When you become pregnant, there may be changes you experience for which you were not prepared. You may have questions about them and worry what is and what is not something to worry about.

You may notice that you are producing a lot more vaginal discharge now that you are pregnant. The fluid you are seeing is called leucorrhea. It is a predominantly odorless milky fluid that you may have found in smaller amounts before you become pregnant. There is a lot more of it now because you body is changing. During your pregnancy time your body is increasing its estrogen production and increasing the flow of your blood to the vaginal area.

As you progress in your pregnancy time, you may even notice more vaginal discharge. What you will find as you approach labor it will probably look different from what you have become accustomed to. As your pregnancy progresses, your cervical canal will begin to efface and dilate. When this happens, you will likely notice vaginal discharge that looks more like egg white or what would come out of a runny nose. This is the passing of your mucus plug. Some pregnant women will pass the mucus plug all at once, which will be a discharge of one glob at once. Also, this vaginal discharge may be tinged with blood, which is completely normal.

One thing you must be aware of as a pregnant woman is that if you are discharging a lot of clear fluid. If you are later in your pregnancy time especially, it can be difficult to tell if this is mucus, which is normal or amniotic fluid, which is not. When in doubt, though, it is always best to be safe by contacting your physician or midwife. Be particularly aware if you are pregnant, but inside the 37 week mark. If at that point the discharge is increasing, changing, and particularly if it is watery, mucusy, or contains blood, you should call your physician right away. These can be signs of preterm labor.

You may worry about the new discharges from your body, but there is nothing you can really do about it. It is all part of nature's preparation of your body for child birth. You can use panty liners to help absorb the excess discharge if you need to, but other than that you must be careful. Avoid the following when you are pregnant: tampons, tight pants, bubble bath, scented toilet paper or sanitary napkins, feminine hygiene sprays, and douche.

When you are pregnant, you must still be aware of infection. If you are having the whitish discharge, but it is causing you and itching or burning discomfort, it may be a sign that you have a yeast infection. If the symptoms are more severe, like bad smelling discharge, or frothy discharge, you may have another type of infection or STD. Do not try to treat this yourself. See your doctor immediately for proper treatment.

Changes when you are pregnant can be scary, but the best way to calm yourself is through knowledge. Read up, ask questions, and stay informed about what your body will be doing during your pregnancy time. Know what to expect and you will have a much happier and healthier pregnancy.