4 Weeks Pregnant Brown Discharge – 6 Reasons Why
Pink or brown discharge during pregnancy can be caused by a number of different things- and whilst this discharge may cause concern, it is usually not an indicator of anything serious.
But what does brown discharge mean? What are the causes of brown discharge during the first trimester? This article- “4 Weeks Pregnant Brown Discharge- 6 Reasons Why” will answer those questions, and more.
- What is Brown Discharge?
- What are the Causes of Brown Discharge During Early Pregnancy?
- How Can I Stop Brown Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy?
- When Should I Contact My Doctor About Brown Discharge During Pregnancy?
What is Brown Discharge?
Brown vaginal discharge is discharge tinged with old blood (or blood that has oxidised, due to taking a while to exit the body from the uterus, through the vagina).
Women often see brown discharge as a regular part of their cycle, around the time of menstruation, however, if it is accompanied by other symptoms, it may be a sign of something else.
What are the Causes of Brown Discharge During Early Pregnancy?
What does brown discharge mean during pregnancy?
Brown discharge during pregnancy can have plenty of causes- most are no cause for concern, some are serious, and other reasons may simply be unknown. Below, we discuss the potential causes of brown discharge during early pregnancy.
1. Implantation Bleeding
If you are experiencing light brown discharge in early pregnmancy (at 4 weeks pregnant), implantation may be the culprit.
Implantation bleeding is pink or light brown bleeding caused by the implantation process: where a fertilised egg implants itself into the uterine lining, after travelling from a fallopian tube to the uterus. The movement of the fertilised egg or blastocyst implanting into the uterus causes tiny blood vessels within the uterine wall to break, which causes the light bleeding or spotting.
Implantation usually occurs at around 7 to 14 days after conception, so, if you have a regular menstrual cycle, implantation bleeding will typically happen when you expect your next period.
The implantation bleeding brown discharge may be accompanied by the following implantation symptoms:
- Implantation cramping
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Diarrhea and/or Constipation
- Thick and clear discharge that may be blood tinged discharge
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Implantation dip
2. Ectopic Pregnancy
Although rare (around 1 in 90 pregnant woman rare), ectopic pregnancies can be the culprit of dark brown discharge during pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is when a pregnancy occurs outside of the uterus, usually within a fallopian tube.
An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency, so if you are experiencing the following ectopic pregnancy symptoms, you should visit the emergency room:
- Lower abdominal pain or pelvic pain on one side
- Vaginal bleeding (or dark brown discharge)
- Pain in the tip of your shoulder
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy will typically occur between your 5th and 14th weeks of pregnancy.
3. Cervical Irritation
Cervical irritation may be the cause of the brown vaginal spotting you are experiencing. The cervix contains lots of blood vessels, and can bleed easily if irritated, causing brown spotting or light bleeding. A common cause of cervical irritation is sexual intercourse or vaginal infection.
4. Vaginal Infection
Some sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, might cause brown discharge or spotting during pregnancy.
A burning feeling when peeing, vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour, pain during sex, and vaginal discharge with an awful scent are some of the other symptoms.
Healthy vaginal discharge is usually cream, white or clear in colour, has a thin or stretchy consistency, and no odour.
5. Miscarriage
Whilst there are plenty of causes of dark discharge or bleeding during pregnancy, it is worth noting that a miscarriage could be the cause. An early miscarriage will be accompanied by symptoms other than brown discharge. These other symptoms include:
- Cramping and pain in the lower tummy
- Spotting
- A discharge of fluid from the vagina
- A discharge of tissue from the vagina
- Vaginal bleeding
- Lower back pain (and the brown discharge in early pregnancy)
- No longer experiencing usual pregnancy symptoms. You can read more about 4 weeks pregnant symptoms.
Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester, with around 20% of pregnancies ending in miscarriage in the first trimester.
It is possible to experience abnormal bleeding and abdominal pain, without pregnancy loss, and still continue to have a normal pregnancy. This is called a threatened miscarriage.
To confirm whether or not you have had a miscarriage at 4 weeks pregnant, your doctor can perform a Quantitative hCG Blood test. If you are someone who is at risk of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, your doctor may want to perform a 4 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound. For more information about a miscarriage in early pregnancy, you can read our article 5 weeks pregnant miscarriage.
If you believe you may have had a chemical pregnancy, you can read our article, “7 Tips For Getting Pregnant After Chemical Pregnancy“.
6. Unexplained Bleeding
Light bleeding or brown discharge at 4 weeks pregnant- or during early pregnancy in general- is rather common, with around one in four pregnant women experiencing some form of bleeding during the first few months of pregnancy.
A combination of very mild abdominal or lower back pain and brown discharge during early pregnancy is reported by around 15 in 100 people, and does not always mean there is a problem with the pregnancy.
The reason for the brown discharge during early pregnancy is often unknown, and most women tend to go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
How Can I Stop Brown Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy?
You may be wondering how to stop brown discharge during pregnancy. Whilst it cannot be completely stopped or prevented with causes such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, there are some steps that you can take to prevent brown discharge, and vaginal infections that may cause the brown discharge, from occuring:
- Avoid using panty liners
- Avoid the usage of soaps with antifungal/antibacterial agents and moisturising cream
- Avoid using fabric softeners or bleach on underwear
- Ensure you do not wash the vaginal area more than twice a day- as this can strip away the naturally occuring bacteria that helps to prevent infection
- Washing underwear with mild soaps and water
- Wear light and loose underwear made of cotton
- Only perform vaginal douching if advised by your gynecologist
When Should I Contact My Doctor About Brown Discharge During Pregnancy?
As a general rule, you should consult your doctor if you experience bright red bleeding, which may be accompanied by abdominal cramping, during pregnancy.
In addition to this rule, if you are experiencing symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, STI or miscarriage, as discussed in this article, you should consult your doctor immediately.
Are you experiencing brown discharge at 5/6 weeks pregnant? If so, then our article, Brown Spotting at 5/6 Weeks Pregnant is perfect for you.
My name is Louise and I am the Digital Marketing and Administrative Assistant at MyBump2Baby. I have been writing in the parenting niche for over 2 years specialising in fertility, pregnancy, baby and baby name support articles.