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The mucous plug is a substance produced by the body in the first months of pregnancy, which aims to prevent bacteria and other microorganisms from reaching the uterus and interfere with the baby's development and the continuation of pregnancy. This is because the tampon is present just after the vaginal canal, closing the cervix and remaining until the baby is ready to be born, in cases of pregnancy without any risk.
In this way, the exit of the mucous plug marks the beginning of the end of pregnancy, at 37 weeks, showing that labor can start in days or weeks. The appearance of this buffer almost always has a gelatinous consistency and the color can vary from transparent to reddish brown.
After leaving, it is common for mild cramps to start and for the belly to have moments of hardening throughout the day, however this is only one of the phases of the beginning of labor. Check out the stages of labor.
How to identify the mucous plug correctly
When it comes out, the tampon usually detaches completely from the uterus, is similar to a whitish egg white and is 4 to 5 centimeters in size. However, it is able to vary in shape, texture and color, even in a risk-free pregnancy. The variations that the mucous plug may have are:
- Shape: whole or in pieces;
- Texture: egg white, firm gelatin, soft gelatin;
- Color: transparent, whitened, yellowish, reddish or and in some cases, in earthy tones similar to brown.
For having a very characteristic aspect, the exit of the tampon is almost never confused with the rupture of the aminotic bag, as it does not generate pain and happens about 3 weeks before the expected date of birth.
When the buffer comes out
The most common is that the mucous plug is released between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy and, in rarer cases, this can happen only during labor or when the baby is already being born. See how long it takes between leaving the tampon, until the baby is born.
Can the tampon come out ahead of time?
When the tampon comes out at an early stage of pregnancy, it is usually not a sign of a problem, it may just indicate that the body is still adapting to the changes caused by the pregnancy. Although the baby is more susceptible to infections in this period, the body quickly produces a new tampon to protect the uterus again.
So if that problem doesn't come up again, it shouldn't be a cause for concern. However, it is always important to inform the obstetrician who is accompanying the pregnancy, so that it can be assessed if there is any risk for pregnancy.
In cases of mucous plug removal after the second trimester of pregnancy, before 37 weeks, it is recommended to seek maternity, as there may be a risk of premature delivery.
What to do after leaving the mucous plug
After leaving the mucous plug, it is recommended to pay attention to other signs of the beginning of labor, such as rupture of the water bag or frequent and regular contractions. Because the release of the mucous plug does not necessarily indicate that the labor will begin, it may take up to 3 weeks for this to happen, but frequent and regular contractions do. Learn how to identify the contractions that indicate the baby's birth.