Brown discharge 18 weeks pregnant

[Octoberbaby2025]

I’ve had some brown discharge on and off since 16+2. It’ll go away for a few days and then come back again. It’s come back this morning at 17+5 more than usual. I spoke to a GP who didn’t seem concerned on 2nd May, had a private scan on 3rd May and baby looked fine no blood around him etc so I felt reassured. The brown came back on Monday 5th May so called PAU and went in for checks. Had all my obs done e.g bp, urine, and temp, no issues as far as I’m aware, listened to the heartbeat and had a cervical exam. My cervix wasn’t dilated but she didn’t swab as didn’t seem worried. She only saw some brown in there, no blood coming through cervix etc. So again, felt fine. It’s then come back again on Saturday 9th, went away again, and then back again this morning Tuesday 13th. I called the midwife again today as it seemed heavier and isn’t going away, so I went to the GP for some swabs and a urine sample to be sent off to test for infection (finally). No one seems concerned as I’m not bleeding and not in any pain and probably just old blood or irritated cervix. Hopefully nothing to worry about but has anyone else had similar before? Overly anxious anyway as I suffered a loss in November. Positive experiences only please

I started bleeding sunday, bright red blood that soon changed to browm blood by monday morning and i ended up going for a scan yesterday im currently 13+3.
They said it was a very small SCH and its just coming away so may settle in your vagina and come out as brown.
My baby still had a heartbeat and still wriggling around in there.
It could be just a SCH that you had which hadnt been picked up and its bled and just gathered at the top of your vagina.
Atleast theyre doing swabs to check for infection! Everything will be fine x

Thank you! That’s reassuring to hear, hope you have a great pregnancy x

I had this around the same time - just small amounts. It turned out to be a cervical ectropion. I’ve also heard of people having had little subchorionic hematomas that show up on scans and usually just absorb, or sometimes have heard low-lying placentas can cause this too. Have you had any info from your scans, or any since the discharge? Definitely keep on at them, though, if they don’t know the cause. It’s probably something really harmless, but good to get checked and find out what it is.

Ahh okay! No, the sonographer just said everything looks normal, growing fine, strong heartbeat etc. No mention of any SCH’s and I’ve had about 7 scans since finding out I’m pregnant (anxious girly). However I do have my 20 week scan 2 weeks tomorrow so will definitely bring it up with them to check again as the previous scan was private. No one is really saying anything whoever I go to, just that it can be normal and may just be cervix irritation or old blood. My urine and and swabs have been sent off today to rule out infection. However will just keep an eye on it and hope it doesn’t get worse. I feel I’ve exhausted all avenues and no one is really giving much. The midwife I spoke to this morning was helpful however and said let’s rule out infection and if it continues then we can investigate further

Hi, I also had this at around this time, they didn’t really know why, thought maybe as I’m RhD negative and gave me anti-D but then another said it could just be the placenta as something happens around this time but they were super vague. I was honestly beside myself with worry so can totally empathise. Mine stopped after a few weeks off and on, I got lots of rest and watched a lot of Netflix. I now have a very talkative 21 month old, easier said than done but try not to worry too much!

Ahh okay, yeah they have asked me my blood type, and it’s not the type needed for an anti D injection. Just like you they’ve mentioned it could be the placenta e.g ripening, growing, irritation, I’ve had all the potential reasons! I guess it’s hard to really say when nothings been noticed on ultrasound and I’ve not been tested for infection (until today). Luckily I work from home, so I’m sat down all day so can rest a lot. Thank you, and I’m glad everything was okay for you 🥰