Bleeding during pregnancy is not unusual, but it does not necessarily mean that it is dangerous and causes problems with your pregnancy. 1 in 4 of you may experience vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, pink discharge can be caused by vaginal discharge and other factors. In addition to pink discharge in the first, second and third trimesters, pink-brown discharge is of great importance.
What are the reasons for pinkish brown discharge in early pregnancy?
Light brown-pink discharge in pregnancy is another name for light spotting, which starts around 3 or 4 weeks. Here are some of the reasons for this. They include:
Implantation bleeding
1 or 2 weeks after fertilization (the egg attaches to the uterine wall), you may experience spotting or something medically known as implantation bleeding. The uterine wall is thick and full of blood vessels, and a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, disrupting the blood vessels. Implantation bleeding is a normal part of pregnancy and is not much to worry about. It’s brown and pink. It is usually lighter in color than the period. You will notice it as a spot on your underwear or toilet paper. It lasts from a few hours to a few days.
Contamination
After implantation bleeding, another common reason for pinkish-brown discharge during the early stage of your pregnancy is contracting a sexually transmitted disease or infection. Gonorrhea or chlamydia are some of them.
Intense physical activity
Since you are nurturing another beautiful life inside of you, physical activities like climbing stairs or carrying heavy groceries during the early stage of pregnancy can be strenuous for you. The result is pink-brown discharge.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy, also known as a ‘fallopian tube pregnancy’, occurs when the egg is fertilized and attaches itself outside the uterus. 1 in 60 pregnancies undergo an ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, an ectopic pregnancy is the reason for your brownish-pink discharge. In this case, the blood is older, it is brown.
Intercourse or physical examination
When it comes to pelvic exams, remember that anything that pierces the cervix or near the cervix can also cause bleeding, including intercourse with your partner during early pregnancy. Beyond that, hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can make your cervix more sensitive—among other things.
Mucus plug
As your body prepares for labor, the cervix begins to soften and releases a plug of brown-colored mucus when it is released.
Failure
Pregnancy loss or miscarriage is a common experience in 10% to 15% of pregnanciesespecially in the first trimester. A miscarriage may be associated with cramping, bleeding and watery discharge. Studies have shown that 17% of you may have further pregnancy complications later.
In addition to these, a 2019 study showed that one-third of women bleed during the first months of pregnancy. The placenta not developing properly is one of the reasons for bleeding in the early stage of pregnancy.
What are the reasons for pink-brown discharge during the second and third trimester of pregnancy?
As the pregnancy progresses, the baby grows and takes up the entire uterus and is usually more severe than first trimester bleeding. The reasons include:
- Inflammation or growth of the cervix can cause light bleeding.
- Placental complications such as placental abruption (detachment of the placenta from the wall of the uterus before or during labor), placenta previa (the placenta is low in the uterus and partially covers the cervix), and vasculature previa (cervical blood vessels) cross the placenta).
- Bleeding can also mean you are in early labor. In this case, the vaginal yellow discharge is bloody, watery and releases a plug of mucus.
- The rare but life-threatening uterine rupture is caused by a scar from a previous C-section that opens the uterus.
Pink discharge is also part of the recovery after your baby is born. The discharge you experience after giving birth is similar to a period and consists of mucus, blood and uterine tissue. If you notice an increase in discharge or bleeding with other symptoms, call your doctor or go to the hospital.
