Posts Tagged ‘Mucus Plug’

Mucus Plug in Pregnancy

During pregnancy, secretions amass together at the uterus’s orifice and form a kind of a plug at a women’s cervix, blocking the cervical canal. This plug is helpful to the Mother –to- be, as it protects the infant from all the worldly infections, by forming a protective barrier of sorts. It acts as a wall to keep the growing fetus safe from all kinds of bacteria, etc which may hamper its growth. Thus, protection of the child is the mucus plug’s basic task.At the time of labour, the cervix has to open up, to allow safe passage of the baby from the womb, into the outside world. So, at this time, the plug opens up and falls off. The plug may be reddish in colour or a bit on the pinkish side, and is also sticky.

After this is done, depending upon the situation, one will have to contact the health provider. If the plug expelled out is normal in colour, without any aberrations, then he may be contacted as per the decided schedule. However, if the plug is totally red, and if the amount thrown out is more than 28grams, then the Health Care Provider has to be contacted at the earliest.

In fact, he has to be called immediately, as there may be complications, like the mother suffering from placental previa or placental abruption, which may be a problem for the child. So, in such situations, special and proper care has to be taken, and he should be contacted whenever it is necessary to ask questions regarding pregnancy.
It’s believed that secretion of the plug is the first sign that labour will start, however that isn’t a guarantee. Sometimes it may start directly after secretion, and sometimes it may need weeks. The plug is generally ejected in the 36th or 37th week of pregnancy, and after that occurs, the patient is advised to calm down, and keep a cool temperament.