"Telling family and friends that you have lost your mucus plug simply puts every one needlessly on high alert, when it might still be some weeks before baby makes an appearance and you can do without the frequent calls and other people’s anxiety."
"If the mucus is just as described above and you have no other symptoms, then simply protect your pants and don't worry," reassures Rachel. What should you do when you lose it?ĭon't panic! Just because you've lost the mucus plug doesn't mean your baby is on the way. This doesn't mean your labour won't start, "The range of normal is very large," she explains. Rachel also reminds us that it's also normal not to lose the mucus plug. As the cervix softens more and more, it starts to pull up a little and this can cause a little blood to be lost (this is quite normal) and so the mucus is then mixed with that. So anything from an opaque, thick, sticky vaginal loss through to a slippery, clear slimy mucus streaked with blood is quite normal." "It is very slimy and difficult to clean away with tissue. "In truth, while the mucus can sometimes be quite thick, opaque and sticky, more often it is like raw egg-white. "The term 'plug' is very misleading - it makes it sound solid, like a cork," says Rachel. It could be a brown discharge, or contain blood, hence its nickname the bloody show. Once again, this varies from woman to woman, with different appearances for different mums. Sometimes the mucus gets dislodged and comes away following sex or a vaginal examination." What does the mucus plug look like and what colour is it?
"At the opposite end of the scale, if the mucus stays stuck up inside the vagina, you might not see it at all until your baby is coming out. Because the mucus is made by the cells of the cervix, as it comes away, more is made. "The mucus can start coming away as soon as the cervix begins softening, which means that you might get a mucusy discharge up to some weeks before the first contractions," she explained. Rachel says it's important to remember that although people might tell you that seeing the mucus plug means that labour is starting, this isn't true. "Sometimes the mucus stays stuck up inside the top of the vagina and sometimes it comes out and we can see it." Does losing the mucus plug mean I'm going into labour? "This softening process can start some weeks before even the very earliest stage of labour and then, as soon as the cervix is softer, it can let go of the mucus. As pregnancy nears the end, hormones cause the cervix to soften and become stretchy in preparation for labour and birth. "Normally, the cervix is firm and unable to stretch open," says Rachel. There are plenty of myths surrounding pregnancy show, but it may come out differently for each woman. "Plus, because it is slippery, it can help lubricate the vagina during labour and birth." When does the mucus plug come away and what does it mean?
"Because it is sticky, it can stop infectious bugs from going up into the womb," she says. The mucus plug is a sticky slippery substance, made by the cells of your cervix. Rachel explained there are two reasons for it. A specialist midwife for more than 30 years, Rachel now works as an author and parenting expert. What exactly is a mucus plug, what colour is it and what happens when you lose it? We spoke to Rachel FitzD. So, it's very likely that you will have heard of mucus plug, or show, and be wondering all about it. You'll find words such as nub theory, linea nigra and pelvic floor in your everyday conversations. If you're pregnant, no doubt you will have come across a lot of new words or phrases.
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