Childbirth

What is the Mucous Plug or Bloody Show

The mucous plug or what some call the blood show is that plugs the cervix to protect your womb and baby from infection and disease.

Once labor starts this mucous plug becomes dislodged as your cervix begins to dilate. Sometimes it may only start leaking a small amount just before labor begins or it can come out all at once.

Just because you see, the mucous plug does not mean that your baby is on the way. Some women lose the mucous plug weeks before they begin labor. This just means that your body is preparing for birth. The cervix will take it own sweet time to begin to dilate and open for the birth of your baby.

The mucous plug or bloody show can be white with streaks of blood, completely clear, pinkish or even brownish. It can be either sticky or stringy. Many women do not even notice losing the mucous plug, they may believe that it is just vaginal discharge that they normally have.

Losing the mucous plug is not a reason to panic and rush to the emergency room. You should only become alarmed if the discharge is bright red or if you leak more than around two tablespoons of this type of discharge. This could mean that the placenta is breaking away from the womb or there is an abruption of the placenta. This problem only occurs in about one percent of all pregnant women.

As the cervix dilates or opens sometimes the mucous plug will only come in small portions, this is still nothing to be worried about. The mucous plug will move and your baby will have plenty of room to be delivered as the cervix dilates.

Remember though, once the mucous plug is gone, the chance of infection does exist. You should talk with your doctor to see if such things as bathing, intercourse, wearing pads, etc… are advisable.

Losing the mucous plug or having a bloody show is just part of the birthing process, it is very normal. You can rest assured that your body is getting prepared for the birth of your bundle of joy.