How long does the latent phase of labour last? You won’t necessarily go into labour early but it is better to be safe so they can guide you. If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant you should contact your maternity unit in case you are going into labour earlier than normal and they need to assess you.If you start losing fresh blood at any stage of pregnancy you should contact your maternity unit urgently.They might need to check you further to make sure there is not a problem with the placenta or pregnancy. If there is a significant amount of blood call your maternity unit urgently.If the mucus plug is green or smelly contact your doctor or midwife for advice as this may indicate a possible infection.If any of the following occurs, call your midwife urgently: It is normal to have a streak of blood or be streaked with old brownish blood when it comes away and it may also have a sticky texture. The mucus plug can range from looking like a clear or pinkish jelly to a yellow or brown discharge. Many women anecdotally describe about the size of two tablespoons of mucus but there is no arbitrary sizing. The mucus plug is slightly different for every woman, but is generally a blob of jelly-like mucus that may come away in one piece at once or it can come out in several sized pieces over a few hours. This could be a sign of early labour so they might need to check you further. ⚠️ Call your midwife for advice if you think the mucus plug has come out and you are less than 37 weeks pregnant. It is also normal for some women to not have a show or simply not notice it. This is completely normal at and beyond 37 weeks. This may be noticed by the mother when she goes to the toilet or seen in her underwear or as she wipes herself. A midwife will commonly ask expectant mothers if they have ‘had a show’. This is commonly then named a ‘show’ or sometimes ‘ bloody show’. What is a show?Īt the beginning of labour this mucus plug may come out. It protects the baby from any infection or bacteria coming up the mother’s reproductive tract. The baby is protected in pregnancy by the amniotic sac and the plug provides an extra barrier of protection. Because the cervix is closed, this fluid seals the area closed and forms what is called the mucus plug. When a woman is pregnant, the cervix secretes a thick jelly-like substance to protect the labour canal and keep it moist. Dr Louise Wiseman answers your most common questions about the mucus plug, so you know when to relax and when to grab your birthing bag and hotfoot it to the maternity hospital: What exactly is the mucus plug? Your mucus plug protects the cervical canal during pregnancy, and losing your mucus plug can be a early sign of labour, but not always. If you're preparing for the arrival of a new baby you might have lots of unanswered questions to consider, such as what is a mucus plug and what is a bloody show? And if you think you might have lost your mucus plug, should you head for the hospital?
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