midwife if you have vaginal discharge and:

it smells unpleasant or strange
it is green or yellow
you feel itchy or sore around your vagina
you have pain when you pee

Any of these could be symptoms of a vaginal infection.

Urgent advice: Urgent

Contact your midwife or doctor immediately if you have any vaginal bleeding while you're pregnant.

Is it normal to have vaginal discharge in pregnancy?

Yes. It is normal to have more vaginal discharge in pregnancy. This helps prevent any infections travelling up from the vagina to the womb.

Towards the end of pregnancy, the amount of discharge increases further. In the last week or so of pregnancy, it may contain streaks of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus.

This is called a "show", and happens when the mucus that's been present in your cervix during pregnancy comes away.

It's a sign that the body is starting to prepare for birth. You may have a few small "shows" in the days before you go into labour.

Read more about the signs that labour has begun.

Thrush in pregnancy

Thrush is an infection that can cause unusual vaginal discharge. if you get thrush when you're pregnant, it can easily be treated - talk to your midwife or doctor.

Thrush can cause:

increased vaginal discharge which is usually white (like cottage cheese), and does not usually smell
itching and irritation around the vagina

Always talk to your doctor, pharmacist or midwife if you think you have thrush, as there are some thrush medicines you should not use while you're pregnant.

You can help prevent thrush by wearing loose cotton underwear. You may find it helps to avoid perfumed soap or perfumed bath products.

Find out more about vaginal discharge.

Page last reviewed: 31 March 2021
Next review due: 31 March 2024

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

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All women, whether they’re pregnant or not, have some vaginal discharge starting a year or 2 before puberty and ending after the menopause. How much discharge you have changes from time to time and it usually gets heavier just before your period.

Is it normal to have vaginal discharge in pregnancy?

Almost all women have more vaginal discharge in pregnancy. This is quite normal and happens for a few reasons. During pregnancy the cervix (neck of the womb) and vaginal walls get softer and discharge increases to help prevent any infections travelling up from the vagina to the womb. Increased levels of the hormones progesterone can also make you produce more fluid.

Increased discharge is a normal part of pregnancy, but it’s important to keep an eye on it and tell your doctor or midwife if it changes in any way.

How does vaginal discharge change during pregnancy?

Increased discharge can be a sign that you are pregnant — though many things can influence vaginal discharge so you can’t be sure this is the reason.

The amount of discharge may increase throughout the pregnancy. Towards the end, there may be so much you confuse it with urine.

Towards the end of pregnancy, the amount of discharge increases and can be confused with urine.

In the last week or so of pregnancy, your discharge may contain streaks of thick mucus and some blood. This is called a 'show' and happens when the mucus that has been present in your cervix during pregnancy comes away. It's a sign that the body is starting to prepare for birth, and you may have a few small 'shows' in the days before you go into labour.

When to see your midwife or doctor

You should tell your midwife or doctor if your vaginal discharge increases a lot in later pregnancy. If you have any vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, you should contact your midwife or doctor urgently, as it can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem such as a miscarriage or a problem with the placenta.

Normal healthy discharge should:

be clear and white
not smell bad

Tell your midwife or doctor if:

the discharge is coloured (greenish or brownish)
there is blood in the discharge
it smells strange
you feel itchy or sore

If the discharge is coloured or smells strange, or if you feel itchy or sore, you may have a vaginal infection such as thrush, which your doctor can treat easily, or bacterial vaginosis. Do not try to treat it yourself — always talk to your doctor, pharmacist or midwife if you think you have an infection.

You can help prevent thrush by wearing loose cotton underwear, and some women find it helps to avoid perfumed soap or perfumed bath products.

Sources:

Mater Mother’s Hospital (Pregnancy - information for women and families), NSW Health (Having a baby), Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (Hormonal health – clues made clear)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: November 2020

Common discomforts during pregnancy
Vaginal thrush during pregnancy

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causes, risks, recommendations for treatment and prevention

General information
What is dangerous cough during pregnancy
Causes and symptoms
- Common causes of cough in pregnant women
Treatment of cough in pregnant women
General recommendations
Prophylaxis

Pregnant women, due to the load on the body and a weakened immune system, endure colds and SARS more difficult. This is due to the inability to take certain medications to quickly relieve symptoms, and also because of the effect of the symptoms themselves on the body of a pregnant woman.

Cough as a concomitant symptom of colds provokes contraction of the abdominal, pectoral and spinal muscles. This increases the likelihood of developing uterine tone. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with a cough with sputum that is difficult to separate, only a doctor can prescribe a drug for treatment. Most often, these are expectorants of plant origin.

General

Cold viruses mainly infect the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, as well as the upper respiratory tract. Cough that occurs when the upper respiratory tract is affected is divided into productive and unproductive.

A productive cough is due to a cold (flu-like infection), bronchitis or an allergic disease. Accompanied by the formation of a large amount of separated mucus;
non-productive cough (dry cough) occurs as a result of inflammation of the larynx, trachea or bronchial mucosa, as well as irritation by foreign particles (dust or pollen). During coughing, mucus and sputum are not separated.

The form of cough is divided into acute and chronic. An acute cough lasts less than 4 weeks and is usually caused by infection or exposure to cold. Chronic cough lasts more than 4 weeks and can be caused by recurrent respiratory infections.

What is dangerous cough during pregnancy

1st trimester. The nervous and vascular system is being formed in the fetus, the natural barrier in the form of the placenta has not yet formed, so the defeat of intrauterine infection is fraught with fetal pathologies.
2nd trimester. The placenta is forming, and SARS can slow down this process. Cough causes a strong load on the pelvic organs, which provokes placental abruption. Characteristic signs - pulling pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding. The supply of oxygen and nutrients stops, this leads to hypoxia. At the same time, short-term hypoxia (5–10 seconds) does no harm.
3rd trimester. A productive cough can lead to rupture of the amniotic sac, premature birth, bleeding. Cough, accompanied by high fever, provokes the aging of the placenta.

In addition, any symptom of SARS is an additional stress for the expectant mother. A constant feeling of discomfort, fears for the health of the child contribute to the production of cortisol. The stress hormone, in turn, activates the work of the heart, provokes vasospasm, which, with prolonged exposure to the body, increases the risk of fetal hypoxia.

Against the background of a catarrhal disease suffered by the mother, the child may have weak immunity, nervousness, and low weight. According to medical observations, during the gestation period, viral diseases are most common - up to 85% of cases. Bacterial diseases account for up to 15% of cases. Common pathogens are adenoviruses, streptococci, coronaviruses, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses.

Causes and symptoms

The nature of the cough helps the specialist to establish its cause and make a preliminary diagnosis.

influenza - dry cough, mucous discharge, sometimes purulent, appears after a few days. Cough is accompanied by severe headache and muscle pain, high fever and general weakness;
bronchitis - a sharp spasmodic cough with contraction of the abdominal muscles. A strong cough can trigger a gag reflex. There is pain in the chest area. Cough worse in cold or dry air;
Allergic cough is a problem faced by pregnant women due to hormonal changes. Contact with an allergen provokes attacks of suffocation. Allocations of a mucous nature and are practically absent;
Rhinitis and pharyngitis are accompanied by nocturnal dry cough. In rare cases, the head and the area under the eyes hurt;
pleurisy - acute chest pain, shortness of breath, high temperature, which practically does not go astray, frequent dry cough;
measles - debilitating cough and rash on the skin.

Causes of cough typical of pregnant women

Dryness in the room, which increases the sensitivity of mucous membranes. This leads to an increased urge to cough. This problem is more common during the winter months in heavily heated rooms.
Vasomotor rhinitis during pregnancy is a runny nose caused not by viruses, but by hormonal changes. With a stuffy nose, patients breathe more often through the mouth, which leads to overdrying of the mucous membrane, which, in turn, leads to irritation of the throat.
Heartburn is a typical complaint. Coughing fits occur when lying down, when acid flows from the stomach back into the esophagus, irritating the sensitive mucous membrane of the throat, and then there is an urge to cough.
Cardiac cough occurs after excessive exercise and as a consequence of heart failure. The blood stagnates, edema forms in the lungs, which irritates the respiratory receptors and provokes a cough.

Treatment of cough in pregnant women

Due to the sensitivity of the situation and the risk of complications, most drugs and preventive measures are not recommended for pregnant women. If the disease is mild and does not require antibiotics, then you can limit yourself to general recommendations, after consulting with your doctor.

Consultation with the attending physician is required as a preventive measure before starting treatment to identify the causative agent of cough. The selection of drugs takes place taking into account their teratogenicity - the degree of toxicity of the drug in relation to the embryo.

Cough medicines are divided into two main groups: antitussives and expectorants. Their simultaneous reception is not allowed. Antitussives, peripherally or centrally act on the receptors and the cough center, blocking the urge to cough. Expectorants are divided into:

mucolytics, which thin the sputum and help to expel it;
drugs that activate the cough and vomiting centers in the brain by irritating the nerve endings and thereby stimulate the expectoration process;
drugs that increase the amount of pulmonary surfactant (prescribed for dry cough and wheezing in the bronchi).

In addition to drugs, pregnant women are recommended to rinse the nasopharynx. They are designed for local action, they are not absorbed into the blood and do not cause complications in the fetus.

Pregnant women can take lozenges for coughs and sore throats, use topical sprays with anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial effects. Even at high concentrations, only a small dose enters the digestive system.

Inhalations with a nebulizer help to improve secretion and sputum output. The device must not be used at high temperatures.

General recommendations

Room humidity should be 65-70%. This level of humidity is comfortable for the body, prevents the mucous membrane from drying out, and reduces the rate of development of pathogens. Wet cleaning reduces the risk of contact with allergens (pollen, dust, pet hair).
The room must be regularly ventilated, at least twice a day. Fresh air reduces the concentration of the virus in the air. The temperature in the room is recommended to be maintained at 22 degrees.
Sufficient fluids must be drunk to allow sputum to thin naturally.
Bed rest is recommended, especially for the first 3-4 days after symptoms appear.

Prevention

It is not recommended to visit crowded places, especially during seasonal influenza epidemics.
Contact with sick people should be limited.
Nasal moisturizers should be used regularly.
After visiting public places, it is important to thoroughly clean hands with antibacterial agents.
Must wear a gauze bandage when visiting medical and other public institutions.
Use only personal household appliances and hygiene products to avoid household transmission of germs.

Tracheitis in pregnant women. Symptoms, Treatment

The human respiratory system has many diseases. This is a cold, flu, pneumonia, etc., one of these diseases is tracheitis. With this disease the mucous membrane of the trachea becomes inflamed . Depending on the symptoms and characteristics of the course of the disease, it is divided into: acute and chronic.
In the acute form of the disease, concomitant diseases such as pharyngitis, laryngitis and acute rhinitis join tracheitis. The patient has swelling of the trachea, punctate hemorrhages and hyperemia of the mucous membrane. If not cured acute tracheitis , then it will develop into a chronic form.

This form of the disease (tracheitis) is divided into:

hypertrophic
atrophic.

In the first form of chronic tracheitis, the patient has severe swelling of the mucous membrane of the trachea , dilated blood vessels, abundant sputum when blowing nose or coughing.
If the patient has an atrophic form, the cough becomes dry and choking, very painful for the patient. It is caused by thinning of the lining of the trachea.

All diseases can cause harm to any person, and for a woman bearing a child, they are doubly dangerous. The same applies to tracheitis. Pregnancy a special condition of a woman, her body works for two. This double burden can weaken health, and therefore a pregnant woman is more susceptible to various diseases.
Tracheitis may occur in expectant mother not only because of a viral infection. It can also be the result of an allergic reaction for polluted atmosphere. A woman who smokes is also at risk of getting this dangerous disease.
This disease poses a danger not only to the expectant mother herself, but also to her unborn child. With the help of blood, the virus can enter the body of the fetus and harm it. Since neglected tracheitis can turn into bronchitis, timely treatment of this disease is very important. If the disease is diagnosed in time and cured before childbirth, then the harm to the health of the baby will be minimal.

How to determine the onset of tracheitis?

Trecheitis Symptoms

This disease is immediately expressed in its symptoms. The patient begins an annoying cough, which may worsen at night. Coughing fits also appear when crying, laughing, or even yawning.
During bouts of coughing, the person feels a tearing pain in the throat. Almost all patients with tracheitis try to reduce respiratory activity in order to avoid another bout of coughing, they develop rapid breathing. Not typical for this disease0142 high temperature . The sputum comes out in a small amount and at the same time it is very viscous.

If tracheitis affects the upper bronchi , then tracheobronchitis can join it. At the same time, a high temperature rises and a constant, even more painful cough appears. When tracheitis is accompanied by another disease - laryngitis, the patient may temporarily lose his voice or become hoarse.
If a pregnant woman feels symptoms of tracheitis, as with any disease, you should immediately consult a doctor. The therapist or otolaryngologist, having examined and carried out all the necessary tests, will prescribe the required treatment for tracheitis. The main task in the treatment of tracheitis is to identify and eliminate the causes of the disease.
In order to relieve pain, a pregnant woman is prescribed mustard plasters. To prevent the spread of the disease to the lower areas of the respiratory system, the doctor may prescribe sulfa drugs or antibiotics. To relieve cough, alkaline inhalations or drugs Libexin, Codeine are prescribed. Expectorants are also used, the roots of marshmallow or licorice.

Trecheitis Treatment

If the cause of tracheitis is a viral disease, mainly influenza , the doctor may prescribe Remantidin. When using this drug for each expectant mother, an individual scheme of use should be developed.
For a pregnant woman with tracheitis, the same rules must be followed as with other colds: bed rest, plenty of warm drink, steam inhalation.
If the disease was treated correctly, the pregnant woman complied with all the doctor's prescriptions, the drugs were used in the dosage prescribed by the specialist, then she will recede without consequences in one and a half to two weeks.