Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
The mucus plug closes the cervix in pregnant women. It plays an important role during pregnancy as it protects the baby from external viral, bacterial and fungal infections. The mucus plug should fall out just before delivery, and this is one of the first signs of an impending delivery.
A mucus plug is simply a woman’s compacted mucus that is much thicker than usual during pregnancy. It appears immediately after conception and tightly clogs the cervix. It is a natural barrier between the baby and the outside environment. What does a mucus plug look like?
Mucus plug – appearance
The mucus plug is formed by thick and compact mucus. When it falls out, a woman should see an oblong-shaped jelly or ball on her underwear. The mucus plug is quite large and is hard to miss. In addition, it is compact and has a characteristic consistency.
The mucus plug can be of a different shade:
- brown – the color is due to the presence of older blood;
- red or pink – the color is due to the presence of fresh blood.
The color of the mucus plug should not be alarming, as the presence of blood is associated with high blood supply to the cervix during pregnancy. When it begins to dilate, the vessels may simply rupture and this is the source of the discoloration of the mucus plug.
A pregnant woman should be concerned about the large amount of blood that occurs when the mucus plug prolapses, especially if this happens before the 36th week of pregnancy. Contact your doctor as soon as possible.
The woman does not always notice the moment when the mucus plug leaves. This is because in some cases the mucus plug comes off in pieces. The woman may then only notice more thick mucus and not associate it with the mucus plug breakthrough.
The mucus plug – when will it go away?
With the normal course of pregnancy, the mucus plug should come off at the end of pregnancy. This is a sign that the woman’s body is getting ready for childbirth and it should not alarm the pregnant woman. The departure of the mucus plug is to prepare the uterus for childbirth.
After the mucus plug leaves, the cervix opens and widens, creating the birth canal. The cervix becomes shorter and more flexible.
Mucus plug – when will you give birth?
If the mucus plug comes off, it doesn’t mean that labor is about to begin. The cervix opens gradually. In some cases, it takes even several weeks from the mucus plug to fall out. However, you should watch your body as it may start within a few hours for some women.
If we still have a few weeks to the planned solution, and the mucus plug has fallen out, the woman should refrain from intercourse. It should be remembered that the loss of the mucus plug puts the child at risk, e.g. for infections.
Mucus plug – medical control
The mucus plug does not need to be checked by the gynecologist in charge of the pregnancy. However, it should be remembered that this is only a natural signal that the uterus is getting ready for delivery. Childbirth may take hours, days or weeks. If, after the plug has gone away, a woman begins to feel contractions, it is an indication to see a doctor.
An indication for medical consultation is also the loss of the mucus plug in women who have already had a premature birth. If the mucus plug is clearly stained with blood, it has bleeding or passed away by the 36th week of pregnancy. This may be a signal of a complication, such as a prominent placenta or premature detachment of the placenta.
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.