Brown Discharge During Pregnancy: When It’s Normal and When to Get It Checked Out

One common concern for many expectant mothers is the appearance of brown vaginal discharge. Fortunately, although brown discharge during pregnancy is alarming (and maybe a little gross), it can be caused by innocuous reasons.

However, in some cases, it can also signal a health issue that needs attention. We’ll take a look at what usually causes this symptom of pregnancy and when it means you should see your doctor.

Vaginal discharge, which doctors call leukorrhea, is normally clear or white. It turns brown when it contains a bit of old blood.

The blood appears brown, not red, because it’s had time to oxidize (a chemical reaction that happens when it’s exposed to oxygen). This is a natural process as it moves through your body.

Is brown discharge normal during pregnancy?

In a word, yes, brown discharge can be normal. Some pregnant women get it.

Pregnancy discharge is, itself, a very common symptom, and nothing to be concerned about as long as it’s healthy. In this case, the color (and knowing that it comes from blood) might be scary, but there are a lot of reasons for there to be some blood present in your discharge when you’re pregnant. 1 These include:

• Implantation bleeding: Very early in your pregnancy, around the time your period would have come, you may see light spotting (bleeding) caused by the fertilized egg implanting in your uterine lining. Sometimes the blood may be reddish, meaning it’s fresh, but it can sometimes hang around for longer inside your body, giving it time to oxidize and turn brown.
• Cervical sensitivity: Later on, your cervix will become very sensitive due to your surging hormones, which cause increased blood flow to the area. This can also cause bleeding, particularly after activities like sexual intercourse or getting a pelvic exam, or even using a tampon (although doctors generally caution pregnant women to avoid using tampons—don’t use them without getting your doctor’s go-ahead first). 1
• Release of the mucus plug: In your third trimester, as your body prepares for labor, it will release the mucus plug, a collection of secretions that protect your cervix. For all the reasons we just listed (mainly tissue sensitivity), the mucus might be tinged with old blood.
• Cervical dilation: Similarly, near the end of your pregnancy, you might discharge something known as “bloody show.” This is a sign that your cervix is beginning to dilate (open up), which means your baby will shortly be on his way. “Show” is usually red or pinkish, but it can sometimes stay in the body long enough to turn brown. 2

All of those are common and don’t indicate you’re at risk for any complications. In fact, the last two mean it’s time to get excited—your baby will be on his way soon!

With all of that said, you should see your doctor if you see a lot of blood in your discharge, regardless of whether it’s brown or red. “A lot” means “enough to soak through a pad.”

You should also contact your doctor if the brown color is persistent, instead of just being a fleeting, occasional thing. Heavy or unrelenting bleeding can indicate a complication that requires treatment.

Other symptoms you should see your doctor about

See your doctor if you experience any of these other symptoms. Again, that’s true whether or not they’re accompanied by brown discharge.

• Severe abdominal pain: Some cramping is normal when you’re pregnant, but especially bad abdominal or pelvic pain (known as symphysis pubis dysfunction) warrant an immediate visit to your doctor. You should also let them know if you have contractions.
• Other changes in your discharge: See your OB if you produce discharge that’s green, yellow, or gray, especially if it has an unusual consistency, is frothy, or has a foul smell (healthy vaginal discharge is nearly odorless). 3
• Vaginal irritation: The same applies if you feel unusually itchy or irritated down there. That can be a sign of infection.
• Shoulder pain: Shoulder pain, particularly when it’s accompanied by vaginal bleeding, can be a sign of several rare but serious complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy.
• Severe nausea and vomiting: A bit of nausea (morning sickness) is completely normal, but if you’re unable to keep food or water down, get yourself checked out.
• Any other worrying symptoms: Overall, just listen to your body. If you have a fever, chills, back pain, or just feel unwell, tell your doctor. It might be nothing, but when in doubt, it’s better to get checked out. 4

What conditions is brown discharge sometimes associated with?

Brown discharge doesn’t usually indicate a problem, but when there’s an unusual amount of it or it’s paired with one of those other symptoms, it can be a sign of:

• Infection: Vaginal or cervical infections, like bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can cause inflammation, leading to bleeding and—eventually—brown discharge.
• Placenta issues: There are several problems that can occur with the placenta, including placenta previa (growing in the wrong place) and placental abruption (separating from your uterine wall before it should). Both can cause bleeding.
• Preterm labor: Bleeding or spotting after week 20 but before week 37 of your pregnancy can be a sign that you’re going to give birth early. This is often accompanied by cramping or contractions.
• Ectopic pregnancy: This is when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies can cause bleeding and need urgent medical care.
• Molar pregnancy: This is another rare condition where abnormal tissue grows instead of an embryo. It can cause ovarian cysts and other serious issues, with consequent bloody discharge.
• Miscarriage: Most of the time, women who experience light brown spotting go on to have healthy pregnancies. However, in some instances, brown discharge can be an early sign of a miscarriage.

Some of those issues (such as minor vaginal infections) may be relatively mild. Others are major complications—ectopic pregnancies, for example, aren’t viable, and always lead to miscarriage when they aren’t treated.

All of that’s unsettling to read about, but to reiterate: don’t panic! Nobody likes thinking about pregnancy complications, but most women who notice a bit of brown fluid in their discharge go on to have perfectly healthy pregnancies (and healthy babies).

The important thing is to see your doctor right away if you have any concerning symptoms. They’ll tell you what’s going on and what to do.

What to expect when you see your doctor

If you see your doctor about brown discharge, they’ll ask you questions about:

• Your symptoms (how long it’s lasted, how heavy it is, whether you’ve had any cramping, etc.)
• Whether you did anything that could have triggered it, like sexual intercourse
• Your medical history
• How your pregnancy has progressed so far

It probably goes without saying that you should answer as honestly and completely as you can. If you can come prepared with answers, that’s even better—it can be stressful to rack your brain for them in the moment.

After you answer their questions, your doctor will probably perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam, and they might also take a swab of the discharge to test it for infections.

It’s possible your OB will be able to rule out the most serious complications right away. If they can’t, they may order an ultrasound to check the health of your baby and placenta.

If your discharge is tinged with brown due to a normal physiological process, like implantation bleeding, you don’t need to do anything about it. It’ll go away on its own before long.

However, if it turns out there’s a problem, there’s a range of treatments your doctor might recommend. If your discharge is caused by an unusual level of cervical irritation, they might just tell you to avoid sexual activity until it resolves. If it’s the result of an infection, they may prescribe a course of antibiotics and tell you to rest up.

Is there any chance you’ll need surgery?

In rare cases—if it turns out the discharge was caused by a serious issue—your doctor might order surgery.

Molar pregnancies, for example, usually require surgery (which, unfortunately, always means terminating the pregnancy, since the fetus isn’t viable). If you have an issue with your placenta, your doctor might order a caesarean section, either immediately or in the future. In that case, the goal will be to save your baby.

There are enough things that can cause old blood to be in your discharge that it’s impossible to predict in advance exactly what the treatment will be. The most likely outcome is that your doctor will complete your examination and tell you there’s nothing to worry about.

When you pictured your pregnancy, brown vaginal discharge probably didn’t feature in your fantasies. Again, this is nobody’s favorite thing to deal with, but the majority of the time, it’s nothing serious.

Keep monitoring the color (and odor and consistency) of your discharge. As long as you’re diligent about looking after yourself and you keep an open line of communication with your doctor, the odds are great that you and your growing baby will be just fine.