Is It Normal To Have Brown Discharge During Pregnancy?

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is normal and is usually caused by fluctuating hormones. In fact, your pregnancy hormones make your discharge heavier and thicker, and you may also notice a change in the colour of the discharge from time to time. Apart from clear, or white vaginal discharge, you may also notice brown discharge during pregnancy, especially in the later stages of your gestational period. 

You may experience brown discharge during pregnancy due to various reasons, and while some of them are harmless, a few others could indicate certain complications. Read on, as we fill you in on more details about the causes of brown discharge during pregnancy, and when to seek medical attention.

What Does Brown Discharge During Pregnancy Mean?

Brown discharge is vaginal discharge that looks similar to coffee grounds and is tinged with old blood. This blood remains in your uterus for quite some time and discharges slowly, and over time, the bright red blood oxidises and turns into a brownish colour.

During pregnancy, you may experience brown discharge due to various reasons. You should carefully watch out for coexisting symptoms to determine whether you need medical help.

Is Brown Discharge Normal During Pregnancy?

At the early stages of pregnancy, having light brown discharge (that varies from mucus-like to fluid texture) or spotting with no associated symptoms is considered normal. Otherwise, it is advised to consult your healthcare provider immediately.

Brown discharge is also considered normal during the third trimester, as you near your due date, and your uterus prepares for delivery. However, it can also be seen in severe conditions like placental abruption. Hence, it is important to consult your ob-gyn if you notice any abnormal symptoms along with brown discharge.

What Causes Brown Discharge During Pregnancy?

You may experience brown discharge due to natural changes occurring in your body or an underlying health condition. Some of the main causes include:

• Implantation bleeding: During implantation, the fertilised egg embeds itself into your uterine lining, leading to slight bleeding. This may be seen as a brown discharge a few days later.
• Changes in your cervical cell: Due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, your cervical cells may become extra-sensitive and tender. Any rough activity (such as a medical examination) or intercourse could irritate your cervix and cause light brown discharge during pregnancy.
• Nearing your due date: Your cervix softens as you near your due date, and before going into labour, you lose your mucus plug, which is a combination of cervical cells and mucus. The ejected mucus plug may appear as a red or brown discharge.
• Possible miscarriage: While it is common to experience mild brown discharge during the first few weeks of pregnancy due to bleeding in your chorion (the outermost membrane surrounding your embryo), in some cases it could signify a possible miscarriage. If you notice any other symptoms like abdominal pain and cramping along with the discharge, seek medical care immediately.
• Molar pregnancy: This condition is caused by an imbalance in chromosomes and is characterised by abnormal growth in your placenta. Though it commonly presents as fresh bleeding, it could also cause brown discharge and needs immediate medical care.
• Ectopic pregnancy: In this condition, pregnancy occurs outside your womb, either in the abdominal cavity, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. Your uterus remains empty, but the lining grows in response to the hormones. It could result in mild or heavy brown discharge and also needs medical assistance at the earliest. 
• Abnormalities in your placenta: Placental abnormalities, such as placental abruption and placenta previa could also cause brown discharge. 

How to Stop Brown Discharge During Pregnancy?

Treating underlying health conditions can help prevent brown discharge in most women during pregnancy.

• Your doctor may recommend antifungals or antibiotics if the brown discharge is related to yeast or bacterial infections.
• Placenta anomalies, such as placenta previa and placental abruption are treated by blood transfusions to tackle blood loss.
• Your doctor may also suggest you avoid fragrant soaps, vaginal perfumes, her harsh products in your vagina to stop blood or brown-tinged discharges.

When to See a Doctor?

Call your doctor immediately if you notice unusual symptoms along with brown discharge during pregnancy. Your ob-gyn will help you understand the exact reason based on what you are experiencing. If you have a fever or uterine contractions besides brown discharge, then head to your nearest hospital immediately for medical assistance.

Conclusion

Brown discharge during pregnancy may cause due to natural causes or could also be a sign of an underlying health condition. Regardless, you should always keep an eye out for the symptoms experienced along with the brown discharge, so that you can seek timely medical treatment in case of a complication. 

FAQs

Is brown discharge in the first trimester normal?

It is not considered normal in all cases. While it may occur due to implantation, it could also be a sign of pregnancy complications like ectopic pregnancy or placental anomalies.

When is brown discharge a cause of concern?

If you experience other symptoms like cramping, pain, or fever along with brown discharge, then consult your doctor immediately.

Can stress lead to brown discharge during pregnancy?

While stress is not directly linked to brown discharge, it may cause certain changes in your body that may affect the colour and consistency of your vaginal discharge. 

Also read:

Hidden pregnancy signs: These hidden signs and symptoms may confirm your pregnancy before a missed period. 

Double marker test in pregnancy: Should you opt for a double marker test in pregnancy? Get all the details here.

TIFFA scan in pregnancy: What does a TIFFA scan say about your pregnancy? Tap this post to know. 

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