Many women have dreamed about or thought of becoming a mother. They take pregnancy tests with the hope of a positive result. Then, when they get one, somehow, most of them have anticipated and prepared for the whole thing. However, could anyone be ready for the miracles of pregnancy and childbirth? Do we know everything we need to so as not to be surprised by the changes and events happening in our bodies? Probably not.
The thought of creating another life in a woman’s womb is fascinating and full of wonders. A woman has to carry the baby inside her for nine months, and so many miracles take place. Are we familiar with all that’s happening inside or the things we should anticipate when we are expecting? Speaking from experience, the answer to this is no. There are some things you just have to learn along the way.
For instance, what is a mucus plug? What is the role of the mucus plug and what is the bloody show? Yes, it is a part of pregnancy, and some women who have experienced giving birth may not be familiar with it. Though it may not be as crucial as talking about the umbilical cord, cervix, Braxton Hicks contractions, false labor, amniotic fluid, or fetal development, it is still vital that we know all about the things surrounding pregnancy. Many things that take place during pregnancy are signs of something, whether it be signs of labor or that something isn’t right, so the more you know, the easier it will be for you to understand what your body is trying to tell you.
What Is A Mucus Plug?
The moment you learn about a mucus plug, you will realize that pregnancy is indeed extraordinary. The mucus plug is the thick mucus embedded in the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus. The role of the mucus plug is to create antibacterial protection for the baby in the womb, so basically, its purpose is to guard and make sure the baby is safe until birth. It’s a barrier that keeps germs and bacteria out of the womb.
What Does A Mucus Plug Look Like?
A mucus plug looks like a thick transparent, translucent, or opaque gel, and as gross as it sounds more like phlegm, but then again, mucus is a natural protective layer in our body. Sometimes you will see blood tinged mucus when losing your mucus plug. This is absolutely normal. It’s what is referred to as the bloody show and it goes hand in hand with the loss of the mucus plug. It’s just because there are so many blood vessels in this part of your body so when the cervix starts changing getting ready for the birth of the baby, some of those blood vessels rupture or tear resulting in the bloody show.
When Does Mucus Plug Form?
The mucus plug forms during early pregnancy in the opening of the uterus to prevent infections. As your body changes to accommodate the growing baby, more and more cervical mucus is secreted to keep everything moist and soft. That mucus eventually collects at the cervical opening and seals it up until you get closer to your due date that the doctor used the due date calculator for pregnancy to come up with.
Should You Be Alarmed When It Comes Out?
The mucus plug may come out gradually or all at once. If it comes out earlier than your due date, you must let your doctor or midwife know as it could also be a sign of preterm labor, especially when it comes out a little before 37 weeks. However, you don’t need to panic and run to the hospital if you don’t have any other signs of labor. Losing the mucus plug doesn’t mean you’re going into labor immediately. Sometimes you will lose your mucus plug a week or two before labor begins. When you’re pregnant, pregnancy can feel like it’s taking forever week by week. But, remember that labor is imminent, so there is an end in sight. And then you will get to meet your beautiful baby girl or boy.
Should I Be Alarmed When It Comes Out With Blood?
Your mucus plug may come out with blood, either red or brown. When there is more blood than the actual mucus, it means that a vessel in the cervix broke, and it is best to call your doctor or midwife. This is the bloody show that we mentioned above. It’s completely normal, but if a call to your doctor will make you feel better, by all means do that.
Many women will experience the bloody show when they’re getting close to their due date. Losing your mucus plug can be scary if you don’t know what you’re looking at, especially when there’s also bloody show present. This article is here to explain the role of the mucus plug to you and let you know what to expect when you lose your mucus plug so you don’t feel frightened by it or the bloody show.
Is The Coming Out Of Mucus Plug A Sign Of Labor?
The mucus plug comes out as the body prepares for labor, so it is practically a sign that the big day is near. It might not be a sign that you are about to give birth immediately, but it informs you that your body is getting ready for it. So for every mom who’s asking, when does mucus plug come out, this is the answer to it.
Before you grab your hospital bag and run for the labor and delivery ward, assess yourself for any other signs of labor. Are you having labor contractions? How effaced and dilated were you at your last appointment? If you have other pregnancy symptoms of labor to go along with losing your mucus plug, then you may want to go to the hospital. And, if your water breaks after losing your mucus plug, you should definitely go in. When your water breaks, that’s usually just before labor starts. You’ll be admitted to labor and delivery if your water has already broken.
Surprising Fact About A Mucus Plug:
The mucus plug can grow once again or regenerate once lost, so it might be tricky when it comes out too early during pregnancy because chances are, it will just regenerate. It doesn’t necessarily indicate that you are going to give birth once it comes out. The key to knowing what exactly is happening in the womb is to consult your doctor and have it medically reviewed. It’s also important that you try to determine whether you’re just experiencing normal vaginal discharge during your pregnancy or if you are actually losing your mucus plug. Some women may confuse the two.
When you hear mucus plug or bloody show, or when someone asks, “When does a mucus plug form?”, it may seem irrelevant, that’s why you seldom pay attention to it. Still, as a woman, you should be familiar with your body and the processes that take place, especially during pregnancy. All the details are crucially relevant as it could affect your health as well as the baby. The key to assuring safety is to always touch base with your doctor or midwife. Pregnancy and labor is different for every woman so you must continue to be medically reviewed all the way through having your baby.
Pregnancy and giving birth is a scary and exciting experience. Every woman should be knowledgeable about it, including knowing when does the mucus plug form and enjoy the journey towards motherhood. After all, pregnancy and labor are such miracles, and how many times does a woman give birth in a lifetime?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What week does the mucus plug form?
The mucus plug usually forms in week 7 of your pregnancy, which will last until you are about to be in labor. It will reach its full size when you are on week 12 of your pregnancy. Then, it will be there until it’s time to give birth or until a couple of weeks before labor.
Can you tell when your mucus plug is forming?
You may notice heavy discharge, and it can be seen in your underwear or when going to the toilet. It may come in small or large amounts. For the most part, though, no you won’t notice when it’s being formed. You’ll very likely notice when you lose your mucus plug, however.
What happens when your mucus plug forms?
It happens when the wall of the uterus has been implanted with a fertilized egg. Mucus production begins as the cervix becomes soft and swollen. The mucosal cells stop pumping when all the gaps are filled. The role of the mucus plug is to keep bacteria from entering the uterus and causing an infection.
What does the mucus plug look like in early pregnancy?
It may be challenging to determine what the mucus plug looks like during early pregnancy. But mucus can appear as a thick jellylike substance, and it comes in colors white or pink. It is different from the usual vaginal discharge. As mentioned also on VeryWellFamily, the consistency is usually thicker.
How does the mucus plug look?
The mucus plug has a thick consistency. It also looks like a jellyfish or gelatin because of its texture. It can be tinged red from the bloody show. Just like everyone’s pregnancy and labor is different, so too is the look of the mucus plug.
Does losing a mucus plug mean dilation or effacement?
It depends. When the cervix effaces, it comes out of your vagina. This passing is called a “show.” But not all the time, you may see the mucus plug passing out of your vagina. Typically, when the mucus plug comes out, it is because the cervix is becoming more effaced, meaning thinned out and stretchy, or it’s dilating. This can also cause blood vessels to break resulting in the bloody show.
What color is a mucus plug?
The color of the mucus plug varies, but it’s mostly clear. Some pregnant women say that the color of their mucus plug is white, brown, or even slightly pink. Brown, pink, or red indicates the bloody show from the presence of blood. It’s normal for women to experience this.
How much mucus is the mucus plug?
A mucus plug is usually made up of two tablespoons of mucus. The actual mucus plug has the size of a quarter.
Can the mucus plug be brown?
Yes. A mucus plug can be brown because sometimes it is mixed with blood. But this is normal, and it is not something to worry about. Again, this is what’s known as the bloody show and it’s very common.
Can you slowly lose your mucus plug?
Yes, it can be released slowly. You may notice it coming out for weeks before labor begins. Do not try to pull your mucus plug out as it would cause infection. It will pull out naturally. Some women won’t lose it until their water breaks. If it happens for you in this fashion, just know that labor is imminent at that point.
Can waters break before mucus plug?
Yes, it can. It can be possible for water to break even with a closed cervix. The cervix, mucus plug, and the bag of water work independently (read further here: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/mucous-plug.aspx). Just because one of these breaks or loosens doesn’t mean the other two will follow. However, many times it is the case that all of these happen at the same time.
Will every woman experience the bloody show?
Not every woman experiences the bloody show. While a woman’s reproductive system is vascular in nature, it doesn’t mean that all pregnant women’s blood vessels will break when the mucus plug comes out. The bloody show is absolutely normal for pregnancy and pregnancy isn’t compromised by the bloody show, however it won’t happen to all women.
Last Updated on January 12, 2023 by Rejie Salazar
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