Pregnancy is that period of your life, when you cannot predict anything with 100% conviction. It is a different experience for every person. There might be some things in common, but the overall experience is diverse for each and every pregnant woman.

Pregnancy can be accompanied by some wonderful as well as some horrible experiences. You may find yourself confronting many unpleasant reactions from your body. This is because your body is changing rapidly and the hormones playing their balancing act. One of them is fluids and discharges coming from your vagina. There could be many potential reasons for yellow discharge during early pregnancy from the vagina. It could be a result of an infection which if left untreated, could spread through your cervix to the placenta and infect the amniotic fluid. In this article, we will discuss yellow discharge during pregnancy. Read on to find out everything about it.

All You Need to Know about Yellow Discharge During Pregnancy

The sudden surge in hormones, the increase in levels of oestrogen within the body and the additional blood flow to the vagina can cause leucorrhea (discharge seen from the vagina through pregnancy). This discharge mainly comprises of secretions from the cervix as well as from the vagina, normal bacterial flora from the vaginal walls and the old vaginal cells. The amount and frequency of the discharge differ in case of  every pregnant woman.

Is this Discharge Normal?

Vaginal discharge is the pregnant woman’s body’s own mechanism for cleaning the vagina by flushing out dead cells and bacteria to keep the vagina clean and extremely healthy. Leucorrhea, an increased amount of vaginal mucus, is a very much common pregnancy symptoms. The discharge will peak during the third trimester. If the discharge has a foul smell and is of a dark colour, then you need to visit the doctor.

Causes of Yellow Discharge During Pregnancy

Other than high oestrogen levels, there are some other causes of bright yellow discharge that pregnant women may be confronted with.

Dominance of Oestrogen

High levels of oestrogen mean larger amounts of vaginal discharge. Other factors that cause an increase in oestrogen levels are excess body fat, stress, low fibre diet or even a weak immune system. Your doctor may prescribe medication if oestrogen dominance is the cause of abnormal discharge.

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are common during the second trimester as the hormones affect the vagina’s pH level allowing yeast called Candida Albicans to grow. This causes a thick white foul smelling discharge, vaginal itching, redness and swelling of the vulva. The colour of the mucus may differ in every woman, and your doctor may prescribe medication that will eliminate the infection soon causing no harm to your baby.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is caused when the balance of good and bad bacteria of the vaginal flora is toppled. Good bacteria control the bad bacteria, but when the bad bacteria outnumber the good, it results in Bacterial Vaginosis. It is characterized by a yellow-green, thick and foul-smelling discharge accompanied by itching and swelling. This condition could lead to premature delivery, low birth weight of the baby and even uterine infection after pregnancy if not treated on time.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)

The most common cause of abnormal discharge, STD’s pose a very high risk to both the mother and the baby. STD’s if not treated on time could lead to premature rupture of the membrane, premature delivery and even low birth weight of the baby. The main STD’s that lead to an abnormal discharge are Trichomoniasis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.

Treatment for Yellow Discharge During Pregnancy

There are preventive measures that could help reduce the amount of discomfort resulting due to discharge.

• Panty liners are good to absorb the discharge if it is not caused by an infection.
• Keep the vaginal area clean, healthy and neat wiping it from front to all the way at the back. Wear cotton panties for additional comfort.
• Avoid scented soaps, pads and toilet paper, hygiene sprays, and tight-fitting pants.
• Stay away from douching as it distresses the normal bacterial flora of the vagina and increases the chances of having an infection.

Prevention of Yellow Discharge During Pregnancy

• Keep the genital area clean and dry all the time.
• Wearing loose fitting clothes and undergarments that will not irritate the skin.
• Avoid douching the vagina to abate infection.
• Following a healthy diet and include a lot of yoghurt in it.
• Control stress through various means of yoga and meditation.

Conclusion

You should not immediately panic in case you see yellow vaginal discharge during your pregnancy. It is normal in some cases and can be treated properly. However, in case you feel something is wrong, definitely consult a doctor.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3703429/

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/criog/2018/2394695/