During 5th month of pregnancy if there is some amount of watery discharge per vagina what does it indicate?
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ACOG prelabor rupture of membranes patient watery vaginal discharge pregnancy
Watery vaginal discharge at 5 months (about 20 weeks) can be harmless, but it needs prompt assessment because it can also be a sign that amniotic fluid is leaking.
Possible causes:
- Normal pregnancy discharge: usually thin or milky-white, small in amount, without bad smell, itching, or irritation.
- Urine leakage: common in pregnancy, often happens with coughing, sneezing, or a full bladder.
- Vaginal infection: more likely if there is itching, burning, foul/fishy odor, yellow-green color, or pain.
- Leakage of amniotic fluid due to rupture of membranes: can feel like a sudden gush or a continuous/intermittent watery trickle that keeps wetting underwear. Before 37 weeks this is called preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and requires urgent obstetric evaluation. ACOG lists watery or increased discharge as a warning symptom of preterm labor.
What to do: Contact the obstetrician/maternity unit today, especially if the fluid is clear and watery, ongoing, or you are unsure whether it is urine. They can check with a sterile speculum examination and tests of the fluid, sometimes ultrasound. Do not use tampons, douche, or have intercourse until reviewed.
Go to urgent care or hospital now if there is continued leaking, bleeding, lower abdominal pain/cramps or contractions, fever, foul-smelling fluid, or reduced fetal movements.
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