Cork before delivery

The mucous plug that leaves the vagina before birth is nothing more than a regular clot of viscous mucus formed during pregnancy in the cervix. Its formation is caused by the action of hormones, and coincides with the moment when the fetal egg is implanted into the uterine cavity, i. E. by the end of 1 month of pregnancy. It is to this date and formed mucous plug, which comes directly before childbirth. With each subsequent ovulation, it thickens, and eventually forms a tight clot, which completely clogs the entrance to the uterine cavity. Hence the name "mucous plug".

What is the function of the mucous plug in the body of a pregnant woman?

As with everything in the human body, the slimy plug has its own function. It is in the protection of the uterine cavity from various pathogenic bacteria that can penetrate into it, for example, when swimming in a pond.

How does the slimy plug look?

In most cases, the plug is a gel-like clot, of a small volume. Often women are interested in the size of the cork before delivery. Usually this clot is up to 1.5-2 cm in diameter. At the same time, it does not immediately go away. Departure of the cork before birth occurs in parts, for several days, in the form of small smearing excretions, which are similar to those observed at the beginning and at the end of the menstrual period.

When should the cork go?

Every woman who is due the first birth, having encountered this problem for the first time, ponders over how much time the plug leaves before giving birth, and what color it should be.

Gynecologists say that normally the mucous plug should be removed no later than 2 weeks before childbirth. This characteristic refers to the main precursors of childbirth. In most cases, its output is associated with hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman. However, this phenomenon can also be stimulated by frequent gynecological examinations of a pregnant woman.

As for the color, it can vary. Usually, the mucous plug is colorless, and only occasionally can have a yellowish or pink hue. In the case when the cork has departed earlier than 14 days before childbirth and with an admixture of blood, a woman should inform the doctor about it as soon as possible. This fact may indicate premature birth, or the development of such a complication, as a detachment of the placenta .

What symptoms accompany the departure of the cork?

First of all, the pregnant woman should be guided by her own feelings. Often the departure of the cork occurs with a morning toilet, shower. Therefore, during these procedures, a woman can feel a slight, pulling pain in the lower abdomen, which in some cases may have a jerky appearance. These signs indicate the passage of the plug before delivery.

What if the cork has already moved away?

From this moment, the pregnant woman must prepare for the childbirth. Collecting all the necessary things in the hospital is not a matter of one day. Therefore, from the moment of the removal of the cork, the woman, as a rule, has 2 weeks. However, do not delay this, because There are cases when labor began several hours later.

Therefore, if before the birth after the exit of the cork began to appear cramping pain - it is necessary to gather in the maternity hospital. But it is not worth hurrying. Only when the interval between contractions is less than 10 minutes, you can go to the maternity hospital.

Thus, the exit of the plug before delivery is a signal for the pregnant woman. Now the future mother knows that until the moment when she first sees her crumb, there is very little left.