Pregnancy is a time when it is important not only to enjoy the anticipation of the upcoming addition to the family, but also to closely monitor the condition of your body. Some women have no idea how their body changes during the development of their baby. For example, not everyone has a clear idea of what a mucus plug is, how to determine that it has come out and what functions it performs during pregnancy. This information will be especially useful for women who are going to become mothers for the first time.
What is a cork?
Every expectant mother becomes familiar with the concept of “traffic jam” at the end of the last trimester.
For most, it is unfamiliar and is often accompanied by fears and speculation. The expectant mother immediately wonders what kind of structure this is and why it is needed.
A mucus plug is a lump of gelatinous substance. At its core, it is thick mucus that closes the entrance to the uterine cavity. Its main function is protective.
It prevents infections, bacteria and other foreign bodies from entering the uterus. This barrier begins to form from the moment of conception and persists throughout the perinatal period.
As labor approaches, this formation separates and leaves the body, opening the entrance to the uterus.
The symptoms of the process, the appearance of the discharge and the duration are different for everyone. Not all women have discovered a traffic jam, so don’t worry if there wasn’t one at all.
What to do if the plug comes off?
In cases of departure, it is necessary to remember the precautions and rules of behavior.
Useful tips for expectant mothers:
- If there are no frequent contractions or unpleasant sensations, then the expectant mother has nothing to worry about. It is better to prepare all the necessary documents, things and accessories, and take a shower.
- Try to change your underwear and bedding more often.
- To prevent the entry of bacteria or other pathogens from the moment the clot is released, you should not visit the pool/take a bath or similar activities.
- If the couple has not yet refused intimacy, then they will have to do it here. This step will prevent germs from the vagina from entering the unprotected uterus.
- The most important rule is not to worry. After the plug comes out, the woman should not worry. Now she has time to prepare for the upcoming event.
Note! When the plug comes out, the child is protected by an agent. As long as they do not leak or move away, the unborn baby is completely safe.
How to distinguish vaginal discharge from a plug
In order to distinguish vaginal discharge from a plug during pregnancy, you need to know what the latter looks like.
Many future ones argue that it is almost impossible to confuse these 2 phenomena due to the obvious visual difference.
Some did not notice any changes in the nature of vaginal discharge.
Cork characteristics:
- thick;
- dense;
- located in the cervix area;
- color range from milky to brownish.
As a rule, women can easily identify a plug.
If it was not detected, it is possible that it will come out directly during the birth of the baby.
The alarm should only be sounded if the discharge consists of blood and is accompanied by pain. Everything else is a variant of the normal development of the process.
What does a traffic jam look like?
The appearance of the gelatinous lump before delivery can only be determined after its release. This is a round formation of thick mucus.
The color varies, from light to brown. Often contains blood droplets, strings, or is completely colored pinkish.
It is important to know that the appearance of the lump varies from person to person. Completely red blood-colored mucus is considered unacceptable.
Removal of a plug before childbirth - what does it look like?
Many pregnant women are interested in the answer to the question regarding what the mucus plug looks like when it comes out before childbirth. Doctors describe several possible variations of its type:
- clean, transparent;
- streaked with blood;
- painted in a different color: white, yellowish, brown, pink, with a greenish tint.
From what was written above it follows that it is difficult to say unequivocally what a plug looks like before childbirth. The appearance of the mucus plug varies from pregnant woman to pregnant woman. In addition, even in the same woman, during different pregnancies, it may differ in appearance. For the most part, this clot is not colored, or has minor bloody inclusions. The very fact of what a traffic jam looks like before the upcoming birth has no diagnostic value. The only important role is played by the time of its exit from the genital tract. This process indicates a slight opening of the cervix.
What does a mucus plug look like in pregnant women?
The emerging plug before childbirth is often compared by pregnant women themselves to a thick, homogeneous egg white. The consistency of this formation may vary. If the plug does not come out immediately, then pregnant women report increased vaginal discharge. At the same time, they are thick and can leave marks on underwear. The period of removal of the plug can last several days. To exclude leakage of amniotic fluid, it is better to consult a doctor about this and undergo an examination.
Pink mucus plug
Having figured out what a mucus plug looks like in pregnant women, it should be noted that it itself may differ in appearance. Thus, a plug of blood before childbirth often causes panic in a pregnant woman. At the same time, doctors point out the normality of this phenomenon. The cork itself may turn pink. This color is given to it by the blood that is released from small blood vessels - in the process of opening the cervix, they can be injured. In this case, no blood is released from the genital tract. The expectant mother feels fine.
Brown mucus plug
A brown plug before childbirth indicates the presence of blood in it, which, under the influence of body temperature, changed its color. This can happen if there is damage to the mucous membrane of the cervix. This is observed with erosion, which could have occurred even before pregnancy. Minor bleeding from the vessels of this anatomical formation turns the plug dark red and even brown.
White mucus plug
When telling pregnant women what color the plug should be before giving birth, doctors say that it often has a white tint. This color is given to it by the normal microflora of the reproductive system, which is contained in this formation in large quantities. Often the cork is transparent and has no color. Outwardly it resembles a small, lumpy lump of thick mucus.
Speaking about what a plug looks like before childbirth, doctors note that fungi of the genus Candida can give it a partial white color. Often with the onset of pregnancy, there is an increase in this microflora due to changed hormonal levels. A pregnant woman in the early stages notices the appearance of white, cheesy discharge. They can directly linger in the cervix when the mucus thickens and a plug forms. Doctors regard this phenomenon as a variant of the norm if additional symptoms do not develop.
Greenish mucus plug
When asking the gynecologist leading the pregnancy which plug comes out before childbirth, the expectant mother does not receive a specific answer. Doctors always point out the individuality of this formation. In some cases, on the eve of the upcoming birth, a greenish plug may also come out of the genital tract. This coloring is due to the presence of an infectious process in the reproductive system. Often women start planning a pregnancy without preparing. This directly causes exacerbation of chronic diseases during gestation.
Possible ailments when the plug comes out
In most cases, this process is asymptomatic. Therefore, the question arises of how to understand that the plug has come off.
This usually happens in the morning while going to the toilet. A woman discovers a fairly large amount of mucous discharge on her underwear.
If they correspond to the timing of discharge and appearance, then it is worth saying that the mucous barrier has separated from the cervix.
Sometimes this process may be accompanied by mild pulling sensations in the lower abdomen, but they do not bring severe discomfort to the woman.
Symptoms that require you to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible:
- severe pain in the abdominal area;
- a large amount of blood;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- loss of orientation in space;
- loss of consciousness.
How the mucus plug comes out in pregnant women and the reasons
Each process in the human body occurs due to certain reasons. Prenatal passage of the mucus plug is no exception. During pregnancy, hormonal levels change greatly, which causes mucus to be discharged. During pregnancy, the mucus plug often comes off at 38 weeks. From this moment you can begin to expect the appearance of jelly-like discharge, which is the signal that there is very little time left before childbirth. In order to eliminate anxiety, it is better to immediately understand the reasons why the plug is coming out and prepare in advance.
The following are the triggering factors:
- Changes in hormonal levels. Throughout the entire period from conception until the 38th week, progesterone is produced. It is this hormone that closes the cervix. After the end of the specified period, its production stops, which leads to softening and gradual opening of the cervical canal. As a result, the plug comes off because there is nothing holding it in anymore.
- Tension and relaxation of the vaginal muscles. Tension occurs when your water breaks or has sex, and relaxation occurs during a shower or bath.
- Attempts. It is for this reason that the plug most often comes off when visiting the toilet.
- Mechanical invasion. In this case, we mean a gynecological examination.
- Colpitis. Causes premature removal of the plug. Such an event should be regarded by a woman as a signal to visit a medical facility.
Hormonal changes in pregnant women occur differently. Consequently, the body’s reaction is also individual. Therefore, it is quite difficult to say exactly how long it takes for the mucus plug to go away in pregnant women, and after what time the baby is born. For some, this process takes a couple of weeks, for others it ends immediately during childbirth.
Sometimes the passage of the mucus plug is accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, which resembles pain during menstruation. However, much more often the mucus plug comes off unnoticed during pregnancy. Pain when the mucous plug comes out is observed in women whose cervical canal is damaged for some reason. Damage may occur due to previous abortions or the presence of an infectious lesion of the cervical canal.
Dangers of the plug coming out too early
Sometimes it happens that this formation leaves the body much earlier than expected. This is an alarming signal that requires immediate hospitalization.
The early release of protective mucus is considered to be less than 37 weeks of pregnancy. Not in all cases this indicates a possible pathology, but sometimes this is how early premature birth begins.
You need to know what to do if the plug comes out early:
- calm down and avoid panic attacks;
- consult a doctor as soon as possible;
- if necessary, go to the hospital.
When to expect departure
In the last stages of pregnancy, other hormones called estrogens enter the active phase. They act in the opposite direction from progesterone and, on the contrary, thin the cervical mucus.
In general practice, this phenomenon is considered to be a harbinger of an early birth. Although it is not always the case that after the release of this formation, a pregnant woman immediately gives birth. Labor has not yet begun, so there is no reason to panic.
For some women, labor begins immediately after the mucus comes out, while for others it takes a couple of weeks. And in both cases, the situation is not a pathology.
Green impurities in cervical mucus may indicate insufficient oxygen supply to the baby. The situation is very dangerous, you should definitely consult a doctor.
After 38 weeks of pregnancy, a woman should listen more carefully to her own body so as not to miss the process of the mucus plug coming off.
This phenomenon is considered a close harbinger of childbirth, so it may also have certain accompanying symptoms that occur at approximately the same time:
- prolapse of the abdomen;
- false contractions;
- discharge of amniotic fluid.
If you have the listed symptoms or at least one of them, you can already expect the plug to come out soon.
Why do you need to monitor the appearance of a loose plug?
A transparent cork of different shades from milky to brownish is considered correct. This depends on the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman’s body.
Despite the fact that the process is physiological and does not go beyond the norm, doctors always ask to report when it happened and what type of mucus it was.
This is important because appearance can predict quite accurately when birth will occur.
A sign that the baby will be born in the next couple of days is the presence of bloody spots in the mucus.
Urgently to the maternity hospital
In some cases, the discharge of cervical mucus is accompanied by other unfavorable signs and requires immediate emergency assistance:
- the release of the plug is accompanied by moderate or significant bleeding from the genital tract;
- the release of cervical mucus occurred simultaneously with the outpouring of water;
- the appearance of cramping pain in the abdomen that increases over time (the onset of labor).
Video: How does a plug come out in pregnant women before childbirth? 18+
Attention!
This article is posted for informational purposes only and under no circumstances constitutes scientific material or medical advice and should not serve as a substitute for an in-person consultation with a professional physician.
For diagnostics, diagnosis and treatment, contact qualified doctors! Number of readings: 317 Date of publication: 10/15/2019
Author of the article: Sozinova Anna Vladimirovna
Obstetrician-gynecologist / Experience: 19 years
What to do after a lump of mucus has passed
Quite often, having discovered a traffic jam, a woman panics and does not know how to proceed. Should I run to the maternity hospital or stay at home, should I tell the doctor if I can move? These and many other questions worry the expectant mother.
The removal of a protective plug from a woman’s vagina is a harbinger of the imminent beginning of the birth process.
The incident must be reported to the doctor immediately. Based on the accompanying symptoms, he will be able to guess when to expect labor and how to proceed.
What you can do:
- control the further state of the body;
- take a shower;
- analyze the regularity and time interval between uterine contractions, if they begin;
- to pack;
- check the required documents.
What not to do:
- to take a bath;
- insert medications or foreign bodies into the vagina;
- lift heavy objects;
- engage in excessive physical activity.
What is a mucus plug
She is a natural barrier between the outside world and the child. The plug is a dense lump of mucus. Its production is activated from the first days after conception. Mucus accumulates and thickens over time. By the end of the period, it becomes thick, reminiscent of jelly, jellied meat.
The mucus plug before birth serves to protect the baby from infections and harmful microorganisms that can harm the expectant mother or fetus by entering the uterus through the vagina, for example, during bathing.
However, its departure does not mean that the child is completely deprived of protection. In addition to the plug, the baby is protected by amniotic fluid and the amniotic sac; this is not so reliable, but still a barrier to harmful organisms.
However, you should exercise prudence: for example, wash in the shower, and not swim in the bathtub or in rivers, lakes, or public pools.
Recommendations for pregnant women after the plug has come out
As soon as the protective lump leaves, you must follow the basic recommendations and rules in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy:
- Ensure the correct psycho-emotional mood. We must try to get rid of the fear that every pregnant woman has. Childbirth is a normal physiological process as intended by nature. It is worth replacing all negative attitudes with positive ones, studying positive examples of easy childbirth.
- Provide adequate nutrition. This is important not only at the finish line before the birth of a child, but also throughout the entire period of intrauterine development. The health status of mother and child largely depends on the completeness of the diet.
- Engage in acceptable physical exercises and gymnastics for pregnant women. After the plug comes out, you should pay attention to breathing forms of training.
The separation and release of the lump is not a reason for bed rest. Therefore, there is no need to completely limit yourself from your usual way of life.
If the general condition of the body allows, you should not make drastic restrictions on your activities.
It is necessary to always have documents and a telephone number with you for communication, so that the long-awaited process of childbirth does not take you by surprise.
When the plug comes out
The passage of the plug is one of the harbingers of pregnancy and indicates an imminent birth (after a few days - a few weeks). The following signs signal the approach of an imminent birth: drooping of the abdomen and easier breathing for the pregnant woman, weight loss of 300 - 400 grams, the appearance of false contractions, etc. The normal time for expulsion of the plug is considered to be several hours - several weeks (2 - 3 weeks before birth). The release of the mucous conglomerate from the endocervix can last from three to ten days; it is pointless to expect the onset of labor within the first three hours after the incident. Early removal of the plug should alert you - at 37 weeks or less (indirectly indicates a threat of premature birth).
The discharge of cervical mucus can be triggered by sexual intercourse, a gynecological examination, or an inflammatory process in the vagina. In the latter case, the cork acquires a greenish tint and an unpleasant odor.
When will labor begin?
As a rule, after the plug has come out, it is impossible to determine the exact date of birth.
It is individual for each woman and depends on a number of factors. The speed of birth of a child is influenced by the age of the mother, the weight of the unborn child, the type of birth, and heredity.
It usually occurs within about a couple of weeks after the lump comes out.
A sign of a faster onset of labor is blood streaks in the mucous lump.
As a rule, after this symptom, the woman goes to the maternity hospital in the next day or two. However, even with these symptoms, the baby can stay in the womb for another week.
If the amniotic fluid has broken after the mucus plug, a visit to the perinatal center cannot be postponed. This is a signal that labor has already begun and the meeting with the baby is close.
The likelihood of an early delivery after the plug comes out is higher in multiparous women.
The separation and release of the uterine protection is a process that is physiological and normal in the last weeks of the perinatal period. This is a sign that informs that the baby has already begun the journey and the long-awaited meeting will soon take place.
Do not be afraid of this phenomenon and panic. It is important to inform your doctor in time and follow general recommendations for women before giving birth.
If the plug comes out too early and is accompanied by alarming symptoms, the speed of contacting specialists plays a decisive role in preserving the pregnancy and the health of the expectant mother.
How long do we have to wait?
A signal that a long-awaited event is approaching is the release of a mucous clot. As a result, the cervix opens slightly, and isolated contractions of the female organs are observed. Situations in which the mucous substance is discharged along with the amniotic fluid (AF)/during childbirth are not isolated and are not considered pathological.
The harbingers of the labor process are three moments: the release of a plug clot, contractions, and the passage of OB. In contrast to the two points above, the passage of the cervical substance is not yet a 100% guarantee that labor will begin.
If the plug comes out during pregnancy, then when to give birth, how long will it take for labor to begin? This point causes controversy among many who gave birth, because the time of release is blurred and there is no clear figure. Experts believe that the optimal period of departure is no earlier than 2 weeks before the onset of labor.
Time after the plug comes out and labor begins:
- 1-23 h;
- 1-6 days;
- 1-2 weeks.
Note! Amniotic clots during the 1st and 2nd pregnancy may differ from each other. This is often a cause for concern. But such a discrepancy is considered normal. The amount of clot and its viscosity, shade and release time may vary. Most often, in multiparous women, the substance leaves a little earlier. This is explained by the fact that their crankshaft is slightly open.
The process of the passage of a cork clot before childbirth, video:
Why does the plug come out and how long before birth?
The mucus plug before childbirth, the photo of which shows the appearance of the physiological barrier, gradually loses its previous density. This is due to changes in a woman’s hormonal levels. It is very important to distinguish between the loss of mucous secretions and the loss of amniotic fluid.
A pregnant woman should pay attention to the following key factors:
- the mucus plug comes out for several hours, and sometimes even days before the onset of labor, and amniotic fluid flows out immediately before the onset of labor, accompanied by periodic contractions that intensify as the uterus opens (at the moment the mucus plug comes out, the condition of the reproductive organ practically does not change);
- amniotic fluid has a completely transparent appearance, and during a pathological course of pregnancy it can become green or yellow (the mucous plug has a thick and viscous consistency with a yellowish, transparent or brown tint);
- the plug is almost always a lump resembling jelly, which is immobile and is gradually absorbed into the underwear or pad, and the amniotic fluid spreads quickly over the surface and has a high degree of fluidity;
- the mucous plug comes out of the uterine cavity immediately in a single lump or in small parts, and amniotic fluid flows out in large volumes, abundantly wetting underwear, clothes, sanitary pads (their outflow may increase during movement, squatting, coughing).
If after the mucous plug or amniotic fluid has drained, the pregnant woman’s well-being has not worsened. You need to go to the hospital and just wait for labor to start soon. If you have pain in the lower abdomen, spasms, contractions, you should immediately call an ambulance, or go to a medical facility in your own car.
How long does it take?
The question of how long it takes for a cork to come out has an ambiguous answer. If it comes off entirely, the process lasts no more than 30 seconds. Sometimes it can go out for a week. Therefore, doctors do not recommend worrying and advise contacting an ambulance only when, in addition to discharge, frequent contractions appear with a frequency of at least 25 minutes.
Those who have given birth say that no matter how long the plug comes out before childbirth, it is its real harbinger. Many gave birth within 7-24 hours after this. You need to be alert and expect “that moment” as soon as the clot leaves the body.
