Brown Discharge at 7 Weeks Pregnant
If you experience brown discharge at 7 weeks pregnant, it can be alarming. However, brown discharge can have a variety of causes- some of which are completely harmless. If you are a couple weeks earlier, we also have an article on 5/6 weeks pregnant brown spotting.
In this article:
- Discharge During Pregnancy
- What Does Brown Discharge at Pregnancy Week 7 Mean?
- Is it Normal?
- What Can Cause Brown Discharge?
- When Should I Consult My Doctor?
Discharge During Pregnancy – 7 Weeks Pregnant
During pregnancy, your discharge becomes thicker and heavier.
This discharge is usually clear or white and it is known as leukorrhea.
During pregnancy, you are much more susceptible to yeast infections due to the hormonal changes, which disrupt the pH balance of the vagina, so it is important that you learn to recognise what healthy and abnormal vaginal discharge looks like.
Signs of healthy vaginal discharge include:
- Vaginal discharge that is clear and jelly like
- Vaginal discharge that is milky white in colour
- Vaginal discharge that is yellow-white in colour
- Vaginal discharge that with no odour
- Vaginal discharge witha creamy consistency
- Vaginal discharge with a consistency like egg whites
Signs of unhealthy or abnormal vaginal discharge include:
- Discharge that is yellow-green or green in colour
- Discharge that is grey in colour
- Vaginal discharge that is accompanied by itching
- Vaginal discharge that is accompanied by redness or swelling of the vagina
- Vaginal discharge that has a foul or fishy odour
- Discharge that is clumpy in consistency
- Brown or red discharge outside of your menstrual period
What Does Brown Discharge at Pregnancy Week 7 mean?
Brown discharge typically means that there is blood within your discharge. Brown blood is old blood that has been in the uterus for a while.
Is it Normal?
Is brown spotting normal during pregnancy?
Studies show that bleeding is not an uncommon occurance during early pregnancy, or more specifically, the first trimester. Brown discharge during pregnancy can be normal.
There are a range of reasons why you may experience brown discharge during early pregnancy. These reasons are listed below.
What Can Cause Brown Discharge?
We have established that brown discharge is old blood that has taken a while to exit your body through the vagina. But what can cause this brown discharge?
Read on below to find out.
Hormonal Changes
During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes, including changes in hormone levels.
This increase in pregnancy hormones can cause an increased amount of blood flow to the cervix, which can make some women’s cervixes very sensitive. This can cause the cervix to bleed.
Early Miscarriage
Early miscarriages can be responsible for dark brown discharge. This brown discharge is described as coffee grounds.
Early miscarriages are also responsible for bright red bleeding, spotting and clots.
Symptoms of an early miscarriage to look out for include:
- Lower abdominal cramping
- Cramping in your lower back
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Passing fluids
- Passing blood clots which are larger than normal
- Passing tissue from the vagina
- Brown coffee ground discharge whilst pregnant
- Clotty brown discharge
If you experience heavy vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, or if you think you are experiencing miscarriage bleeding, you should consult your doctor.
Miscarriages occur more commonly during the first trimester, but when they happen after 20 weeks of pregnancy, they are called stillbirths.
Threatened Miscarriage
A threatened miscarriage is where there is vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
There is an 83% chance of your pregnancy continuing- and you birthing a healthy baby- after a threatened miscarriage.
Threatened miscarriages can also cause brown vaginal discharge.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Whilst ectopic pregnancies are uncommon, they can be a cause for brown or brownish-pink discharge or vaginal bleeding.
An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg becomes implanted outside of the womb- most commonly within the fallopian tubes- the tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus.
Ectopic pregnancies are medical emergencies that require immediate medical action.
The first signs of an ectopic pregnancy are light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Brown discharge
- A missed period
- Tummy pain or pelvic pain on one side
- Pain in the tip of your shoulder
- Discomfort when having a bowel movement
- Discomfort when urinating
- Other symptoms of pregnancy
If you believe that you may be having an ectopic pregnancy, you should consult your health care provider as soon as possible, as they are classed as a medical emergency.
Irritation
The most common cause of brown discharge or brown spotting at 7 weeks pregnant is irritation.
The sudden increase in hormones, combined with the increased blood flow, throughout your body and to your cervix, can cause your cervix to become incredibly soft and sensitive, making it liable to bleed should irritation occur.
The cervix can become irritated from activities such as sexual intercourse or a pelvic exam.
So, if you are experiencing light brown discharge or dark brown discharge at 7 weeks pregnant- it may be due to irritation.
Implantation Bleeding
Implantation and implantation bleeding typically occurs between 6 and 12 days after you ovulate, or at between 6 and 12 DPO. Implantation most typically occurs at around 10 DPO- so much earlier than 7 weeks pregnant.
Implantation is when the fertilised egg implants into the uterine lining.
It is through this connection that the fertilised egg, or zygote, receives the nutrients and blood supply that it requires to grow.
Implantation can cause light brown discharge, light spotting and mild cramping- called implantation cramping.
When Should I Consult My Doctor?
You should consult your doctor if you feel concerned or worried about any pregnancy symptoms you experience during your pregnancy.
If you experience heavy or bright red bleeding- especially if it is accompanied by abdominal cramping- you should consult your doctor immediately- as it may be a sign of a miscarriage.
Louise is a valuable contributor to our blog, with many years of experience in the parenting niche. She specialises in crafting well-researched articles on fertility, pregnancy, and baby care, often collaborating with experts. With a solid background in baby name research and guidance, she is dedicated to providing trustworthy and insightful content, making her an essential resource for parents navigating their journey.
Kimberly Langdon M.D. is a retired, board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with 19-years of clinical experience. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, earning Honors in many rotations. She then completed her OB/GYN residency program at The Ohio State University Medical Center, earning accolades for her Senior Research Project and Score of 98th percentile on a National Proficiency Test.
During clinical practice, she specialized in infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and minimally invasive surgeries. Since leaving private practice, she founded a medical device company where she invented six patented medical devices for both life-threatening and non-life-threatening conditions. She is an expert in women’s health and medical writer; a featured author on a variety of healthcare sites.
