The mucus plug is a sticky, reddish or brownish lump that resembles gel. It’s sometimes referred to as “having a show” or a “bloody show.” The mucus plug may become apparent during childbirth or while you are pregnant.
Mucus Plug
The mucus plug usually goes unnoticed by most women, especially if it comes out during labour. During labour, the mucus plug may emerge in small pieces, clumps, or all at once. You could experience this as well after using the restroom and wiping. Your underpants may have some discharge. It is common to see very small blood spots; do not be afraid.
Read More:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_mucus_plug
Although it is rare to lose your mucus plug before your body is prepared to give birth, being aware of its physical characteristics may help you distinguish between the mucus plug and regular discharge.
Role of mucus plug during pregnancy
The mucus plug serves a number of purposes such as:
- Mucus plug provides security. The mucus plug provides security while pregnant. When you get pregnant, a mucus plug is produced by your cervix. It is your body’s method of defending your uterus and developing child. Bacteria cannot enter the uterus because the mucus at the cervical opening shuts it off from the outside world.
- It indicates a softening of the cervix. Discharging mucus could be an early symptom of labour if your pregnancy is over the 37th week. During this time, your cervix usually opens up and softens to prepare for childbirth.
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What does mucus plug look like?
During the release of the mucus plug, the cervix’s capillaries may also burst. The removal of the mucus plug is commonly referred to as the “bloody show” because it can occasionally cause visible streaks of blood to flow along with some mucus. Although the incidents are connected, they are distinct from one another, and not everyone passes a mucus plug that contains blood. The mucus plug actually has a variety of appearances and textures.
The mucus plug can be creamy to yellowish-white, pink or brown-tinged, or even beige or brown. It can also be streaked with pink. The mucus plug is often thicker and more jelly-like and may appear stringy or sticky, yet it is mostly odourless like regular vaginal discharge.
Given that it differs from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy, it is hard to anticipate with precision when the mucus plug will pass. The amniotic fluid in the gestational sac provides sufficient protection for your baby up to the moment your water breaks, but it typically happens before labour, usually after 37 weeks. Sometimes the mucus plug doesn’t break until after the other signs of labour have started.
Sometimes, when using the restroom, you’ll find the mucus plug in your underwear, in the toilet or on a piece of toilet paper, or even in the shower. In some cases, it develops gradually over a few days and you might not even notice it. Though less frequent, some patients report a persistent ache in the lower abdomen that is comparable to menstruation cramps.
It may indicate that labour may start soon if you are aware of when your mucus plug emerges or if you detect bloody show, or it may indicate that you still have weeks to go.
Loss of mucus plug during pregnancy and what to do next?
The cervical softening causes the mucus plug to disappear in the majority of cases. The cervix is getting wider and thinner in preparation for delivery, which is referred to as cervical ripening or softening. The mucus plug can therefore be released because it is not being held in place.
After a cervical exam, some pregnant women may also lose the mucous plug. The mucus plug may become dislodged during an examination, and it may also become loose and break free during sexual activity.
Therefore, it’s crucial to remember that a mucus plug does not always portend an impending delivery. However, it frequently implies that the body and cervix are undergoing ongoing modifications to better prepare for childbirth. Additionally, the cervix softens and expands to make room for the baby to pass through the birth canal during delivery.
What happens next when you lose the mucus plug depends on how it appears and how far along in your pregnancy you are. Consider how to describe the mucus plug to the doctor when you are unable to see it. The size, general appearance, and colour descriptions you provide can help the doctor make a diagnosis.
If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant, tell the doctor. If they are extremely concerned that it is too early for the pregnancy’s mucus plug to be lost, they may advise an immediate evaluation to look at the baby and your cervix.
If It Occurs After 37 Weeks of Pregnancy: Losing your mucus plug should not be a cause for concern if you are more than 37 weeks pregnant and do not experience any symptoms that worry you. Call the doctor if there are any additional worrisome symptoms, or bring up the incident at your subsequent appointment. Avoid hesitating when deciding whether or not to call the doctor when pregnant. Always make the call; it is better. The doctor or other healthcare professional wants you and your kid to remain healthy and will assist you at any moment. Follow the doctor’s instructions; he or she may advise you to watch for labor-related symptoms, such as contractions.
Read More:- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cervical-mucus-plug
Signs and symptoms of loss of mucus plug
Losing a mucus plug is one of the signs of impending labour that may be present. While some women go into labour shortly or days after shedding a prominent mucus plug, others lose the mucus plug and continue to carry the baby for a few more weeks.
You might be getting near to giving birth when the mucus plug is removed and you start to exhibit the following labour signs. Labour symptoms and indicators include:
- Lightning
The baby lightens as it begins to descend towards the pelvis, which makes it easier for the mother to breathe but puts greater pressure on the bladder. When there is lightning, the baby is getting ready to support labour.
- Membrane Ruptures:
The amniotic sac splits and discharges fluid, which leads to the membrane rupturing, also known as water breaking. The fluid may be expelled suddenly or it may drip out slowly and watery. As the cervix dilates and softens in preparation for childbirth, contractions that happen when the membrane ruptures can become more frequent and prolonged.
- Thin cervical tissue
To enable the infant to enter the birth canal, the cervix should thin. When the due date is approaching, the doctor will perform a cervical examination to gauge any changes to the cervix.
- Dilation
Two key indicators of impending labour are cervix stretching and thinning. A woman is considered ready to give birth when her cervix is 10 cm dilated.
- Consistently Powerful Contractions:
Physical contractions cause the cervix to thin and dilate, which causes the baby to come forward. You must go to the hospital because the delivery is imminent due to the regular, intense contractions.
Therefore, removing the mucus plug is not the primary symptom, and it typically does not require medical attention. If your water breaks or you experience frequent, regular contractions, which are the two signs that labour is about to begin, you should visit a hospital right away.
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Frequently asked questions
If your discharge suddenly turns bright red and is larger than an ounce (roughly two tablespoons), this could be a sign of a complication like a placenta previa or placental abruption. You should contact your healthcare provider right away.
Make sure to consult your healthcare professional if you experience any additional variations in your vaginal discharge or suspect a yeast infection while pregnant.
The mucus plug will be released into the vagina when the cervix starts to open wider in preparation for birth, although the exact moment at which labour will start to progress differs. When there is a discernible mucus plug, some women go into labour within hours or days, while others might take a few weeks.
The mucus plug can go all at once or gradually over time, occasionally going unnoticed. The mucus plug occasionally contains a little quantity of blood, but excessive bleeding is indicative of placenta previa, placental abruption, or other pregnancy issues.
During pregnancy, an increase in vaginal discharge is typical. While the mucus plug’s discharge seems thick and more jelly-like in consistency, vaginal discharge appears thin and white or light yellow in colour. The mucus plug may also have brown, red, or pink blood stains on it.
Some women’s mucus plugs resemble a stretchy glob and come out all at once, much like the mucus that drains from the nose. It looks transparent, yellowish-white, crimson, or stained with pink or brown blood striations.
The mucus plug is lost once the cervix has expanded and become slightly more flexible. When the mucus plug is lost after 37 weeks of pregnancy, the woman’s body can repair it, so there is no need to worry about infection.
The mucus plug resembles ovulation discharge, but if it contains blood streaks and is thicker than usual vaginal discharge, it may be a sign that labour will soon start and that the pregnancy is coming to an end.
The mucus plug typically lasts until 37 weeks of pregnancy in most women. But occasionally, the mucus plug disappears days or even weeks before the baby is due. Some women do not become agitated until they are giving birth.
A woman is considered ready to give birth when her cervix is 10 cm dilated. When the mucus plug is gone, there is a potential that a few centimetres could get dilated for a few weeks.
It is still okay to bathe or engage in sexual activity after the mucus plug is removed since the amniotic sac will protect against infections until it ruptures.