You will always have some vaginal discharge starting during puberty and reducing 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: 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.