The plug comes out in pregnant women. When the plug is already out

Contents:

• What is it
• Functions
• Reasons for leaving
• Signs
• Does the plug always come out?
• Deadlines
• What to do?

In gynecology, a plug is a mucous, gel-like clot that fills the cervix of a pregnant woman for all 9 months. It is formed in the first days of conception and comes out just before the birth of the baby. Its main function is protective, since this gelatinous lump prevents germs and infections from entering the womb.

It is believed that a traffic jam before childbirth is one of the sure harbingers of the imminent birth of a baby. In fact, all the indicators in this matter are very individual: for some it goes away on the birthing table, and for some it leaves the body several weeks before such an important event. In order not to worry or panic, the expectant mother should imagine what it is and how to behave during the discharge of mucus.

Contents [Show]

What is it

In order not to miss the moment of mucus discharge, you need to at least vaguely imagine what it is, what the plug looks like, what color it is. This will allow you not to confuse it with other secretions and take the necessary measures to collect it in the maternity hospital in a timely manner. It looks different for everyone, but there are still certain common characteristics.

Consistency

Most often, the birth plug is a dense, gelatinous clot, jelly-like lump. This is the mucus that the cervix begins to produce to protect the fetus from infections entering the womb. Outwardly, it is very similar to the concentrated, compacted protein of an ordinary chicken egg. However, for some, two weeks before giving birth, it may become more liquid and come out in parts. In this case, the plug will look like scanty spotting, like during menstruation.

Size

In order not to confuse the release of the plug before childbirth with other secretions, you need to know how much mucus should come out. On average, its weight is about 50 ml, and its size varies from 1.5 to 2 cm.

Color

• Norm

One of the most troubling questions for expectant mothers is what color the plug that comes out before giving birth should be. There can be no definite answer here, since her palette ranges from beige (and even white in some cases) to brown. There may even be small inclusions of blood clots (they will give the lump a light pinkish tint), which you should not be afraid of. It was small capillaries that broke when the cervix dilated. This different color of the plug is explained by the fact that the health status and course of pregnancy of each woman is not the same. Someone got sick during this period, someone has chronic pathologies - all this is reflected in the composition and, accordingly, the shade of mucus. Both yellowish translucent and brown plugs will be equally normal and should not frighten the expectant mother.

• Pathology

It is the color of prenatal mucus that can tell a woman that the last days of pregnancy are fraught with danger. If a too rich, dark brown mucus plug comes out, it is better to go to the hospital immediately and tell about it. Such an unnatural shade may indicate the passage of the placenta, which poses a threat to the lives of both mother and baby. Too abundant, scarlet, bright red clots can also become an alarming signal: a plug of blood, if there is a lot of it, is always a sign of one of the pathologies of pregnancy.

This is what a mucus plug may look like before childbirth: despite individual differences, its main characteristics will help a woman understand what is happening to her body and how to react to it. Moreover, mucus performs very important functions that allow you to carry a child without pathologies for all 9 months.

Functions

When a woman has a plug, she needs to be alert and take a number of measures in order to fully prepare for childbirth. In order to avoid annoying mistakes, she must understand exactly what functions this clot performed throughout pregnancy and what the body lost with its loss. Birth plug:

• protects the embryo from infections and microbes that can penetrate from the outside;
• serves as a mechanical cover for the uterus;
• allows a pregnant woman to swim freely in the pool and have an active sex life;
• has bactericidal properties.

So this is a kind of barrier that protects the unborn baby from the penetration of all kinds of pathogenic and harmful organisms into the womb. Until the mucus plug comes out, the woman can be absolutely calm and lead her usual way of life. But as soon as she feels that this has happened, she needs to be extremely careful, attentive and take on her protective functions. Why does such a useful substance relinquish all powers and leave the body?

Reasons for leaving

Like any process occurring in our body, the removal of the plug before childbirth is due to certain reasons. During this period, hormonal levels undergo serious changes, which provokes the release of mucus. Most often, this phenomenon is diagnosed already at the 38th week of pregnancy. It is from this moment that you need to wait for jelly-like discharge, which is one of the harbingers of the imminent birth of a child. In order not to worry or panic, it is better to find out in advance why the plug comes out before giving birth, and to be prepared for this process. The main provoking factors are:

• changes in hormonal levels: from the moment of fertilization to 38 weeks, the body produces progesterone, which tightly closes the cervix; but after this period the hormone is no longer produced, and the cervical canal softens, gradually opening, which leads to the release of the plug, which can no longer stay there;
• tension in the vaginal muscles during sex or loss of amniotic fluid;
• and vice versa: their relaxation when a woman takes a bath or shower;
• pushing: it is for this reason that the plug often comes out in the toilet before childbirth;
• mechanical invasion: gynecological examination;
• colpitis, exacerbation of an infectious sexual disease: this can provoke premature release of the plug, which serves as an immediate reason to seek medical help.

Since the hormonal levels of pregnant women change differently, and everyone’s body reacts to this differently, it is difficult to accurately answer the question of how long it takes for the plug to come out before giving birth and how long after that the baby is born. For some, this happens within 1-2 weeks, and in some situations everything happens right in the maternity chair. Moreover, not all young expectant mothers can capture this moment. Therefore, you need to know the signs of a birth plug coming out in order to react correctly to it and take appropriate measures.

Signs

Women need to find out in advance how the plug comes off before giving birth, so as not to confuse this process with other prenatal discharge and not miss it. This starting point is important for this period; from this moment on, the expectant mother will have to lead a more restrained lifestyle and be extremely careful in everything. Here are typical signs of a plug coming off, typical for most cases:

• nagging, aching pain in the very bottom of the abdomen;
• pressure on the lower abdominal muscles;
• feeling of discomfort;
• a thick, jelly-like substance on underwear that can come out all at once or in parts, resembling menstrual flow.

Many women preparing to become mothers are interested in whether it hurts at the moment when the plug comes out, especially those who have a low pain threshold. Some people claim that they feel nothing at all. For some, everything is limited to nagging pain in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of menstruation. Here, too, everything is individual. But there are practically no cases when women suffer greatly. If only the expulsion occurs with blood, which indicates problems with the placenta.

A small percentage of those planning to become a mother wonder whether the plug always comes out before childbirth, because sometimes contractions have already begun, but this process seems to have not yet happened. Is this possible?

Does the plug always come out?

Women's stories that they didn't have this are wrong. The question of whether everyone’s plug comes off before childbirth has only one, the only correct answer: everyone. If this mucus did not exist, carrying a baby inside the womb would be impossible due to constant infection and contamination by pathogenic microbes. Another thing is that in some cases it comes out unnoticed (in the toilet, in the bath, when amniotic fluid is released). It happens that it erupts at the very last moment, when the baby is already born. There is nothing pathological about this. And if you are expecting a happy moment from day to day, do not even think about whether the traffic jam must go away and when it will happen: wait and tune in only to a positive mood.

Another purely individual parameter in this matter is the timing, how many days before the birth and during what time all this happens.

Deadlines

The female body reacts differently to the hormonal changes that occur before labor begins. Therefore, the timing of when and how long the plug comes out can be quite extended. There is no definite answer here.

• When?

Normally, the plug can come out at any time, starting from the 38th week of pregnancy. Moreover, this indicator does not depend at all on whether the woman already has children or not. In both multiparous and primiparous women, the plug comes out approximately the same in terms of timing and symptoms.

• How long before giving birth?

When the plug comes out, any expectant mother wonders how many days are left until the long-awaited birth of the baby. However, doctors say that this process is not a necessary harbinger of an early birth. After this, the woman can calmly go through another 2-3 weeks before giving birth to the baby. And the plug can come out right during childbirth, on the chair.

• For how long?

Many people are interested in how long it takes for the plug to come out before childbirth: if it is solid, everything happens at once. The only thing is that after this, during the day you may experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen, as during menstruation. If the mucus comes out in parts, in clots, then this may take several hours, but no more than that, because 50 ml will come out quickly enough. Maximum - one day. Otherwise, it is advisable to consult a doctor for advice to avoid dangerous consequences.

If a woman knows how to understand that the plug has come off, in 80% of cases she will not miss this moment and will begin to prepare directly for the birth itself. No matter how many days are left, you need to try to protect yourself and your baby from unforeseen surprises.

What to do?

If the plug comes off before giving birth, from that moment on a lot should change in the life of the expectant mother. She needs to take the following measures.

1. Don't take any more baths. It is better to limit yourself to light washing with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a shower (do not direct the stream directly to the perineum).
2. From now on, do not swim in the pool, much less in open water.
3. Refuse sex.
4. Change your underwear more often.
5. Be more attentive and monitor the warning signs of labor (contractions and breaking of water). Only when they appear can you go to the hospital.
6. Collect things and documents that will be needed in the maternity hospital.

If a pregnant woman knows what a plug is and when it comes out, she won't panic when it happens. On the contrary: being informed will help you draw useful conclusions that it is time to pack your things for the maternity hospital, remember about the exercises for childbirth and from now on be more attentive to the intimate area, preventing infections and germs from entering there.

From the moment the jelly-like clot is released, the prenatal period begins, which will require patience, strength and concentration from the expectant mother on her own body. Listen to it so as not to miss any important signals, and if in any doubt, seek advice from your doctor.

Any pregnant woman awaits the onset of labor with some trepidation and fear. Some people think that this moment would come sooner, others want to wait a little longer. But in any case, no matter how much you prepare for childbirth, they always come unexpectedly.

How can you tell if the plug has come loose? How and how long does it take for the mucus plug to come off before childbirth? Should I go to the hospital right away or wait a little longer?

So many questions give rise to panic, which only aggravates the situation, increasing tension, leading almost to hysteria, which is extremely harmful for both mother and baby.

That is why, in order to prepare and know exactly how to be and what to do, you need to arm yourself with knowledge in advance.

Many women preparing for childbirth for the first time have heard that some kind of plug should come off before giving birth, but at the same time they have no idea what it is, what it looks like, and they don’t even know how the plug comes out before childbirth and what it means when the plug comes out .

So what is it - a traffic jam during pregnancy?

At the very beginning of pregnancy mucus accumulates in the cervix, or rather, the uterus itself produces it when

ovulation

This mucus accumulates and thickens, tightly clogging the cervix, as if sealing it, blocking the path of any infection from the vagina, thereby protecting the unborn child.

This plug looks like a piece of mucus, jelly or jellyfish. In principle, there is very little of it, about two tablespoons. It usually has a white-yellowish color, may have an admixture of blood or streaks of pink or pure white (each woman is purely individual).

How long does it take for the plug to come out? It is impossible to say exactly how long it will take for the cork to go away. It goes away differently for everyone and at different times. Many women may not even notice that the plug has ALREADY come out. After all, this can happen when going to the toilet (then you feel as if something has fallen out).

Often the mucus plug comes off while taking a morning shower, at this moment you may also not feel or see anything. Only if the plug comes off at night or during the day, when you are in your underwear, will you be able to see a piece of mucus on your panties.

Not everyone's plug comes off entirely., this can happen in stages, the plug comes off in parts, that is, in such small quantities that you can only notice an increased secretion of mucus on the panties.

But for many pregnant women, the plug may not come out at all, and then the obstetrician or doctor delivering the baby will remove it with his own hands. And it happens that the plug comes away along with the water, and then you may not notice it either.

If you do notice that the plug has come off, -

don't panic, this does not mean at all that labor will occur immediately; you may still have 2 whole weeks left, especially if the due date has not yet come.

If the loose plug has a normal white or yellowish color(sometimes with streaks of blood), but after that the waters did not break and contractions did not occur, then it’s okay, you can relax.

However, for personal peace of mind, you should still go to the doctor and find out how soon you will give birth and whether everything is okay. Depending on the general course of pregnancy, the doctor will give specific recommendations or refer you to the maternity hospital.

Don't forget that a detached mucus plug is still a harbinger that labor will come soon and the moment is near when you will take your treasure into your hands.

So, it’s better not to go far from home, go on a trip and generally use transport. Review the packages that you have prepared for the maternity hospital, whether everything is in place, whether everything is prepared at home, and wait.

But if, following the mucus plug, the water breaks or contractions begin, then you will have to go to the maternity hospital immediately.

And one more point: if the passage of the mucus plug is accompanied by scarlet-colored bloody discharge (the plug comes out with blood), and quite abundantly, then You should consult a doctor immediately.

Although streaks of blood in the mucus plug are normal (when the cervix prepares for childbirth, it dilates, which can cause capillaries to burst), but

bleeding

there shouldn't be. So, if such a problem arises,

Call an ambulance immediately.

Remember - careful attention to yourself and your health, close monitoring of your own body– the key to a successful birth and the health of your baby. Therefore, if mucous discharge appears, do not panic in vain, calm down, remember the information received and act in accordance with your assessment of the situation.

Very soon you will become a mother, and this is an incomparable feeling, because you will take responsibility for another life.

Expert commentary

Comments on the material

Sergey Yurievich Buyanov, obstetrician-gynecologist, head of the maternity department, first category doctor. Medical experience – 16 years.

You can find out more about our experts here.

Separation of the mucous plug from the vagina indicates the harbingers of labor. Moreover, it doesn’t matter in what time frame. Premature labor begins by the same mechanism as physiological or delayed labor.

The mucus plug is formed from the secretion of the cervical glands. This is a thick jelly-like mass that fills the entire cervical canal. The secretion of the cervical glands is constantly maintained by high levels of estrogens and gestagens, hormones responsible for the growth and maturation of the fetus.

Thus, a mucus plug is not a collection of thick fluid, formed from the very beginning of pregnancy. The secretion of cervical cells occurs continuously, and the mucus plug always remains “fresh”.

It fills the inside of the cervix 4-5 centimeters long: completely, leaving no gaps between the walls of the canal. Mucus contains antibodies– immune cells that neutralize pathogens.

Before labor begins, the balance of female hormones changes. There are significantly more estrogens than gestagens. That is, the process of fruit ripening is considered complete and is cancelled. Under the influence of estrogen, the mucous plug liquefies followed by its separation.

In primiparous and multiparous women The separation of the mucus plug proceeds in different ways.

The fact is that the cervix, which has not undergone the birth process, in nulliparous pregnant women has a smaller channel diameter, and its walls are quite dense, which hold the mucus so firmly that the mucus plug comes off either with blood or in parts.

At the same time, prenatal structural changes in the cervical canal occur, which are accompanied by the separation of epithelial cells. This is accompanied by minor bleeding. That's why nulliparous pregnant women streaks of blood are noted in slight thick discharge.

In women who have given birth The inner surface of the cervical canal is elastic. The integumentary epithelium is loosened, and the intercellular spaces are able to stretch. Therefore, the mucus plug in women who have given birth goes away instantly and bloodlessly.

Regardless of parity (number of births) Separation of the mucus plug from the cervical canal in pregnant women occurs painlessly.

Exception from general statistical cases

are women with lesions of the cervical canal. Scars on the inner lining of the cervix are formed due to its forced expansion during abortion or inflammatory lesions of cervical cells due to Trichomonas infection.

Much less often bleeding in women who have given birth repeatedly when the mucus plug comes out associated with the presence of cervical erosion.

Normal The mucous plug is discharged 3-5 days before the onset of labor. The amount of thick liquid is insignificant. No more than during ovulation. Because ovulatory mucus fills the cervical canal, the size of which remains unchanged during pregnancy.

Separation of the mucus plug indicates hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman, which ensure labor, canceling the process of bearing a child. This process is physiological and does not require medical intervention.

At the same time, with discharge from the genital tract that has not been examined under a microscope, it is impossible to distinguish where it came from: from the cervical canal or from the uterus?

Amniotic fluid sometimes breaks before labor begins.

Separation of the mucus plug does not mean that the protection of the fetus from vaginal microflora is impaired, since the second and more important barrier is the dense membrane of the amniotic sac.

But with rupture of the amniotic membrane(which also occurs absolutely painlessly), the risk of infection of the fetus becomes irreversible and steadily increases. The water-free period is counted in hours and minutes.

It is impossible to determine what kind of vaginal discharge appears at home. Therefore, when they appear, you should note the exact time and call an ambulance. Whether it is a mucous plug or amniotic fluid - only a doctor can determine.

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Every woman during pregnancy waits with impatience and trepidation for the onset of childbirth. Someone is rushing this moment, and someone wants to delay it for a little while longer, but it is impossible to predict the development of labor with 100% accuracy - in any case, it will begin suddenly. Many expectant mothers have heard that the plug comes off before childbirth, but only a few of them have a correct idea of ​​how this happens.

So, how many days before birth does the plug come out? What does she look like? Does this plug come off before childbirth for everyone? And when should you go to the maternity hospital if everything happens? All these questions create panic in a woman’s head, and the expectant mother does not need unnecessary worries and worries on the eve of the birth of the baby. Therefore, in order not to worry, you need to stock up on the necessary knowledge in a timely manner in order to know how to behave and what to do if labor begins.

What is a mucus plug?

With the onset of pregnancy, a specific transparent clot forms in the cervical canal - this is the mucus plug. Its formation is associated with hormonal changes in the body. Visually, the plug resembles a dense lump of light mucus. The dense structure of the cork performs a protective function, reliably protecting the fetus from the possible negative influence of the external environment. The plug reliably closes the cervical canal, thanks to which the unborn child is protected from infections, pathogenic bacteria and other pathogenic factors.

It turns out that when the plug comes out before childbirth, a path opens for infectious pathogens, etc., to enter the uterine cavity. That is why doctors strongly recommend that after the plug comes out before childbirth, avoid swimming in the bathroom, in the pool, in open bodies of water, maintain careful intimate hygiene, and in general be more careful.

How and when does it leave?

Towards the end of pregnancy, a woman’s hormonal system begins to actively produce estrogens, under the influence of which certain changes begin in the body, including the softening of the thick structure of the mucus plug with its subsequent discharge.

Also, the removal of the plug before childbirth may not occur due to a natural change in hormonal levels before childbirth, but for a mechanical reason. During a vaginal examination of a woman, the reproductive organ reacts by increasing muscle tone to the doctor’s manipulations, as a result of which the plug may be involuntarily pushed out of the cervical canal.

It can come out as a solid viscous lump, the size of which will correspond to 1.5 cm in diameter. It is also possible that the plug will gradually come out in parts - over several days in the form of light, thick discharge streaked with blood (this is also normal).

How does the plug come out before childbirth? Each woman should focus on personal feelings, since this happens individually for everyone. Over a long period of time, the passage of the plug can cause discomfort in the lower abdomen, tension and gentle tremors in the cervical area. More often this phenomenon resembles the aching pain characteristic of menstruation. If this pain begins to turn into contractions, labor has begun.

How many days/hours before birth does the plug come out?

Approximately how long does it take for the plug to come out before childbirth is a rather specific question. Some women do not even notice the moment of its passage and will never know what their mucus plug looked like, since it came out of the cervix simultaneously with the flow of amniotic fluid. For others, the plug comes off a little earlier. Despite this, experts believe that the mucus plug should go away no earlier than 2 weeks before the expected date of birth. Read more about how the estimated due date is calculated →

The process of removal of the plug itself is one of the important precursors of labor, no less relevant than contractions and rupture of water. But, as we have already found out, the plug can come off a couple of hours before the onset of labor, or several weeks. Therefore, it is better to clarify the situation and inform the doctor that the plug has come out - most likely, the specialist will conduct a vaginal examination and advise you to go to the prenatal department.

Does the plug always come off?

Some women claim that they did not see any plug before giving birth, so it does not come out for everyone. This statement is erroneous - the plug must come out before childbirth for every expectant mother. If the mucus plug did not exist, carrying a child to term would not be an impossible task, since the fetal membranes would be constantly in contact with pathogenic microflora.

Most likely, many women do not notice its release, since this process can really go unnoticed - while taking a bath, shower, when visiting the toilet, or along with fetal fluid. Sometimes the plug is born with the baby. There is no pathology in this. Therefore, you should not constantly think about the question of whether the mucus plug always comes off before childbirth. Everything will happen at the right moment, when the time comes.

What to do if the plug comes off?

If the plug comes out and contractions begin, the interval between which reaches 10 minutes or less, you need to urgently go to the maternity hospital. If contractions are irregular and not intense, there is no need to rush. You can go about your business, relax, take a shower, and also notify your loved ones about the imminent start of labor.

From the moment the mucus plug comes out, the birth canal is susceptible to a high probability of infection, so strict hygiene must be observed. Replace the bath with a shower, change bed and underwear more often, and abstain from sexual activity to prevent infection from entering the uterus.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

If the expected date of birth is getting closer and the mucus plug has not yet appeared, this is not a reason to seek medical help. Not all women know how the mucus plug comes off before childbirth and how long it takes; for some, everything happens unnoticed. Even if it does not come out, most likely, everything will happen either on the eve of the expected labor, or already with the onset of labor - this is included in the criteria for the norm.

The situation is more complicated when the plug supposedly or actually came out, but the woman confused it with the rupture of amniotic fluid. Fetal fluid normally has a colorless and transparent consistency, but its structure is more liquid than a mucus plug. If in doubt, to exclude possible complications, you need to inform your doctor about the incident.

You should also be wary if the plug comes out earlier than 2 weeks before the expected birth. Most likely, we are talking about premature onset of labor, possibly associated with early placental abruption, so you need to urgently contact a doctor or go to the maternity hospital yourself.

Another reason to consult a specialist is the appearance of copious mucous discharge from the genital tract with bright scarlet blood - normally, the plug comes off before childbirth in everyone without accompanying bleeding.

In addition, throughout pregnancy it is necessary to inform the doctor about any discharge, in particular about the passage of a mucus plug. Thanks to this, the specialist will be able to fully track the progress of pregnancy and most accurately determine the expected time of birth.

Does the plug have to come out just before giving birth? This can happen hours or even days before the baby is born. In this case, the woman goes to the antenatal department and carefully observes intimate hygiene. Having the necessary knowledge about how long a plug can take before giving birth and what it looks like, a woman will not leave this phenomenon unnoticed and will know how to proceed further. The main thing is to remember that childbirth is a physiological process that both the expectant mother and her baby will definitely cope with.

Useful video about the signs of the onset of labor

Every pregnant woman worries about how the birth will go. Are there any signs that will help you understand that there is very little time left until the long-awaited moment? These signs are called precursors of labor. One of them is the release of the mucus plug.

Mucus plug. What is it?

During pregnancy, secretions from the mucous glands accumulate in the cervix. It is a lump of mucus. What is it for? This mucus plug tightly closes the cervix and blocks the path for the penetration of various microorganisms. She is a shield for the unborn baby.

The cork has a jelly-like consistency. Its quantity is small - just a couple of tablespoons. Normally, it can be of different colors: transparent, whitish-yellow, with bloody streaks. The plug tightly fills about five centimeters of the cervix. Disarming pathogenic microbes is the main task of the defense invented by nature.

How to determine that the mucus plug has come off?

Before labor begins, the pregnant woman’s body begins to prepare for an important process. The birth canal should allow a new baby into the world without hindrance. Due to changes in hormonal levels, the mucus plug becomes less viscous and comes out.

It can be found on underwear in the form of a mucous mass. The removal of the plug may not be visible if it comes out while taking a shower or visiting the toilet. But from the sensations, the woman will understand that something has come out of the vagina. Often, mucus can come out along with the amniotic fluid.

What to do if a pregnant woman’s plug comes out?

The most important thing in this case is not to panic and prepare yourself for a successful birth. You should not go far from home, because labor after the plug is released can begin either in a day or in two weeks. It's all individual. It is necessary to prepare everything necessary for, and you should also warn your loved ones about this.

• what to do if the plug comes out before the 37th week of pregnancy? In this case, it is recommended to talk to a antenatal clinic doctor. This is necessary to exclude premature birth. You may have to undergo some examinations;
• the release of the plug at the 38th week of pregnancy or more is within normal limits. There is no need to worry, the pregnant woman just needs to inform the gynecologist about this at her next visit. You need to know that labor will begin soon;
• if the 40th week of pregnancy has arrived, and there has been no discharge of the plug? Don't worry. This process can occur during childbirth, since a woman’s body is individual. Also, the pregnant woman may not have noticed that the mucus has passed because this could have happened while visiting the toilet or bathroom.

Features of mucous plug discharge

During the first and subsequent births, this process proceeds differently.

• In primigravidas, the cervix has dense and elastic walls, and its diameter is small. Therefore, the mucus holds securely and comes out in parts. In this case, blood streaks may appear as the epithelial cells slough off along with it, causing slight bleeding. What to do if the mucus plug comes off with blood supplements? Women who have not given birth should not worry; this is normal for a small amount of blood. If doubts still exist, it is better to seek advice from a gynecologist.
• During repeated pregnancy, the plug often comes out in one moment, and no bleeding is observed. This occurs due to changes in the structure of the tissues of the cervical space (the epithelial layer has a loose structure).
• In the presence of erosive processes in the cervix, bloody additions in the secreted mucus are also possible.

Regardless of the number of births, painlessness characterizes the removal of the plug from the birth canal. An exception may be pregnant women who experience changes in the epithelium of the cervical mucosa in the form of scars. They can occur as a result of abortions, as well as inflammatory reactions after infections, for example, Trichomonas.

The process of removal of the mucus plug during pregnancy is physiological. In this case, the intervention of a doctor during the normal course of this process is not required. If the mucous lump comes away, then this foreshadows the imminent completion of pregnancy and the appearance of the baby.

When will labor begin?

If a woman realizes that the mucus plug has come off, then she should remember that labor may begin soon. Depending on the individual characteristics of the female body, the baby may appear in a few hours, or maybe in a couple of weeks.

A cork is a guard on the path of infection. It reliably protects the fetus from infection.

Should I worry about a possible infection for my child if the plug comes off? No, it's not worth it. The amniotic membranes reliably protect the fetus, and it remains safe. Only in the case of “leakage” of amniotic fluid or its discharge there is a risk of infection. In this case, contacting the maternity hospital should be immediate. A timely response to the problem that has arisen will help eliminate undesirable consequences.

What is the difference between a mucus plug and amniotic fluid leakage?

Some pregnant women have doubts about identifying vaginal discharge. A brief description of them will help you find out what it is - a mucus plug or amniotic fluid?

When should you worry?

• What should a pregnant woman do if the mucus plug comes off and there is bleeding? In this case, the blood may be scarlet in color, and its volume may be quite large. This situation requires immediate contact with a medical facility. A slight discharge of blood and mucus is normal. When the cervix is ​​stretched during preparation for childbirth, capillaries may be damaged. This may cause dark discharge to appear. The appearance of scarlet blood in the form of bleeding should alert a pregnant woman.
• The plug may come out together with the amniotic fluid. This occurs due to rupture of the amniotic sac, without causing pain in the pregnant woman. The so-called water-free period should not last for a long time. Every minute is precious. A child cannot remain in a waterless space for a long time. This could threaten his health. There is a high probability of infection and infection of the fetus. In such a situation, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. It is recommended to note the time when the amniotic fluid breaks and report this data to the doctor.

Shortly before birth, a dense clot of mucus comes out of the cervix - this is a plug. Throughout pregnancy, the plug protects the baby from any danger from the outside.

In recent weeks, the cervix begins to smooth out and expand. The plug falls out.

Please note! After the plug comes out, there is nothing blocking the cervix - and it becomes susceptible to dirt.

In the period from the loss of the plug to the birth itself, you should carefully monitor hygiene and avoid swimming in ponds and sex.

Usually it is transparent, yellowish in color and with small splashes of blood. However, the color can be any: white, brownish or even greenish. This is fine.

If the plug is liquid and very bloody, you need to urgently go to the doctor.

The plug may come off entirely or in parts. Often it comes out during childbirth. Sometimes the doctor “helps” her.

Important! The release of the plug does not mean that you are giving birth. It can happen a month or an hour before birth.

But if the plug comes off earlier than two weeks before the expected date, you need to inform your doctor about it. Its early release may be the first harbinger of premature birth.

How to understand that the plug has come out during pregnancy?

Sometimes this is completely unnoticeable: the plug may come out while taking a shower or using the toilet.

Attention! Do not confuse the release of the plug with leakage of amniotic fluid.

Thick mucous discharge - plug. Copious liquid discharge - the beginning of the water discharge just before childbirth.

The release of the plug does not yet mean the start of labor, and the flow of water - albeit gradual - indicates that it is time to go to the maternity hospital.

How not to confuse the release of a plug with leakage of amniotic fluid?

Usually the water goes away immediately. This occurs as a result of rupture of the membranes. Usually the process is accompanied by a noticeable click in the abdomen, but there should be no pain.

Sometimes it happens differently: a few hours before birth, the water begins to slowly leak.

A characteristic clot of mucus the size of two tablespoons on the laundry is the released plug. If it is dense and tight, it comes out in one lump.

Cork can also be loose: then it will be released in parts over one or two days. Sometimes its release is accompanied by a nagging pain in the lower abdomen.

There is no need to worry: the release of the plug is one of the first harbingers of the approaching birth.

Jelly-like discharge in recent weeks only indicates that your body is properly preparing for the birth of a baby.

Don't worry: ahead is the finish line. Your task now is to take care, monitor the state of your body, give up important matters and long trips and... wait!

When will labor begin if the plug comes out?

Everything is very individual. Usually the plug comes out a few days before the birth. In some cases, this can happen a month before the “X” day. It is impossible to clearly say when exactly you will give birth. The most correct answer is soon.

Spotted: If this is not your first time giving birth, the plug will fall out earlier. Women who have given birth have a wider cervix, which means it is easier for the plug to come out.

The release of the plug is a natural process, indicating that the body is actively preparing for the birth of a child.

Thick, jelly-like discharge in recent weeks is not a pathology at all, but a harbinger of an imminent birth. The cervix smoothes out and gradually opens.

The mucus plug, which has always protected the little one from infections, dirt and other troubles, falls out.

Now the uterus is more vulnerable: you need to take care of enhanced hygiene, protect yourself from stress as much as possible and wait for the birth. Let them pass successfully and easily!

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Every woman is familiar with mucous discharge during different phases of the menstrual cycle. The cervix produces thick mucus to protect the uterus and reproductive organs from invading pathogens. When sperm are ingested, mucus helps them survive and transports them through the reproductive system.

If the egg is fertilized and is already in the uterus, mucus accumulates in the cervix and thickens, forming a seal, which is called mucus plug.

Let's take a closer look at what the mucous plug may look like when it comes out, what it looks like, and also what the expectant mother should do if it has already come out.

To protect the uterus from harmful bacteria and protect the fetus from infection during pregnancy, nature has provided an ideal barrier - a honeycomb of mucous clot so thick that a plug is formed containing various antibacterial substances.

Mucus plug is a thick jelly-like mass that is formed due to an increase in progesterone and fills the entire cervical canal. Around the seventh week of pregnancy, mucus thickens and fills the cervix to help prevent infection. Before birth, the plug is usually pushed out to allow the baby to pass through the cervix during contractions.

During pregnancy, the walls of the cervix tightly hold the mucus plug. Towards the end of the term, it begins to thin and expand. After the 25th week of pregnancy, the consistency of the mucus plug also changes; under the influence of estrogens, it begins to gradually thin out.

When will the plug come out?, no one can say for sure, this process is absolutely individual and depends on the body. In some women, the mucus plug comes out entirely at once, while in others it may come off unnoticed in small discharges over one to two weeks. Most often, the mucus plug comes off completely painlessly, the woman does not experience discomfort, so its release goes unnoticed, for example, during intimacy, when visiting the shower or in the toilet. Sometimes, before the mucous membrane comes out, a woman feels slight cramps in the lower abdomen.

In primiparous women, due to the fact that the cervix is ​​less elastic, has a small diameter and holds the plug tightly, its release can cause rupture of small vessels, and the mucus will contain small blood spots or will come out in parts.

In women who have given birth, as a rule, the plug comes out in one clot without blood, since their cervix dilates more easily, the walls are thinner and stretch more easily.

The plug exit is usually a harbinger of childbirth. The loss of the mucus plug is considered a sign that the cervix is ​​dilating and the body begins to prepare for labor.

A vaginal gynecological examination in the third trimester can also lead to loss of the mucus plug. In this case, this is not a sign that labor is approaching.

The plug comes out in the early stages

Is there a danger of the plug coming out in the early stages? Sometimes the mucus plug comes out in early pregnancy. Since hormones are still tuned to protect the uterus until the third trimester, there is a high probability that the plug will still be able to recover. If this does not happen, do not worry too much, the child also has a second circle of protection against infections - amniotic sac. As long as it does not burst and the waters do not break, the child is safe. The mucus plug simply adds another layer of protection and if it comes out there is no great danger to the mother or her baby.

When the mucus plug has separated, the woman should take more careful precautions against possible infection:

• strictly monitor the cleanliness of underwear and bed linen, change panty liners more often or discard them altogether, as germs can accumulate in them;
• during sexual intercourse, be sure to use a condom, and it is better to abstain from sexual intercourse, since without a plug the uterus is practically open to infections;
• avoid swimming in pools and open natural bodies of water;
• stop taking a bath and replace it with a shower;
• observe more strict personal hygiene and wash your genitals.

What does a traffic jam look like before childbirth?

If we talk about what mucous membrane might look like, then most often it comes out in the form of viscous mucus or sticky discharge with a diameter of about 4-5 centimeters, a volume of about 1 tablespoon and weighing about a gram. If the mucus is thick, it usually slips out in one large lump, and is sticky and viscous for several days. In most cases, if the plug comes off gradually in small portions, a woman can find brownish traces of it on her underwear or sanitary pad.

The mucous membrane in a healthy state does not smell at all; a foul odor means the presence of an infection in the cervix, you should consult a doctor.

As for color, then A mucus plug can look different:

What to do if the plug comes off?

Is the passage of the plug is a signal for contractions? The loss of the mucus plug does not mean that labor has already begun. If mucous leakage occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy, you should tell your doctor and be checked for signs of preterm labor, which could pose a risk to the baby. When the plug comes out from the 38th week of pregnancy, it is a sign that the cervix is ​​dilating and the body is preparing for birth.

Labor may begin within hours, days, or maybe even weeks, with the cervix dilating gradually. Some women lose all of their mucous membranes at once when the birth process begins. Under no circumstances should you try to remove the plug yourself; there is a huge risk of infection, and there is no need for this procedure: the mucous membrane has either already come out on its own unnoticed, or will come out when the time comes.

The release of the plug in the last stage of pregnancy means that baby will be born soon. At this time, the woman often feels like her stomach has dropped and the baby is pressing on the cervix. This can lead to a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis and reduced pressure on the chest, making it easier to breathe. At this time, it is worth canceling all trips and checking the things you have collected for the maternity hospital. There is no need to go to the hospital until real signs of labor appear: your water breaks and contractions appear.