Brown Spots & Discharge in Early Pregnancy: What to Know

Question
I am 15 weeks/four days pregnant and have noticed small brown spots, sometimes light brown discharge in my underwear. When I wipe there is nothing. It's always clear discharge. I have contacted my doctor in the past and he assured me everything is fine. I do not have any cramping associated with the discharge and have not been sexually active since I found out I was pregnant. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Should I be concerned?

Answer
Dear Erika,

Vaginal bleeding/spotting can occur frequently in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and may
not be a sign of problems. Bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage but does not
mean that miscarriage is imminent. Studies show that anywhere from 20-30% of
women experience some degree of bleeding in early pregnancy. Approximately half
of pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages.

Unless you begin to experience cramping (like strong menstrual cramps) and/or
clots or tissue passing with heavier bleeding, I would not be overly concerned.
However, continue to note it to your OB doctor at your OB visits.

Please be aware that you should never wear a tampon or introduce anything else
into the vaginal area such as douche or sexual intercourse if you are currently
experiencing bleeding. It is also useful to wear a pad or pantiliner so that you
can accurately judge the amount of spotting/bleeding.

I hope that this has helped you and answered your questions and I apologize for the delay - personal family crisis.

Brenda