Pregnancy and Vaginal Discharge

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Vaginal discharge is one of the first signs of pregnancy. Your output may increase within one to two weeks of pregnancy, even before your expiration.

As your pregnancy progresses, it will continue to increase in volume. The discharge is also thicker and more frequent. It is usually heavier at the end of your pregnancy.

During the last weeks of your pregnancy, you may have thickened mucus and blood lines in your vagina. It’s called the “bloody show.” It may be an early sign of wages. Let your doctor know if you have any bleeding.

The common vaginal discharge, or leucorrhea, is thin and clear or milky white. It also has a light smell.

If your discharge is yellow, green or brown, with a strong and unpleasant odor, this is considered unusual. Abnormal discharge can be a sign of infection or anxiety of your pregnancy, especially if there is redness, itching or swelling.

If you think you have abnormal vaginal discharge, tell your health care provider right away. Find out more about vaginal discharge during pregnancy.

Pregnancy tests

An ultrasound will be used to confirm and date your pregnancy.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG
Complete Blood Test
Blood Glucose Test
Urine C/E
Blood group
Anti HCV
HbsAg
HIV

Tests Associated with Pregnancy


PURPOSE	TEST NAME	WHY PERFORMED	WHEN PERFORMED	WHO PERFORMED ON/SAMPLE
Genetic tests for inherited diseases	Genetic testing for inherited diseases	Check carrier status for certain genetic diseases to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease	Preconception or first trimester	Mother and father (blood sample)
	Genetic testing for hemoglobin disorders	Check carrier status for certain abnormal hemoglobin disorders to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease	Preconception or during pregnancy	Mother and father (blood sample)
	Cystic fibrosis carrier testing	Check carrier status for CF	Preconception or first trimester	Mother and father (blood sample)
Testing to detect health conditions in the mother	Blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c	To screen women at risk of type 2 diabetes (which is different than gestational diabetes)	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Pap test and HPV testing	Screen for cervical cancer and some STDs	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (cells from her cervix)
	Immunity to rubella (German measles)	Check for immunity to the virus, which can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	HIV screening test	Check for HIV infection so steps can be taken to reduce likelihood of transmission to the baby	Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk	Mother (blood sample)
	Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis tests	Check for STD infections, which can cause miscarriage or infect the baby during delivery	Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk	Mother (cervical cells, urine or blood sample, depending on test)
	Hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening	Detect hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection	Pre-conception or first trimester; may be repeated in the third trimester if at high risk	Mother (blood sample)
	Varicella zoster virus testing	Check for immunity to chickenpox, which can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	TORCH panel	Check for infection with toxoplasmosis and other infections that can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester, if infections suspected	Mother (blood sample)
	Bacterial vaginosis	Detect infection, which can cause pre-term labor	Preconception or whenever symptoms experienced	Mother (vaginal secretions)
	Urine culture for bacteriuria	Detect bacterial infection in the urinary tract, which can lead to kidney infection or increased risk of pre-term delivery and low birth weight	First prenatal visit or between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy; may be repeated in third trimester	Mother (urine sample)
	Group B streptococcus	Detect infection, which can harm the baby during birth and infect the mother’s uterus, urinary tract, and any incision made during a cesarean section	Between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy	Mother (specimen from vaginal and rectal areas)
Confirmation and monitoring of pregnancy and health of mother	Pregnancy test (hCG)	Confirm pregnancy	First trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Urine screen for glucose and/or protein	Check for signs of kidney or bladder infection, undiagnosed diabetes or gestational diabetes, or pre-eclampsia	Each prenatal visit	Mother (urine sample)
	Complete blood count (CBC)	Check for anemia and/or detect low platelet count	Preconception and/or early in the first trimester; repeated in third trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Blood typing and antibody screen	Check for potential incompatibility in blood type between mother and fetus (such as Rh factor antibodies)	First trimester; antibody screen repeated between weeks 28 and 29 of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Glucose challenge test/oral glucose tolerance test	Check for gestational diabetes	Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	In women with known thyroid conditions, to adjust medication if necessary	Throughout pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
Detection of fetal abnormalities or assessment of risk	First trimester Down syndrome screen	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome	Usually between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample plus ultrasound)
	Second trimester maternal serum screen	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities or open neural tube defects	Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Cell-free fetal DNA	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities; currently recommended for women at high risk of having babies with these disorders	During or after the 10^thweek of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Chorionic villus sampling	Detect chromosomal disorders in the fetus	Between weeks 10 and 12 of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother (cells from the placenta)
	Amniocentesis	Detect certain birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities	Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother (amniotic fluid)
	Cordocentesis	Detect chromosomal abnormalities, blood disorders, and certain infections	Between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother/fetus (fetal blood sample obtained from vein in the umbilical cord)
Fetal maturity/readiness for birth	Amniocentesis	Check fetal lung development	After week 32 of pregnancy if risk of pre-term delivery	Mother (amniotic fluid)
Fetal maturity/readiness for birth	Fetal fibronectin (fFN)	Detect fFN; negative result is highly predictive that pre-term delivery will NOT occur in the next 7-14 days	Between week 22 and 35 of pregnancy, if having symptoms of pre-term labor	Mother (cervical or vaginal fluid sample)