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The mucous plug, what is it?
Every woman secretes cervical mucus, a white or yellow gelatinous substance, sometimes mixed with blood, which is found at the entrance to the cervix and facilitates the passage of sperm. After ovulation, this mucus thickens to form a protective plug : sperm and infections are then “blocked”. This cork is then expelled each month, during menstruation.
During pregnancy, the thick, coagulated consistency of cervical mucus is maintained to close the cervix and thus protect the fetus from infections: this is the mucous plug. It acts as a “barrier” of mucus, intended to prevent germs from entering the interior of the cervix.
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What does the mucous plug look like?
It comes in the form of a thick mucus clumps, transparent, slimy, greenish or light brown, sometimes covered with bloody streaks if the cervix is weakened. Its size and appearance vary from one woman to another.
Be careful, this is not a blood clot, a loss for which you should consult your doctor immediately.
The loss of the mucous plug
As childbirth approaches, the cervix changes and begins to open: the cervical mucus becomes more liquid and stringy, sometimes tinged with blood, and the mucous plug is often expelled before the onset of true job. The loss of the mucous plug usually occurs a few days or even a few hours before the. It is completely painless and can be done several times, or even go completely unnoticed.
When it is a first pregnancy, the cervix often remains long and closed until term. From the second pregnancy, it becomes more elastic, having already been stimulated, and opens more quickly: the amount of mucous plug may be greater, so as to protect the baby for longer.
How to react after the loss of the mucous plug
If you lose the mucous plug, without contractions or associated water loss, there is no need to rush to the maternity ward. This is a symptom of labor. Rest assured, your baby always remains protected from infections because the loss of the mucous plug does not necessarily mean that the water bag is broken. Simply report it to your gynecologist at your next appointment.
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