During pregnancy, the cervix is covered by a thick plug of mucus that helps protect the baby. This prevents any bacteria or other sources of infection from getting past the cervical barrier. As your pregnancy comes to a close, your cervix will begin to dilate open to make way for your baby to pass through.
When the cervix opens, the mucus plug is released. Check out this chart on cervix dilation. You might lose your mucus plug entirely. Or, it can be lost in small amounts. If this is the case, you might not even notice it. Discharge can also increase at the end of pregnancy, and the mucus plug can be a part of that.
During my time as a hospital labor and delivery nurse, some of the most common phone calls we answered were about the mucus plug. Women wondered if losing it meant they needed to come in right away. They also wanted to know what to do with it.
One woman even brought hers to the hospital in a plastic baggie. I can assure you — this is very unnecessary. Therefore, it can bleed easily. When the cervix starts to open and the mucus plug dislodges, some of the blood vessels in your cervix will rupture and bleed.
This is what you see with the bloody show. It can actually be very slight blood-tinged discharge. Experiencing inflammation or polyps on the cervix can also cause light bleeding. Bleeding heavily during the second and third trimesters may indicate a serious complication involving the placenta, such as placenta previa or placental abruption.
Women who have bloody discharge long before their due date should seek immediate medical attention. Unlike other types of bleeding, bloody show has a thick, gelatinous, and sometimes stringy texture. It can also appear translucent with very little blood. At other times, bloody show may be pink or streaked with blood. Bloody show is a natural part of pregnancy. It is a sign that the cervix is dilating and preparing for labor.
Women who experience bloody show should monitor themselves for other symptoms of labor, such as cramping, contractions, or their water breaking. However, every pregnancy is different, so it is difficult to say exactly when labor will occur after bloody show happens.
Women who notice vaginal bleeding long before their due date should contact their healthcare provider. Bleeding during pregnancy is not always a cause for concern, but it is still best to consult a professional regarding any worrisome symptoms.
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How to Recognize the Signs of Labor. Getting Pregnant. Popular links under Pregnancy First Trimester. Popular links under Baby Baby Month by Month. Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month. Baby Products. Bookmark BookmarkTick BookmarkAdd save. By Korin Miller. Image: Daria Riabova. What Is Bloody Show? Signs of Bloody Show. Sex After Bloody Show. When to Call Your Doctor. Plus, more from The Bump:.
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