Stringy, sticky and jelly-like in texture. 1 to 2 inches in length. 1 to 2 tablespoons in volume. Relatively odorless.
The cervix generally needs to be dilated to 10 centimeters before it's ready for the baby to pass through. Your cervix can be dilated to a couple of centimeters for a few weeks before delivery. This softening can cause the mucus plug to be dislodged and come out.
Most women don't notice the mucus plug, especially if they discharge it during labor. The mucus plug might come out in bits, clumps, or all at once during labor. This might also happen when you are wiping after using the bathroom. You might find some discharge on your underwear.
There's no magic dilation number that results in losing your mucus plug. Losing it doesn't mean you're dilated a certain amount, either. Your mucus plug may come out a little at a time as you dilate (or if it gets dislodged for another reason). It may even come out during labor without your noticing it.
Losing the mucus plug is not typically harmful. However, it may indicate a person is at risk of preterm labor if it happens before 37 weeks. A person should contact a doctor or midwife about any mucus-tinged blood that appears before their pregnancy reaches full term.
You'll see it as a jelly-like substance, which might be clear or slightly pink or streaked with a small amount of blood. When you are losing the mucus plug, You'll notice it on your underwear or on toilet paper after going to the loo. It could be in one single piece, like a blob of gel.
What Does the Mucus Plug Look Like? Color: It can be clear, white, green, yellow, slightly pink, or brown. (Kinda like the mucus that expels from your nose and throat.) Normally though, they are off-white with streaks of pink.
You may notice a glob of mucus in your underwear or when you wipe. Some pregnant people will not notice losing their mucus plug, especially if it happens slowly and in bits, which looks similar to normal vaginal discharge. The mucus plug may also simply get washed away during a shower.
As long as the mucus plug discharges after 37 weeks of pregnancy or later and you and your doctor have no concerns, there is nothing specific you need to do after losing the mucus plug. Even if you lose your mucus plug several weeks before delivery, don't worry. Your baby is still protected.
But the mucus plug can be quite watery, and when the waters break there isn't always a lot of fluid released. So it could be hard to tell what's happening. Remember if you're not sure what's happening, put a pad on and contact your care provider for advice and support.
The mucus plug is usually clear, slightly pink or blood-tinged in color. The mucus plug can be stringy mucous or sticky discharge. Some women might not notice the loss of their mucus plug since there is already an increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
The mucus plug blocks the opening of the cervix during pregnancy to protect the baby from bacteria. As your body prepares for labor, the cervix dilates (expands). This causes the mucus plug to dislodge. When blood from your cervix is mixed in with the mucus plug, it is called a bloody show.
After ovulation your vaginal discharge will become dry and thin. This is due to estrogen levels decreasing. However after ovulation you may notice jelly like discharge if conception has occurred. This is due to estrogen and progesterone rising.
In the last week or so of pregnancy, it may contain streaks of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus. This is called a "show", and happens when the mucus that's been present in your cervix during pregnancy comes away. It's a sign that the body is starting to prepare for birth.
Medical interventions can speed up labor, but there are other ways to encourage dilation. They include moving around, rocking on an exercise ball, using relaxation techniques, and laughing. Dilation is a term that describes the widening of the cervical opening.
For some women, the mucus plug may be shed weeks before labor. A bloody show is a discharge that means labor is relatively imminent. Most women will experience labor within a day or two, though for some women, contractions will begin within hours of the bloody show.
8 Symptoms Before Labor Starts
While there is no way to know when labor is 24 to 48 hours away, labor signs include a bloody show, Braxton Hicks contractions, labor contractions, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lower back pain, rupture of the amniotic sac (“water breaking”), and nesting instinct.
You might notice an increase in vaginal discharge that's clear, pink or slightly bloody. This might happen several days before labor begins or at the start of labor. However, if you have vaginal bleeding that is as heavy as a typical menstrual period, contact your health care provider immediately.
Active labour may start very soon after a show, or you may still have a few days or even weeks to wait. Either way, if you think you may have lost your mucus plug tell your midwife, who'll advise you on what to do next.
If you think the mucus plug has come out before you're 37 weeks pregnant, call your midwife. You won't necessarily go into labour early, but it's important to seek advice, just to be on the safe side.
First-time mamas are more likely to see a bloody show before labor begins, but this can happen a few days beforehand. Women who have given birth before often don't see any bloody show until their cervix is dilating; they would expect birth in the next 24 hours.
Bloody show before labor is a normal part of pregnancy, so there's no need for treatment. It's a sign that your body is getting ready for labor. But you don't need to go into the hospital immediately after your bloody show, as labor may still be days or even weeks away.