Everyone knows about morning sickness being a sign that you could be pregnant and the most well-known and obvious indicator of pregnancy is a missed menstrual cycle, right? Did you also know that vaginal discharge could likely be a sign of early pregnancy? If not, then read on for the details.
The vaginal discharge that you might see in your underwear or when you wipe yourself after urinating could range in color from milky white to pinkish-brown. It is caused by the increase in your estrogen levels and more blood flow to your vagina. It could look like you are spotting especially if you see it around the time your normal menstrual cycle would begin. The pinkish brown color is a little bit of blood that could be left over from your previous menstrual cycle and is nothing to become alarmed about.
Not every woman experiences this type of vaginal discharge either, so not seeing the discharge does not mean that you aren’t pregnant! You could very well be pregnant and not have this particular sign of early pregnancy. The surest way to determine whether you are pregnant is to see your doctor for a test.
The vaginal discharge is sometimes called a mucous plug because it blocks your cervical opening in order to protect your child from infections. As your pregnancy turns to labor your body will expel the mucus plug because of your dilating cervix.
As long as the vaginal discharge you are experiencing has no odor, and is not accompanied by burning or itching, it may be one of the first signs of early pregnancy. If the vaginal discharge you are experiencing is foul smelling and itchy, you should see your gynecologist immediately. Your doctor will need to examine you because you could have a viral or bacterial infection or a sexually transmitted disease that must be treated.