Each woman with the approach of the long-awaited day when she sees her baby is very interested in what the cork looks like before delivery and what to do if she leaves.
Mucus plug before delivery
So, the mucous plug is a natural protection of the fetus from all kinds of external influences, as well as from the penetration of infection. For this, mucus is produced in the female body, which closes the cervix for a certain time. It is called a “cork”, because it very well clogs the passage.
It should be noted that such mucus is produced by special glands that are on the cervix. In addition, some female hormones help its production.
The passage of the mucous plug before childbirth occurs due to the fact that the body begins active preparation for the birth of the baby. This happens as follows: the cervix slowly begins to open and becomes smooth, and the uterine muscles come in tone. The hormone estrogen makes the cork more viscous, diluting it, as a result of which the cork directly through the vagina comes out.
What does a cork look like before delivery
If you are interested in what a cork looks like before childbirth, then it looks different for all women. The color of the cork depends on the characteristics of each woman: from transparent light yellow to light brown. As a rule, the cork has a pinkish or yellowish tint. It acquires a pink color due to the fact that when the neck is opened, small capillaries can rupture, releasing blood. If with a stopper you find bloody discharge, then in this case you should definitely contact your gynecologist. In any case, that the cork is removed, you need to warn your gynecologist.
In addition, the cork may come out in different numbers: in some pregnant women, it comes out in small clots for 2-3 days, while in others it comes out in the form of a large clot at a time.
When the cork comes out
What a cork looks like before delivery, you already know. Now let's figure out when it starts to go out. So, the exit of the cork suggests that the body begins to prepare for the upcoming birth, but does not mean the beginning of labor. Signs of the onset of labor are contractions. But as for the mucous plug, it can come out two weeks before giving birth, and several days before them.
That is, the mucous plug is a kind of signal that the body has begun preparing for childbirth, but when they begin it will depend on the individual physiology of the woman.
If you have a mucous plug, this does not mean that you urgently need to start packing and going to the hospital. You just need to go to the doctor and talk about what the cork was, whether there was a blood discharge with it, and after the examination, the doctor will already decide whether to collect you in the hospital or too early.
What else do you need to know
Many people confuse cork with the discharge of water. But these are completely different things that are easy enough to distinguish:
- The mucous plug is thick, in contrast to amniotic fluid;
- amniotic fluid is transparent, but the cork can have from yellow-pink to brownish shades;
- amniotic fluid is continuously discharged, and the cork is separated in portions-clots.
Knowing all these nuances and arriving at the hospital on time, you can give birth to a healthy baby.