Cork during pregnancy: what does it look like and how does it go away?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

During the formation of the embryo, many natural and unnatural physiological processes take place. For example, the absolute norm is the discharge of a cork during pregnancy. This article will talk about what it is, and why are all expectant mothers waiting for her to leave?

What is cork?

Cork (or mucous plug) during pregnancy is a small clot of viscous consistency. Within 8-9 months, it is located in the cervix, then spontaneously leaves it. Normally, the cork is formed during the first month of embryo development due to the action of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Purpose

There is one main function of it - protecting the body of the mother and the embryo from infection. As soon as the cork is discharged during pregnancy, a woman is forbidden to take a bath, swim in a pond and have sex.

How long should the cork go?

Many women are concerned about the question of when the cork leaves during pregnancy. CostsNote that this is a completely individual process. She can leave the uterine cavity both 3 hours and 3 weeks before delivery. Normally, this should happen between the 37th and 42nd weeks of embryo development. If this happened before, then you need to inform the doctor about it.

Distinguishing Features

Separately, it is worth talking about how a cork looks like during pregnancy. In total, several distinguishing features can be distinguished.

Color

Normally, the protective clot can be presented in several color shades:

• Pale yellow, close to transparent.
• Light yellow.
• Light brown.

Some future women in labor notice bloody streaks in the discharge. You should not be afraid of this phenomenon, they characterize damage to small vessels during uterine contraction.

Volume

The normal amount of prenatal fluid is 1.5-2 tablespoons.

Consistency

Cork has a viscous consistency. In appearance, it looks like sticky mucus. In a schematic photo, a cork during pregnancy is a dense clot of a cylindrical oblong shape.

How do you know she's gone?

Surprisingly, not all young mothers can answer the question of how the cork comes off during pregnancy. Due to physiological characteristics, this can happen almost imperceptibly. A harbinger of the cork discharge is pain that occurs in the lower abdomen and lower back. Similar discomfortappears before the start of the menstrual cycle. In rare cases, the chest begins to hurt.

Another important point is how much the cork leaves during pregnancy. It can leave the uterine cavity in small parts during the day or it can go out entirely in a few seconds. Most often this happens after waking up, while showering or urinating.

When do I need to see a doctor immediately?

Every mother-to-be should know what a cork looks like and comes off during pregnancy. If any deviations from the norm have occurred in this natural process, then you need to immediately contact a specialist.

• The patient should be embarrassed by a clot of a scarlet hue or the appearance of spotting. It is mandatory to do an ultrasound examination. Perhaps, along with the discharge of the cork, placental abruption occurred. The dark brown shade should also alert. It is worth noting that normally it should not have a smell.
• An unfavorable phenomenon is the discharge of the cork before the 37th week of pregnancy. The woman must be sure to report what happened to the consulting doctor. From now on, you need to protect yourself and your baby as much as possible from infection.
• Another reason to see a specialist is abundant mucous discharge. As already mentioned, the normal volume of a clot is 1.5-2 tablespoons.
• If the cork has already moved away, then you should pay attention to how the body behaves further. There are two points that should immediately call an ambulance and visit the hospital: the appearance of bloody discharge (a symptom of placental abruption) and abundant clear liquid discharge (a symptom of amniotic fluid leakage).
• The appearance of pain of any nature is also a reason to visit a specialist. A similar action is required if the baby does not move within 9-12 hours.

Physiological features in nulliparous women

In the body of women who are preparing to become mothers for the first time, all processes occur slowly. This is due to the fact that the body has not yet had time to prepare for the birth of the baby. First, hormone levels change. Once this has happened, the cervix will begin to shorten and the uterus will begin to contract. There is such a symptom as false contractions.

The cork leaves for a long time - for several hours. The time interval between this phenomenon before delivery is from several days to three weeks.

Physiological features in multiparous women

The cork goes a little differently during pregnancy in multiparous women. Usually this process occurs several times faster, since the body is already in "combat readiness". At 38-42 weeks, a complete clot leaves the uterine cavity in a few seconds. In rare cases, mucus comes out in parts. Women who have a second or subsequent pregnancy do not have to wait long for childbirth. In most cases, contractionsappear a few hours after the cork has departed. The exceptions are patients whose first and second births are more than 10 years apart.

Action plan after the cork breaks

So, the cork of the expectant mother came off during her first pregnancy. What should she do next? The procedure should be:

1. Take a shower. It is important! You need to take a shower, not a bath. Any immersion in water is strictly prohibited. It should be washed only with an antibacterial agent. If there is none, then it is safest to use baby or laundry soap. It does not contain chemical impurities that can cause an allergic reaction.
2. It is mandatory to change underwear at least 1-2 times a day.
3. If there are pains of a slight pulling nature, then it is worth taking a horizontal position and trying to relax as much as possible. It is recommended to alternate a long breath with a short exhalation. Such breathing exercises will significantly improve your well-being.
4. You need to continue to monitor your condition: observe the secretions, listen to your body.
5. If the woman feels well, then she can start collecting documents and necessary things for hospitalization.
6. You need to control the movements of the baby.

If after the discharge of the clot from the uterine cavity there was no pain, contractions and water did not break, then there is no need to rush to the hospital.

Whatwhat to do if the cork is gone, but labor does not begin?

For many women who are carrying babies for the first time, the real problem is that the cork has already passed during pregnancy, and labor is still coming. Of course, ideally, the patient should wait in a calm environment for the onset of contractions. But some moms-to-be don't have the patience and start thinking about labor induction.

The easiest and safest way to "cheat nature" is walking and climbing stairs. It is also recommended to do light squats. Short light physical activity increases the tone of the uterus, causing it to contract. A similar effect can be achieved by stimulating the nipples and taking laxatives. The bravest mothers decide on acupuncture. This procedure helps to contract the uterus and dilate the cervix.

Categorically it is impossible to stimulate labor if there are any pathologies and the threat of miscarriage. It is best to be patient and wait for the baby to be born.

Important questions

There are a number of other important issues that concern pregnant women.

When should I call an ambulance?

If the cork came off painlessly and without bleeding, then you should not rush to the hospital. You should wait for the appearance of contractions. When the interval between them is 5-10 minutes, you need to go to the hospital. The same action must be performed when amniotic fluid breaks.

Is it worth itgive up sex life?

It has already been said a lot above that after the cork is released, the baby and the body of a pregnant woman are left without protection. Sexual intercourse becomes a provocateur of the development of infection, so you should give up love comforts. If this is not possible, then it is imperative to use contraceptives.

Pregnancy is a very important period. In the third trimester, a phenomenon such as the passage of a mucous plug located in the cervix may appear. You shouldn't be afraid of it. Listen to your well-being. If you experience pain or heavy discharge, be sure to seek the help of a medical specialist.

Does the cork always come off?

Some young mothers claim that during pregnancy, the cork did not leave them. Is such a phenomenon possible? Why did it happen? The clot does not always go away entirely. The cork may come off partly in the form of secretions during showering or urination. Therefore, a pregnant woman may not notice how she left the uterine cavity.

What to do if the plug came off before the 37th week of pregnancy?

The patient should be alerted by such a phenomenon as the discharge of a protective clot in the early stages - before the 37th week of pregnancy. This can lead to premature birth. It is mandatory to tell the gynecologist about what happened.