"Is this discharge normal?" A trimester-by-trimester guide

Nobody warns you about this one.

You find a bit more in your underwear than usual. Then a bit more. Some days it's thin, some days thick. You quietly wonder what is going on down there.

Then you open the group and see someone else has asked it. "27th week, a little thick white discharge. Is it normal?" "2 to 3 drops after walking. Should I worry?" "How do I know if it's discharge or my water breaking?"

These questions come up almost every week in our community. Here is the whole thing in one place.

Why there is so much more

Pregnancy hormones and extra blood flow make your body produce more discharge. It has a job. It keeps the area clean and helps stop infections from travelling up to your baby.

Healthy discharge is thin, clear or milky white, and doesn't smell bad. You'll see more of it as the months go by.

First trimester (weeks 1 to 12)

What to expect: A little more than your usual. Thin and milky.

Spotting: A few drops of pink or brown can happen early on. Still, tell your doctor about any bleeding, even a little. Let her decide if it's nothing.

Second trimester (weeks 13 to 27)

What to expect: More. Often thicker and white. You may notice it after a long walk, standing for hours, or while passing motion. That's usually fine.

Watch for thrush: Yeast infections are more common now. The signs are white, clumpy discharge like cottage cheese, with itching or soreness. It's easy to treat, but many creams and tablets aren't safe in pregnancy. Ask your doctor before using anything.

Third trimester (weeks 28 to birth)

What to expect: The most you'll have. It can feel wet enough to make you wonder if you've leaked.

Near the end: You may see thick, jelly-like mucus, sometimes pink or streaked with a little blood. This is called the "show." Your cervix is getting ready. Labour could still be days away.

Discharge or waters? This is the big one. Discharge is sticky or creamy and comes in small amounts. Leaking waters feel like a trickle or a gush you can't stop. It keeps coming, and it's usually clear or pale.

Not sure? Put on a pad (not a tampon) and call your hospital. Don't wait to see if it stops, especially before 37 weeks.

When it's usually fine

• Thin, clear or milky white
• No bad smell
• No itching or burning
• More after walking, standing or in the later months

When to call your doctor the same day

• It smells bad or fishy
• It's green, yellow or grey
• It's clumpy and itchy
• It burns when you pee
• There's any bleeding or spotting
• Watery fluid keeps trickling out

Go to the hospital straight away if the fluid is green or brown, or there's heavy bleeding.

Small things that help

• Wear cotton underwear and change it more often
• Use plain water to wash, no scented washes or sprays
• Never douche
• Wipe front to back
• A plain panty liner is fine. Change it often.

The bottom line

More discharge is one of the most normal parts of pregnancy. What matters is a change in colour or smell, itching, or anything watery that won't stop.

It can feel awkward to talk about. Your doctor has heard it all a hundred times. Ask her.