What is the function of the mucus plug?
Reason for the mucus plug discharge.
When the baby is ready for birth, the body produces prostaglandins. These hormones cause the cervical tissue to change (“cervical ripening”), and the mucus plug comes off. Practice contractions or the first regular contractions during the opening phase of labor, when the cervix begins to open, also sometimes cause it to come off.
How can you recognize the mucus plug?
If it is a mucus plug without blood, it is usually whitish. Often, however, traces of blood are also mixed in. This then indicates that the cervix is already slowly opening: The blood comes from small vessels in the lining of the uterus that tear as the cervix widens. The light bleeding is called drawing bleeding. Depending on whether it is old or fresh blood, the mucus plug is light red or brownish in color.
From the 38th week of pregnancy, the loosening of the mucus plug is a classic sign that birth is now imminent and the opening phase will soon begin. However, once a woman notices the plug coming off, a few more days may pass before the first real contractions occur. Therefore, if the mucus plug has come off, you do not need to go to the hospital right away. Only when you experience regular and painful contractions should you go.
