What Causes Brown Discharge During Pregnancy?

3. Miscarriage

Most miscarriages occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriage is one of the biggest concerns in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, bleeding during the first trimester does not always indicate a miscarriage. Other symptoms typically accompany miscarriage bleeding to help you identify what you are going through. The symptoms may include:

• Intense cramps in the lower abdomen
• Mild to severe back pain
• Increased bright red bleeding
• Tissue with clot-like material may pass from the vagina
• A gush of fluid or watery discharge

Consult your gynecologist immediately if you notice the above symptoms. Your doctor will advise blood tests to check the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a pregnancy hormone. A lower level of hCG indicates miscarriage.

You may not even know you were pregnant if the miscarriage happens very early on, and may end up confusing it with your regular menstrual cycle. Here’s a guide to help you know the difference between a miscarriage and period.

4. Placenta Previa

The placenta is a vital organ that supports the growth of your fetus during pregnancy. The fetus draws nutrients and oxygen from the placenta and is connected to it through the umbilical cord. The position of the placenta is determined early on in pregnancy when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. It can be located at the front of the uterus (anterior), the back (posterior), at the top (fundal), or the bottom (low-lying).

The placenta will shift away as your uterus grows and stretches during pregnancy. In early pregnancy, the placenta is usually located low in the uterus. As the pregnancy progresses, however, the placenta moves to the top of the uterus. The placenta should be at the top of the uterus by the third trimester, allowing the cervix (opening of the uterus) to open for birth. Sometimes, the placenta grows in the lowest part of the uterus and partly or completely covers the cervix. This is called placenta previa.

You may bleed during your pregnancy and delivery if you have placenta previa. The lower portion of the uterus thins during the third trimester of pregnancy, resulting in bleeding. This causes bleeding from the area of the placenta over the cervix if a large portion of the placenta covers the cervix, the risk of bleeding increases.

A brown vaginal discharge during pregnancy is common with placenta previa. Consult your doctor if you have placenta previa and are experiencing heavy vaginal bleeding.