Most of the women, who are in their last stage of pregnancy, start to find answers for signs of labour and delivery. Losing the mucous plug is one of the signs that you may be delivering soon or maybe one or two weeks later at the maximum.
What is Mucous Plug?
Mucous plug is mucous secreted from your cervix, which starts getting formed as early as 7 weeks into the
pregnancy. The mucous plug forms a barrier and seals the opening of your uterus. This plug protects your baby from germs or any bacterial infection as your cervix opening is sealed. Mucous plug dislodges itself from the cervix only when the time comes for you to deliver.
What Does a Mucous Plug Looks Like?
Mucous plug may be different for different women but it mostly looks like a jelly. Its colour also varies, from white, pink, red, brown, or may be bloody. However, most women find it difficult to tell exactly when they lose their mucous plug because of the increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
What Does Losing Mucous Plug Mean?
As you near your
delivery date, your cervix gets thinner and starts dilating. Once this process starts, the mucous plug is dislodged from your cervix. This is known as “Show” or “Bloody Show”.
Losing the mucous plug means that your cervix has started dilating but you may have to wait for a few hours, days or a week or two before actual
labour starts. However, if you experience mild contractions, pain in the stomach, cramps or backache after losing the mucous plug, it means you are in labour and should contact your doctor.
If the mucous plug does not dislodge on its own, the doctor will expel the mucous plug before labour to allow the baby to pass through the cervix for birth.
For most women, mucous plug dislodges itself gradually. As a result, you may miss out to notice it when it comes out. In this case, when you start experiencing the
signs of labour like contractions, pain in the stomach, cramps or backache you must immediately contact your doctor. However, if you happen to lose the mucous plug all at once (which is also normal but uncommon), you should immediately contact your doctor after this.
If you lose the mucous plug (gradually or all at once) before your 36th week or it is bright red in colour, you should immediately contact your doctor. You may be in early labour or some complications may have caused the early dislodging of the mucous plug.
If the amount of vaginal discharge exceeds (about) two tablespoons, it may indicate the possibility of a complication such as placental abruption (when placenta separates from the uterine lining) or
placenta previa (when placenta covers the cervix). This may be followed by heavy bleeding with strong abdominal pain.
If you already have had a baby before this, losing the mucous plug may indicate that you will be in labour soon and should contact your doctor.
Now that you are already nearing your due date, most women get impatient to deliver and hold their babies in their hands. Losing the mucous plug can add to that eagerness when you know that you will be in labour soon or in a week or two. Just remember the signs when you should contact your doctor after losing the mucous plug and things should follow in the right direction.
