Known as leucorrhea, the vaginal discharge is an odorless or mild-smelling milky discharge that you can see appear in your underwear because of increased estrogen production and greater blood flow to the vaginal area. Made up of secretions from the cervix and vagina, old cells from the walls of the vagina, and normal bacterial flow from the vagina, the discharge is a valuable aid to detecting early pregnancy symptoms.
While the vaginal discharge may be common even before pregnancy, it is during pregnancy that the secretion increases in flow. The process by which the flow increases occurs in the following manner.
In very early pregnancy, cervical secretions fill your cervical canal and create a protective barrier -a device known as mucus plug.
As your cervix begins to thin out and dilate, it may expel this mucus, and you'll notice discharge that looks like egg white or mucus resembling discharge from a runny nose. You may even expel the plug in one gelatinous glob. This discharge might have some amount of blood in it.
Is Vaginal Discharge Clean?
If the early pregnancy symptom discharge is thin and clear and then there is a lot of it, you may actually be leaking out amniotic fluid, a suspicion you can dispel by consulting your doctor. While cervical mucus could be early pregnancy discharge, it could also be normal vaginal discharge, yeast infection discharge, or ovulation discharge. The ovulation discharge usually looks like egg whites, and can resemble a slight creamy textured discharge that you may not even notice.
Vaginal discharge can look alarming if even when you are at your 37th week and you notice an increase in discharge or a change in the type of discharge, and it begins to look like a watery, mucus-like, or bloody secretion. This could be a sign of preterm labor. Another time to get alarmed is when you suspect that you have an infection, when the discharge causes you discomfort such as itching or burning-or your vulva looks inflamed. The discharge you are emitting could also be foul-smelling, or frothy or yellow, and it may be time to get a thorough check-up of yours done.
Also, there's nothing when the discharge is being emitted, for you to do but consult a physician if it is seriousl. Otherwise, you can do nothing to stop the flow. You can take some care-giving tips for yourself or precautions, such as keeping your genital area clean, wearing cotton underwear, and avoiding fancy deodorants, scented pads or toilet paper in the area. Early pregnancy symptom discharge should not be allowed to become a cause for panic or misery.
There are many common early pregnancy symptoms. Discharge from the vagina is almost universal in the early weeks of a pregnancy. This increase in the discharge is due to the increase in the growth of the cells lining the vagina. The walls naturally start to thicken as soon as the egg is fertilized and this thickening can cause you to have a discharge of a white, milky fluid. The medical term for this fluid is leucorrhea and is harmless so it doesn??t need any treatment. This discharge may actually continue throughout the pregnancy.
If you notice that the discharge has a foul odour, then this could be the symptom of a bacteria or yeast infection. Other symptoms of this that will require you to have medical treatment in the form of creams and vaginal suppositories include itching and burning sensations. Douching will not have any effect on the normal discharge you experience during pregnancy.
Other early symptoms of pregnancy that you can watch for in addition to missing your normal menstrual period include:
Morning Sickness. This is common in the first trimester of pregnancy and the name comes from the fact that most women have nauseous feelings early in the morning. Nausea and queasiness can occur though at any time of the day or night. You may also develop an aversion to foods you once loved to eat or to the smell of certain foods being cooked. These food aversions and the nausea are not harmful and are a normal part of carrying a baby in the womb. The sick feelings tend to abate at about the 13th or 14th week, although some women continue to feel sick all through the pregnancy. Some helpful hints include having dry crackers ready to settle your stomach and eating small meals more often so that you don??t feel hungry.
Constipation. This complaint affects a large proportion of pregnant women. It is largely due to an increase in the body production of progesterone which decreases the colon ability to absorb water from the food you eat. Drinking more milk than you usually do can also cause bouts of constipation. This problem tends to worsen just after the first trimester. You can help ease the problem by making sure you drink plenty of water, getting plenty of exercise and including foods high in fibre in your diet.
Dizziness or Fainting. Many pregnant women first find out they are pregnant after they faint and then go to the doctor to try to determine the cause. It is also more noticeable in the second trimester when you get up or move suddenly. During pregnancy the blood vessels dilate at a dramatic rate and the amount of blood may be too much for the vessels. This is what causes the dizzy or fainting spells.
Fatique. Feeling more tired than usual is a very common early sign that you may be pregnant. The blood is carrying more oxygen to the fetus in the womb, which causes your heart to beat faster and in turn causes you to feel fatigued. Take naps during the day or if this is not possible start going to bed earlier at night. Eating foods that are rich in protein and iron can also help to reduce the feelings of tiredness.
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