It does a wonderful job of ensuring that no infection can enter your uterus until this time.Īnother one of nature's amazing safety nets keeping you and your baby safe during pregnancy. The mucus plug will usually come away any time from 36 weeks onwards in preparation for labour. If there is a strong smell and yellow or green discolouration, then seek a medical opinion to check if you have an infection. It is normal to have increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy, and usually, it will be sticky, white or clear and odourless. It does not mean you are in labour or even going into labour unless it is accompanied by contractions increasing in intensity and duration. If you see signs of the mucus plug, it is a sign that your cervix is softening, ripening, effacing, dilating and moving into position to give birth. Most often, it will come out 3-5 days before labour but can start coming away as early as 2 weeks before.
Otherwise, you may see streaks of it in your underwear. Sometimes it slides out when you are in the shower. You may not even notice passing the mucus plug, especially if it plops out while you are on the loo. This is normal. It passes in different ways and at different times. You will notice that your discharge becomes particularly thick and sticky in the last weeks of pregnancy. For most of you, it will come out in parts rather than as one single blob. It is roughly 4-5 cm long (when in the uterine cervix) or about two tablespoons (when it comes out). All of these would be considered normal and no cause for concern, but stay aware and observant.Īlso see: How your placenta supports you and your baby in pregnancy | Nature's beautiful safety nets Then the expansion of the cervix can cause bursting of capillaries and spotting with the discharge. Have you been feeling stronger than normal contractions, and you are near your due date? Have you had a vaginal exam within the last 24 hours? Then the discharge may be more than before and may contain streaks of blood. Have you just had sex? Then the discharge may contain remnants of semen. All these colours are considered variants of the norm, but as always, look at the big picture. This ensures the mucus plug is continuously replenished to fill the cervix, with no gaps between the uterine walls.Īlthough the colour is usually white-yellowish, it is often streaked with pink or brown, and you may see streaks of blood. The secretion of the cervical cells takes place on a continuous basis.
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