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Hi Martin,
It is difficult to know exactly what the discharge is that your partner is having, however it could be a couple of things. She may be passing some normal, mucousy discharge. During pregnancy, a woman’s vaginal discharge often increases.
However, if there is an odor or discomfort during sexual intercourse she may have developed a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Pregnant women are more susceptible to both.
It is important that she check in with her practitioner as she may need treatment.
I wish you both all the best.
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Hi Tori,
I am 8 weeks 2 days pregnant and noticed in the last 2 days my fatigue is almost gone (was extreme from 5-8 weeks), my nausea is gone (from 5-8 weeks was moderate) and my aversion to meat is gone. I have had no bleeding or cramping, but am very worried about missed miscarriage as I have read that a loss of symptoms could indicate this. Can you please help me understand what the chances of that happening are? I’m so worried that I’m losing sleep and would appreciate your input.
Thanks,
Julie-
Julie,
This is good news!
It sounds as though you are moving out of what can be a miserable start to a perfectly normal pregnancy. All that you have described are common symptoms of early pregnancy. Most women find that these symptoms pass by the end of their 12th week (the end of the first trimester). With Alexander my severe nausea did not leave until I was 14 weeks along. I distinctly remember the moment it did. I ate a huge plate of spaghetti!
It sounds to me like you are among the lucky women for whom these symptoms do not last long. Although the risk of miscarriage with any pregnancy is approximately 25%, the symptoms are generally bleeding and cramping.
Please try not to worry — you need your sleep at night!
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Hi Tori,
I’m 8 weeks and 3 days pregnant on my third pregancy. I have a healthy two year old from my first, but the second pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage at 10 weeks – though they said the baby probably died at about 8 weeks. I have just found some jelly-like, clear but yellow-tinged mucus in my underwear – probably about half a teaspoonful. Unfortunately I do remember this happening during the pregnancy when we miscarried, so now I am extremely worried that this might be happening again.The mucus has no smell. I did a little bit of an inspection with my finger (sorry for the details) and found that I have LOTS of thick white mucus – also with no smell. I was under the impression that the white mucus is normal but I’m really worried about the clear/yellow jelly. Could I be losing my mucus plug? Is it a sign of impending miscarriage?
Thanks for your advice,
Michelle
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Hi Michelle,
You don’t need to worry about ever giving me too much detail!
I am so sorry that you are worried about whether or not this pregnancy will be successful. Even though you had some mucous last time, a miscarriage more often begins with bleeding and/or cramping. Your mucous plug has not yet had time to develop and a discharge this early is very likely to simply be normal vaginal secretions.
Very soon your doctor will be able to see your baby’s heart beat on ultrasound and visualize if the baby is growing properly. I am thinking only the best wishes for you.
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Hello Tori
The Joy Of Pregnancy is really a fun educating book and I am getting a lot from it.
My question is regarding bacterial vaginosis. I had this before pregnancy and now I am 15weeks pregnant and want to know if the Gel Metronidazole will cause any problems to the baby. I used it for 7 weeks the first time and it came back again 2 days after I stopped it. My doctor then suggested a high dose – 3 times for 2 days and it still did not decrease my discomfort. Now doctor suggests the Metronidazol pill twice a day for 7 days.
Will this effect my baby and is it safe? And since I used this prescription as a creme and it did not work, will the pills work?
I am worried…please help.
Thank You
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Thank you so much for your question. I am so sorry that you have dealt with bacterial vaginosis for so long. As I am sure you know, it can be quite unpleasant!
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the name of a condition in women where the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria. It is sometimes accompanied by discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning. It affects more than 1 million pregnant women in the US. Your doctor is right. The metronidazole cream is really a first try and, in my experience is often not effective enough. Metronidazole, also known as Flagyl, is a Category B medication (Category C medications should not be taken during pregnancy). As with most medications, it does cross the placental barrier and enter the fetal circulation. Reproduction studies have been performed in pregnant rats at doses up to five times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to metronidazole. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Again, as with all medications, metronidazole should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Your situation is clearly an indication to switch from the vaginal cream to the oral pill. It is not good for either you or the baby to have untreated bacterial vaginosis. Please follow your doctor’s recommendation and take the medication exactly as prescribed. If you were to stop it too early your vaginosis may not fully clear up. I hope this helps and please let me know when you feel better!
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Hi Tori, I am 12 weeks pregnant and my appetite is finally returning! My concern is my diet. My husband and I have just moved to our new house and because we have been so busy, I’ve been eating rather poorly. In addition, I have no interest in eating fruits or vegetables (they just don’t appeal to me…) and under my doctor’s suggestion, I have stopped taking my prenatal vitamins. I am concerned that the combination of poor diet or no interest in healthy foods will affect my baby … any suggestions?
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It is very normal for you to lose your appetite during the early part of pregnancy, especially if you haven’t been feeling well. Your doctor probably suggested that you stop taking your prenatal vitamins because they can be upsetting to your stomach.
As your appetite increases, you will discover that your interest in foods will increase as well. Of course, it is important to eat a healthy diet, but all of us have had brief periods of poor eating habits without detrimental effects. If within a couple more weeks, you are still having no interest in eating foods from the basic four food groups, I would suggest meeting with a dietitian. Your practitioner can refer you to one. He or she can help you find very healthy (and surprisingly tasty) food selections that are off the beaten path.
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My partner, who is about nine weeks pregnant, does research in environmental chemistry in a laboratory at her university. I am concerned about the chemicals she is in contact with every day. What chemicals might be harmful to our baby, and what precautions should she take if she is working with these chemicals?
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Your partner’s employer should have a list of all the chemicals that are used in the workplace. Those that are dangerous to pregnant or lactating women should be posted, and she should not have contact with them. If you have any questions about this, you can contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. The OSHA website, http://www.osha.gov, is also an excellent source of information.
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Although I tried to lose weight before conceiving, I started pregnancy nearly 40 pounds overweight. My doctor has told me that I do not need to gain any weight and that I should just try not to lose any. He has given me suggestions about sensible eating, and I am committed to following them. Besides eating well, I am walking a great deal. I know that much of the weight gained in pregnancy goes to the placenta, baby, extra blood flow, and fluid. How, then, is it possible for overweight women not to gain?
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It is wonderful that you have a sensible approach to weight and nutrition and that you are doing everything possible to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
Obesity in pregnancy is associated with a higher incidence of hypertension (high blood pressure), preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and macrosomic babies (heavier than 91⁄2 pounds). Poor eating habits can cause obese women to gain even more weight in pregnancy. But overweight women who eat sensibly often discover that they gain very little during pregnancy. With proper diet and exercise, the body redistributes some of the weight. Some of the existing fat stores are used for the baby, the placenta, and breast tissue. This can happen without extreme dieting. It’s important, in fact, not to strictly limit calories during pregnancy nd while you are breastfeeding.
If you need help in managing your weight, ask your doctor about visiting with a dietitian or nutritionist. He or she can help you develop a healthy approach to eating and nutritious meal plans.
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Yes, you should get the flu shot this year. Pregnancy can decrease your immunity and put you at increased risk of getting the flu. Pregnant women are also at greater-than-average risk of developing serious complications of the flu, such as pneumonia. If you were to get the flu when your baby was a newborn, your baby might get it, too. The vaccine contains three influenza viruses that have been identified as likely to cause widespread infection in a given year. Your body takes about two weeks after you receive the vaccine to develop antibodies to the influenza viruses. Knowing that the flu season is at its height from December through March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that pregnant women be vaccinated in September or October.
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You may be having symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Although this condition occurs most commonly in women between 40 and 60 years old, often as a result of repetitive movements of the wrists and hands, it also occurs in as many as 25 percent of pregnant women. In pregnancy, hormonal effects, swelling, and weight gain can compress the nerve inside the carpal tunnel, which is a sheath of tissue surrounding the median nerve. This nerve supplies the thumb, the first two fingers, and half of the ring finger. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness, tingling, pain, and often a burning sensation in these areas, on one or both hands. Treatment includes wearing a wrist splint at night and during activities that make the symptoms worse, such as driving a car or holding a book. You may also be able to relieve the discomfort by rubbing or shaking your hands. Although the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be disturbing, they almost always disappear after the baby is born.
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About Tori Kropp
Known as "the Dear Abby of pregnancy," Tori has been interviewed on national television and radio and in national print publications, including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Washington Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution and Chicago Sun-Times.
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Hi Tori, my partner is about 26 weeks pregnant with twins and although we have had sex previously, the last two times have ended up with a yellow slime being produced which smells a bit cheesey. Do you have any idea what this could be?
Many thanks – Martin.