What is a plug in a pregnant woman? What is a mucus plug and what is it for? Actions when the plug comes out

Many expectant mothers know that if the mucus plug comes off before labor, it signals that labor will begin soon. What this mucous membrane is, what it looks like, and exactly how the process of removing the plug is carried out, you will find out below.

What exactly does a mucus plug look like?

Mucus plug means gel-like mucus clot, which fills the cervix during pregnancy throughout the entire period. It consists of cervical mucus, which forms at the beginning of pregnancy and then gradually thickens, forming a viscous, dense plug by the time of birth. Normally, it is a clot with small patches of blood, but without heavy bleeding.

The function of this clot during pregnancy is to protect the uterine cavity and fetus from harmful microbes and infections. Before labor begins, this plug peels off and comes away, thereby freeing the cervix to begin the process.

Many people know that the passage of this mucous clot is one of the harbingers that baby will be born soon. However, everything here is purely individual. For some, it may go away just before the onset of labor, and for other expectant mothers several weeks before.

Like other physiological processes, the passage of the mucus plug during pregnancy is due to a number of reasons. During pregnancy, women's hormonal levels change greatly, which is why mucus is released. Often it can go away already at 38 weeks of pregnancy, when the body begins to radically restructure and prepare for the birth of a child.

Main reasons for departure mucous clots before childbirth are:

Because the change hormonal levels During pregnancy, each woman experiences differently due to individual characteristics, then the plug may come out earlier for some, and a little later for others. But everyone needs to understand how the birth process occurs in order to begin preparing for childbirth.

How to distinguish the passage of a plug before childbirth from amniotic fluid

Often first-time mothers they confuse the breaking of water and plugs. Here are some differences:

As mentioned earlier, the mucus plug before childbirth may leave in advance, or maybe right in front of them. If contractions immediately begin after it leaves, then there is no need to worry. The same is true if after this you wait another week for this event.

Be as attentive to yourself as possible when there are no other signs after the plug has come off. imminent birth, in some cases you need to consult a doctor. This is especially true when it comes out earlier than a couple of weeks before approximate date childbirth There are situations when the water breaks and contractions begin, but the plug never comes out. In such cases, you cannot wait for the moment of its release; you need to go to the maternity hospital, the mucus can come out immediately during childbirth.

How do you understand that the plug begins to come off during pregnancy? In its symptoms, this process is somewhat reminiscent sensations during menstruation in the form of a pulling pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. It can also be rejected unnoticed, for example, while visiting the toilet. In other cases, traces of mucus remain when discharged. The mucus comes out either as a complete dense clot, or in parts, it all depends on the hormonal characteristics of the pregnant woman.

Features of plug removal in primiparous and multiparous women

When preparing for childbirth during pregnancy, women's hormonal balance changes greatly. So, shortly before childbirth, hormonal levels directly affect muscle tone uterus, under the pressure of the fetus, the cervix slowly expands. In primiparas, this the process takes a little longer than in multiparous women. In this case, the process itself in both cases is practically the same, but the time for the mucus to drain may be different. Primiparas take longer to prepare for childbirth, and the labor itself may be longer than for those who give birth for the second or third time.

In multiparous women, the waiting time for childbirth after the plug comes out is most often short. The second and subsequent births are mainly distinguished by their rapidity. Very often they begin within an hour or two after the plug comes out.

The process of removal of the mucus plug not very long lasting, often it happens instantly. But this does not apply to cases where it leaves in parts, then it lasts a little longer, sometimes for several days.

Hygiene after departure

It is very important to behave correctly when the mucus has already come out and labor has not yet begun. Remember that during pregnancy it acted as a protective shield against infections. After she leaves, adhere to this important rule of hygiene: it is better not to take a bath, but to limit yourself to a shower. Also, do not swim in pools or ponds. The fact is that water can easily get into the genital tract and cause infection, despite the fact that the child is additionally protected by amniotic fluid.

It's easy to identify a traffic jam, you are unlikely to confuse it with other secretions when exiting. It is a compacted translucent clot with minor inclusions of blood that are not pathological. These blood clots only speak of small quantity burst vessels.

You should worry in cases where the mucus after discharge is too bloody and contains copious amounts of blood. This may indicate the onset of bleeding and the development of pathological processes. IN in this case It is recommended to consult a doctor.

Is it possible to speed up labor after the plug comes out?

Many pregnant women are often interested in whether it is possible to speed up the onset labor activity when the mucous clot comes off. Naturally, few people want to interfere with the natural course of events, especially in the absence of various kinds of pathologies. But if you want without medication help hasten the onset of labor, then you can use the recommendations of “experienced” mothers.

The easiest way to speed up the onset of labor after the plug falls out is to walk and be more upright. This will help your child get out as quickly as possible. When the mother is in motion, the baby descends and, under the influence of gravity, moves along the birth canal. This will significantly ease the pain during childbirth and allow it to resolve faster.

The removal of the plug indicates that childbirth is just around the corner and the expectant mother need to prepare for the upcoming event, even if it happens a few days before. If nothing worries you and everything happens according to plan, then there should be no problems and soon you will meet the long-awaited baby.

The body of a pregnant woman begins to function in a completely unusual mode from the first days after conception. Everything changes in it - from hormonal levels to the direction and speed of blood circulation. The main substance that prolongs and preserves the process of bearing a child is the so-called motherhood hormone - progesterone.

Thanks to him, the “gate” of the birth canal, i.e. The cervix remains tightly closed throughout the entire nine months. The cervical canal fills with a thick, gel-like substance called mucus plug. It is this that protects the unborn child from various types of infection and penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the uterus.

The passage of this mucus plug during pregnancy is considered the first harbinger of impending labor. It is by this “symptom” that expectant mothers recognize the signal about the need to quickly get ready for the maternity hospital.

Mucus plug: how to recognize and not make a mistake?

None of the women thinks about such a phenomenon as a mucus plug outside of pregnancy. However, those who are already in “ interesting position”, and monitor the changes in their own body, they know for sure that this dense clot of transparent substance is a real protector for the fetus. Just as our nasal cavity secretes mucus to protect against viral infections, the cervix protects the baby from all the dangers that his mother faces almost every day.

Precursors of labor, which appear from time to time from the 38th week of pregnancy, include the release of a mucus plug. However, it cannot be called a universal phenomenon: sometimes the lump leaves the woman’s body already during the process of delivery. Moreover, some people confuse this event with such a dangerous phenomenon as leakage of amniotic fluid.

It should be understood that true harbingers of childbirth are not independent.

You can feel the approaching meeting with your baby by a significant drooping of the abdomen, “training” contractions, a sharp slight weight loss, and the rupture of amniotic fluid. And here you should not rely only on women’s, and now also mother’s, intuition. It is important to listen to every signal from your body in order to understand in time - here it is, it’s beginning!

When should I expect the plug to go away?

According to doctors, the removal of the plug 2 weeks before the expected date of birth is considered optimal. However, not every organism works in a perfectly planned mode. If you see a mucus plug on your underwear, this does not mean at all that you can relax and meekly wait another half month. Your baby may begin to ask for “freedom” after 2 hours. Of course, there is no need to panic, especially in your situation. But you simply must inform your obstetrician-gynecologist who is leading the pregnancy.

The fact is that there are pathological syndromes in which the passage of a clot is a signal for emergency measures for hospitalization. Call your doctor and explain when, how, and under what circumstances your protective mucus came off. What does a clot look like? Does it have a smell? What color is it painted in? Inspect it in advance and voice all the nuances to a specialist.

What should the plug be like?

Most women are interested in: what exactly does that “correct” protective plug look like? Basically, its visual characteristics vary and may be different. Moreover, it may have fundamentally different appearance in the same lady during different pregnancies.

Experienced mothers say that in multiparous women, the clot comes off a little earlier. And this is not a banal “pregnant” sign, but a clinically proven fact. The first birth already somewhat “opens” the cervix, which means that the substance is not held so tightly in it.

What does a mucus plug look like during pregnancy? It does not have a clear shape and resembles an ordinary clot with a gel-like consistency. For some women it is transparent, for others it has a cloudy tint.

The plug may include streaks of blood, and during the normal course of pregnancy this is not considered an anomaly and does not indicate a possible obstetric pathology. Also, the clot can be yellow, greenish and pinkish, and sometimes even includes all these colors!

So, let's figure out how to distinguish whether the mucus plug comes off during pregnancy before giving birth, or whether you are likely to leak amniotic fluid?

• The clot passes on average 3-5 days before the expected date of birth. Water leakage can begin at any time, even when resolution is still far away;
• The color of the mucus plug that comes off during pregnancy is beige, yellowish, transparent, streaked with blood. The waters almost always have a pinkish or subdued light green tint;
• The consistency of mucus is viscous. The waters are absolutely liquid, watery;
• The frequency of release of the cork is several days, in portions equivalent to 1-2 tbsp. Less often the whole clot comes out at once. Water is leaking constantly, a positive reaction is noted “ cough impulse"(the discharge increases with laughter, coughing, sneezing, sudden movements).

In the event that the “protective lump” actually moves away, you should simply observe the dynamics. If there is a suspicion of water leakage, it is necessary to urgently go to the maternity hospital.

When the process of clot release occurs, the woman feels approximately the same as in critical days. A nagging pain characteristic of menstruation appears in the lower abdomen and sacrum. This can happen at any time, in particular during the morning toilet or in the shower. Then you may not notice the phenomenon at all.

It's a different matter if it happened in a different case. Here it is difficult not to notice obvious traces of mucus on underwear or bed linen, especially since they are almost always abundant.

Why are there bloody streaks?

Towards the end of the gestation process, the cervix gradually smoothes out and shortens. This is provided by nature in order to expand and completely free the birth canal for the baby. In this case, small vessels and capillaries in the body of the organ are injured, which is why you can observe veins of a characteristic color in the clot. For the same reason, the cork itself may have an intense brownish tint.

What to do?

• If the plug comes off before the 37th week, it is important to urgently call the supervising doctor and report what happened. Perhaps you are starting to premature birth, and here every minute counts.
• If this happened at the 38th week or later, there is no need to sound the alarm and call the doctor. But you should definitely mention this fact at your next visit to the antenatal clinic.
• If, along with the plug, it comes out of the perineum a large number of bright scarlet blood, call urgently ambulance! This symptom may indicate abruption or placenta previa!

There is no need to worry if the “real” contractions have already started and you still don’t see a clot. Firstly, it may come out during childbirth, and secondly, you may simply not have noticed it earlier.

What are traffic jams

Every expectant mother should understand: there are strictly medical topics that the average person should not delve into, but there are some basic things regarding the functioning of your body that you simply cannot not know. For pregnant women, these are also signs of impending labor, one of which is the release of the mucus plug.

Mucus plug during pregnancy - what is it?

In our body, everything is arranged very wisely: for example, the mucous plug performs a security function; throughout pregnancy it protects cervical canal cervix from various bacteria and infections. A lump of mucus simply clogs the canal, preventing anything that could harm the pregnant woman from entering there.

Therefore, there is no need to be afraid that at the end of pregnancy the mother will find such a lump of mucus on her underwear. This is all quite physiological.

What does a traffic jam look like in pregnant women?

Many women (especially first-time mothers) are concerned about the question: what is a traffic jam during pregnancy, what does it look like, how to recognize that it is it? So, let's be clear - a plug is a lump of mucus, which can be clear, almost uniform in color. It may also have small blood streaks, which is also normal. The color of the cork is:

White

Pinkish

Yellowish

Brown

Green tint

Or even combine several colors

What does it mean - the plug came out during pregnancy?

Expectant mothers are concerned about how the plug comes out during pregnancy. It is important to know the following points:

If the plug comes off after 38 weeks, this is normal, there is no need to worry (the body is preparing for childbirth, everything is going according to plan);

If the plug comes out before the 37th week of pregnancy, immediately inform your doctor (this is not necessarily a pathology, but it is worth eliminating the risk of premature birth);

If the plug comes off and bleeding begins after it, call an ambulance immediately, this may indicate placental abruption.

But how does a plug come out during pregnancy? This is not accompanied by pain or any characteristic sound. Although on the eve of the moment of departure there may be so-called precursors - weak contractions, not particularly painful, but noticeable. There may be uterine tone (a feeling of stiffness in the abdomen).

Aching pain in the lower abdomen, similar to premenstrual pain, may also indicate that the plug will soon come off.

If the plug comes off

So, the birth is coming soon! In first-time mothers, from the moment the plug comes out until delivery, it can take from several hours to several days and even weeks (1-2). In multiparous women, the process is likely to accelerate.

The baby is still protected; the amniotic membranes prevent infection from entering the uterus. But it’s better to postpone douching, taking a bath, and swimming for later.

And yet, when does the plug come out in pregnant women? If this happened on last weeks due date, then labor is probably just around the corner. Often, for many expectant mothers who are waiting for birth in the maternity hospital, this happens after multiple examinations in the chair. The cervix is ​​prepared for childbirth, developed, and the plug comes out. This is not dangerous; on the contrary, natural mechanisms in the mother’s body have turned on.

But even if the plug has come away, labor will begin only with the onset of contractions and the moment the amniotic fluid is released.

The plug can also come off during labor, which also happens quite often. In any case, remember:

· The mucus plug is the body’s natural defense against infections that threaten the baby in the womb;

· The removal of the plug is the moment the body prepares for childbirth, but not the start of the birth process itself;

· Before the plug comes out, there may be mild pain in the lower abdomen, but this is not necessary;

· After the plug comes off, nothing resembling bleeding should be observed;

· If the plug comes off, we cancel baths, swimming pools and douching;

· It is better to inform your doctor about the passage of the mucus plug.

• How long did you leave after the plug came out?

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  Good afternoon Happy belated New Year and upcoming Christmas everyone!!! I have a question for second-time mothers, how long after the plug came out did you go into labor? My son and I had the plug come off within a day, now it’s been a while...

• The plug comes off

  Happy holiday everyone!! Girls, this is a question, since last night the traffic jam has been coming out little by little all day. At first it was transparent, now yellowish. How long did it take you to give birth after the plug came out? During my first pregnancy I gave birth 3 days after...

Before pregnancy, most girls have little idea of ​​what it’s like to bear and give birth to a baby. That is, they, of course, can imagine themselves with a nice round tummy, but they have a very little idea about many physiological aspects.

For example, what is a mucus plug during pregnancy and what is it needed for, and most importantly, why is everyone so worried about when it goes away. Of course, this begins to worry all future mothers towards the end of pregnancy; every now and then doctors hear numerous questions: “I’m 38 weeks pregnant, the plug has come out, what should I do?” or “What will happen if I don’t notice when the plug comes out?”

What is a plug during pregnancy?

A mucus plug is a clump of viscous mucus that looks like protein. raw egg, which is formed in pregnant women in the cervix. The plug forms under the influence of hormones around the end of 1 month of pregnancy, when ovum is implanted into the uterine cavity: it is at this time that the cervix softens, swells and is filled with cervical mucus produced by the cells of the cervix. With each ovulation, it thickens, forming a fairly dense clot that clogs the entrance to the uterus.

The mucus plug during pregnancy, like everything in nature, has its own function: it protects the woman's body(which is very vulnerable during this period!) from various infections entering it, for example, when swimming in a pond.

However, at the end of pregnancy, the woman’s body actively produces the hormone estrogen, under the influence of which the mucus softens, and the plug comes out by itself before childbirth - women who have given birth know that this is a signal that the labor process has entered the active phase.

The removal of the plug can be stimulated not only by natural hormonal reasons, but also by vaginal examinations by a gynecologist - the uterus reacts with smooth muscle tone, pushing out the plug. And she can go out like one gel-like viscous clot or a piece of approximately 1-2 tablespoons (or 1.5 cm in diameter), and gradually, over several days, in the form of spotting, similar to the beginning or end of menstruation.

What does a traffic jam look like before childbirth? It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from normal vaginal discharge because both its viscosity and color can vary. Usually the mucus has yellowish, pinkish color or in general colorless. Women who have given birth say that the mucus plug looks resembles jelly or jellyfish.

There may be streaks of blood in it (there’s nothing wrong with that, blood in the plug appears from the rupture of capillaries that burst from pressure when the uterus opens), but if you see in the plug not just bloody streaks, but a fairly noticeable amount of blood, this may be a sign placental abruption. In any case, it is better to consult a doctor, especially if the plug came out much earlier during pregnancy.

How does a plug come out before childbirth?

By the way, at what time should the plug come out before giving birth? The question, of course, is individual: perhaps you won’t even notice this moment, because it will go away just before birth along with the amniotic fluid, or maybe the plug will go away in advance (that’s why some women have a question about whether the plug always comes off before childbirth) .

Doctors believe that normally the plug should come off during pregnancy. no earlier than 2 weeks before the due date.

The passage of the plug is one of the three main ones, along with increasing regular contractions and the release of amniotic fluid. But, as you already understand, from the moment the plug comes out until the start of labor, it can take several hours or several days. In any case, you need to inform your obstetrician-gynecologist about this - you will be examined and, possibly, immediately placed in the prenatal department.

Most often, a plug during pregnancy comes off during a morning shower or going to the toilet: you may not even have time to see anything, but you will feel something coming out of the vagina. If this happens in another situation, you will definitely notice whitish, yellowish, pinkish or beige mucus on your underwear or sheets.

The plug came out during pregnancy: what to do?

And yet, how does the plug come out before childbirth? Determining this is not always easy, so it is better for a woman to focus on her own feelings. If you are already pregnant and are due to give birth soon, pay attention if you suddenly feel slight painful shocks, some tension and nagging pain in the lower abdomen.

This is how mothers in labor describe the process of the plug coming out before childbirth. After this, aching and nagging pains are possible, similar to those that usually accompany menstruation. Usually these pains smoothly turn into contractions. Then this is already the beginning of labor.

But there is no point in rushing to the maternity hospital yet: make sure the intensity and regularity of the contractions - when the interval between them is reduced to 10 minutes, then you can already go. And as long as the interval between contractions is longer, they themselves are not too intense and do not cause much discomfort to the expectant mother - there is no need to rush, it is better to prepare for the maternity hospital, for example, make sure that things are collected, check all important documents, take a warm shower.

Only not a bath, remember - from the moment the plug comes out during pregnancy, it becomes more difficult for your body to resist infection of the birth canal (this, by the way, is one of the arguments of opponents of water birth). But this does not mean that your baby is now defenseless!

After all, he also has an amniotic sac, which, among others, also performs a protective function. Therefore, if the plug has already come off, but labor has not yet begun, there is nothing wrong with that, you just can’t swim in a bathtub, pool or pond now and you should be more careful about your personal hygiene, change your underwear and bed linen more often.

Even if you are so later didn't give up intimate life , after the plug comes out, you will have to do this, because the infection can easily get from the vagina into the uterine cavity.

Therefore, if the plug comes out during pregnancy, you shouldn’t fuss and panic: you have time to properly prepare and tune in, get ready, and instruct your family.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

Failure to remove the plug before childbirth is not yet a reason to run to the gynecologist. This does not mean that all this time you were deprived of a barrier that protects the fetus from infection in your womb. Most likely, she did come out, but you simply didn’t notice it. And even if it doesn’t come out, it will come out along with the amniotic fluid or already during the birth process.

The situation is more serious if you think that the plug has already come off, but in fact it has come off amniotic fluid, which are normally absolutely transparent and colorless, and their consistency is much thinner than the mucus plug during pregnancy. We described in detail the sensations when the plug comes out above, but here’s what it’s characterized by: amniotic fluid leakage (amniotic fluid)?

This happens relatively constantly, and the amount of discharge increases with any stress on the abs, for example, coughing. To avoid possible complications during pregnancy, you should inform your doctor about your condition.

Also a reason to be wary is the removal of a cork. earlier than 2 weeks before the due date determined by the doctor during an ultrasound examination. Perhaps this is premature birth, perhaps - in any case, you can’t wait too long, you need to go to the hospital.

Another reason to consult a doctor is copious discharge mucus of a liquid consistency, with a large amount of bright scarlet blood: normally, the passage of the plug before childbirth is not accompanied bleeding .

By the way, during pregnancy, inform your doctor about all discharge, including the passage of the plug - this will help track the progress of pregnancy and clarify the expected date of birth.

The first pregnancy is the joy and excitement of a young mother. Is everything going well? How is the baby feeling? These questions sometimes haunt us day and night. Of course, a lot depends on the level of anxiety of the woman herself, but doctors confidently say that the more literate and knowledgeable the expectant mother is, the less reason she will have to worry. Therefore, courses are being opened today that teach in detail about the features in each trimester, childbirth and caring for a newborn. But even women who have listened to the lecturer are sometimes left with a number of questions.

Analyzing information on forums, we came across the fact that many are interested in how the plug comes out before childbirth in first-time mothers. Every woman wants to know for sure that she will not miss this important sign approaching birth, it is for this reason that we decided to discuss this issue separately from the general description of the birth process.

Don't panic

Indeed, this is the most important rule. You cannot skip childbirth no matter how much you want. Even if it starts at night, you will definitely wake up. When considering the question of how the plug comes off before childbirth in first-time mothers, we are faced with the fact that women want to notice the harbingers of a grandiose event as early as possible and how to prepare for it. In fact, you had a whole nine months to get used to the idea that you would soon have a baby. Now it’s better to rest and give your body the opportunity to decide on its own when the baby is fully mature for birth.

What is a cork

In order for our mini-research to be consistent, we need to start not with how the plug comes out before childbirth in first-time mothers, but what it is. This is just a mucous clot that performs a barrier function throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. It forms when the expectant mother is not yet aware of her situation. Once conception has occurred, the cervix begins to produce gel-like mucus. This gelatinous lump fills its entire cavity and prevents germs and infections from entering the womb. Our body is very wise, especially when it comes to issues of preserving offspring.

Every birth is unique

Why is it difficult to tell unambiguously how the plug comes out before childbirth in first-time mothers? Because no two pregnancies are the same. Even experienced mothers they say that each time she left them at a different time. But in official medicine it is generally accepted that the removal of a plug is the surest harbinger of the imminent birth of a baby. In fact, the timing is quite vague. For some, it leaves its rightful place a few weeks before giving birth, while for others it leaves already in the maternity chair. But in order to understand well what is happening to your body now and not panic, you need to have an idea of ​​what it looks like.

How to understand that the plug has come off

This process does not provide any specific sensations. There will be no contractions or pain. Every woman is accustomed to the usual vaginal discharge, which does not manifest itself in any way, except for traces on underwear or a pad. Everything is the same here. Therefore, in order not to miss the moment of discharge, you need to have at least a vague idea of ​​how the plug differs from normal discharge. Here I would like to note that during pregnancy, many women are faced with the fact that white marks regularly appear on their underwear, which have never happened before. Despite the insignificant danger of this symptom, you should definitely consult a doctor so that he can examine you and, if necessary, prescribe treatment. Only if a specialist considers them to be insignificant, can you come to terms with this phenomenon right up to the birth.

So we digress a bit. How do you understand that the plug has come off if it looks different for everyone, and the timing of its appearance is individual? There are certain General characteristics, which will allow you to accurately diagnose what is currently happening to the body.

Important parameters

And the first thing you should evaluate is consistency. Removing the plug is difficult. You go into the toilet and notice a dense gelatinous lump on your laundry, somewhat jelly-like to the touch. Experts very accurately compare it with egg white. Normally, cervical mucus, which is produced by the cervix to protect the fetus from infections, is completely transparent, but more concentrated and dense.

But every rule has exceptions. Sometimes women claim that the removal of the plug went completely unnoticed by them. How is this possible? The fact is that in some cases, two weeks before birth, the plug may become more liquid. In this case, it comes out in parts, and the marks on the underwear look like scanty spotting. In this case, the process may indeed fail to be diagnosed as the first sign of impending labor.

Plug size

If we do not take into account exceptional cases, then a fairly large volume of mucus comes out, which allows us to say with great confidence that this is not ordinary discharge. If you really want to be sure that you haven’t made a mistake, then carefully fold your underwear and take a walk to the clinic. The obstetrician will not be at all embarrassed by such a question from the patient; for him this is a familiar job. At the same time, he can examine you on the gynecological chair and tell you exactly how much time is left before giving birth. On average, the volume of the mucus plug is about 50 ml. It is not liquid, the mucus does not spread over the laundry, but remains on it in a dense lump. Its size varies from 1.5 to 2 centimeters.

The color of the plug is normal

This is another parameter that is also variable. However, we know approximately at what week the plug comes out in first-time mothers. Doctors call the average figure 38 weeks. If your period is close to this figure, and you observe a phenomenon similar in description, then, most likely, your plug has actually come off. The first pregnancy is always a cause for concern, but here everything goes as usual. The cervix prepares to let the baby into the birth canal, becomes softer and can no longer hold the mucous lump.

But let's get back to color palette. The norm is clear mucus, reminiscent of raw egg white. However, it can also be yellowish and white. At the same time, practicing gynecologists say that the palette can be from beige to Brown, and there will be no disruptions to the course of pregnancy in any of these cases. There may be inclusions of blood, which only indicates damage to tiny capillaries at the time of dilatation of the cervix.

What explains this difference? The state of health of each woman, as well as the process of pregnancy, is very different. Chronic pathologies, diseases during pregnancy, even nutrition and vitamin intake - all this affects the composition and shade of mucus. At the same time, translucent and pink mucus should not frighten the expectant mother.

What should you be wary of?

What to do if the plug comes off? Really nothing special from expectant mother not required. First of all, you need to carefully examine her so that if you receive questions from the doctor, you can answer them. Pay attention to size, consistency and color. What may indicate the need to immediately call an ambulance? Dark brown or deep red mucus. In this case, we can talk about the danger of placental abruption, which can pose a threat to the life of the baby and mother. The bright scarlet shade of mucus and a large amount of blood in it are also one of the signs of pregnancy pathology.

Mom's on the alert

So, your pregnancy is coming to an end, and today this question worries most women. However, for now we need to pay attention to one more point. Until now, mucus performed protective functions. The birth plug protected the embryo from infections and microbes, and also served as a mechanical cover for the uterus. It is the presence of a cork that allows a pregnant woman to swim in the pool and sex life. In addition, it has bactericidal properties. After she has left your body, you will have to think about the safety of your baby yourself.

What you need to change in your life

Or more precisely, what should you give up when the plug comes off? When labor starts, you definitely won't miss it, but now it can happen at any time. Therefore, it is worth calling your obstetrician if you have an individual arrangement with a specific specialist. Now you are not allowed to take a bath, limiting yourself to light washing only. Do not direct the spray directly at the perineum.

Swimming pools, and especially open bodies of water, are closed to you from now on, but don’t worry, this won’t last long. There are no more than two weeks left until you hold your baby in your arms, and in some cases even less. Avoid sex and pay special attention to sterility underwear. Despite the fact that it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question: “If the plug comes out, how long will it take for labor to begin?”, you need to check your readiness to go to the maternity hospital. First of all, you will need documents, an exchange card and things for the maternity ward. Relatives can give you everything else later.

The beginning of the birth process

So far, we have talked about the fact that from the moment the mucous lump comes out until delivery, there may be about two weeks left. This is official information, but in reality this happens quite rarely. However, this does not mean that you need to urgently go to the maternity hospital if the traffic jam comes out. It is not yet known how long it will take for labor to begin, but the very appearance of mucus indicates that the cervix has begun to dilate. In the vast majority of cases, this occurs several hours before the onset of labor. Therefore, you have a little time to once again remember about proper breathing and calm down. It is best to go to bed: you will soon need strength.

Latest preparations

We will not dwell now on what you need to take with you to the maternity hospital; most likely, your local gynecologist has already talked about this. In addition, we have already come close to the question of how long it takes for the mucus plug to come off. Usually in first-time mothers this happens a few hours, or at most a few days before the actual birth process begins. By this time, the bag with things should already be near the threshold. Therefore, we invite you to lie down and enjoy the peace. If you like, you can meditate.

Now it is extremely important to set yourself up for a positive wave. Fears and anxieties are a natural reaction, but they are bad advisors. Besides, if the pregnancy was going well, should you worry now? Close your eyes and try to imagine your child as clearly as possible. What his eyes are like, his nose, how he feels now. Imagine yourself in the womb, next to him. You may want to reassure and hug him, because he has a much worse idea of ​​what will happen to him during the birth process than you do. Rehearse the birth process, repeat correct breathing, this will be very useful to you soon. Imagine yourself as a beautiful flower that opens towards the sun and new life. It is this attitude that helps you survive childbirth easily and painlessly. Excessive tension and fear of pain, on the contrary, intensify it and prolong the torment.

Beginning of labor

Some time after the traffic jam goes away, the scenario may begin to develop in two directions. First, the water breaks. This normal phenomenon, although it will be marked on the card as the Second option - first contractions. In this case, the water will break later, perhaps already while the baby is passing through the birth canal. Either of these two options is considered normal.

What to do if the plug comes off but there are no contractions? If you are very concerned about the lack of labor activity, or the period is approaching 42 weeks, then go for a consultation to the maternity hospital or to your local gynecologist. In all other cases, just calmly wait in the wings. From now on, it is not recommended to make long trips, even within your own city. But come out to breathe fresh air definitely necessary. Pleasant walks will allow you to maintain good physical shape, which will be required during the birth process.