The mucus plug is a thick, jellylike clump of mucus that forms in thecervixduring pregnancy.
The cervix is the opening to theuterus.
The mucus plug acts as a barrier to the uterus and prevents infection.
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As your body gets ready to give birth, the cervix starts to dilate.
The mucus plug becomes loose and may come out through the vagina.
The mucus plug often looks like clear or pink vaginal discharge that is tinged with blood.
It is difficult to predict exactly when the mucus plug will dislodge from the cervix.
It will also discuss other signs of labor and when to go to the hospital.
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What Is Bloody Show?
“Bloody show” is another term for the mucus plug.
When your body expels the mucus plug, it may appear red or pink because it contains blood.
This is why it is referred to as a bloody show.
Thecervixcontains many blood vessels, and some vessels may rupture when the mucus plug becomes dislodged.
You may notice a small amount ofblood in your vaginal discharge.
If you experience heavy bleeding, seek medical attention right away.
Is Losing My Mucus Plug a Sign of Labor?
Your cervix must dilate to 10 centimeters (cm) for your baby to be born.
As the cervix starts to dilate, the mucus plug gets loose and comes out through the vagina.
It is possible to expel all or part of the mucus plug.
Does Losing the Mucus Plug Mean Labor Will Start Soon?
The short answer is, maybe.
Losing your mucus plug is a sign that labor is coming, but it may not start right away.
The time between losing your mucus plug and going into labor varies.
These changes cause physical symptoms that tell you that labor and childbirth are near.
Lightening
Lighteningoccurs when the baby drops into the lower part of the pelvis.
When this happens, your baby bump appears lower.
You may notice that it feels easier to breathe because your uterus is no longer pressing against your diaphragm.
Once the baby drops, you may feel more pressure on your bladder.
Water Breaking
Your water breaks when the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby breaks open.
This is referred to as the rupture of membranes.
When the amniotic sac tears or breaks,amniotic fluidleaks out of the vagina.
You may feel a sudden gush or slow trickle of warm liquid.
If you believe you are leaking amniotic fluid, contact a healthcare provider.
Cervical Thinning
As your body prepares for labor, the cervix becomes thinner and stretches.
This occurs so that the baby can pass through the cervix and vagina.
Cervical thinning, also known as effacement, helps to get your body ready for childbirth.
Contractions
Uterinecontractionsare a sign that labor is near.
Your uterus contacts to help push the baby through the cervix and vagina for childbirth.
Uterine contractions will become stronger over time.
Contractions may feel like pain and tightening in your lower abdomen or lower back.
The pain is often similar to menstrual cramps in the beginning and becomes more intense as labor progresses.
Labor contractions are regular and get stronger over time.
This information will help you to determine when it is time to go to the hospital.
The mucus plug looks like a thick clump of jelly.
It may be clear, pink, brown, or blood-tinged.
You may experience spotting with it as well.
It is also possible to lose your mucus plug after sex or a pelvic exam.
If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant, call your provider to schedule an exam right away.
There is no need to try and keep your mucus plug.
Simply flush it down the toilet and describe the appearance to your provider.
If you lose the plug too early, it is important to let your healthcare provider know right away.
If you are unsure about whether to call your provider, always err on the side of calling.
It protects the fetus by keeping bacteria and other sources of infection from reaching the uterus.
As you near the end of your pregnancy, your body will go through changes to trigger labor.
One of those changes involves the cervix.
To prepare for childbirth, the cervix thins and dilates.
When this occurs, the cervix loosens, and the mucus plug dislodges.
When you pass it, your mucus plug looks like a thick clump of discharge.
It may be clear, pink, brown, or tinged with blood.
Losing your mucus plug is often a sign that labor will begin soon.
If you lose your mucus plug before your 36th week of pregnancy, call your healthcare provider right away.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What does it mean to lose your mucus plug?
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What are the symptoms of labor?
Soma-Pillay P, Nelson-Piercy C, Tolppanen H, Mebazaa A.Physiological changes in pregnancy.Cardiovasc J Afr.
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Office on Womens Health.Labor and birth.
