| Losing the mucus plug is one of the
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| | blood or clear in color. Some women may
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| physical changes some women undergo
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| | notice the mucus on their underpants in
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| before actual labor begins. As the cervix
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| | the last weeks; this is basically the
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| effaces and dilates, capillaries often
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| | mucus plug. The thick mucus has been
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| rupture and tints the mucus pink or
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| | blocking the opening to the cervix for a
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| streaks it with blood. The thick mucus
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| | while now. Basically what is happening is
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| has been blocking the opening to the
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| | that as you near your due date, this plug
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| cervix since the early part of pregnancy.
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| | dislodges and breaks up and passes out of
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| As the due date approaches, this plug
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| | your body. When this happens your body is
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| dislodges, breaks up and passes out of
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| | preparing for labor. Labor can commence
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| the pregnant woman's body. When this
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| | within hours after the plug is dislodged
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| happens it is clear your body is
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| | but in most cases it will take days
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| preparing for labor. Labor can however
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| | before you go into proper labor.
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| commence within hours for some but most
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| | In case you didn't already know:
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| probably can take up to days for many.
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| | • Not every woman experiences the
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| The Facts
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| | expulsion of this gelatinous discharge.
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| • Your cervix is responsible for
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| | • • Your cervix is part of your
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| producing the cork of mucus which will
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| | reproductive system that is responsible
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| collect and seal the opening of the
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| | for producing this mucus.
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| uterus throughout your pregnancy.
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| | • During pregnancy a thick plug of
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| • This thick plug of mucus plays a
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| | mucus collects at the cervix and seals
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| crucial role by acting as a barrier
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| | it; the protection offered by this glob
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| against external infections throughout
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| | is vital as it serves to function as a
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| the pregnancy months.
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| | barrier throughout your pregnancy against
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| • Not every woman experiences the
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| | external infections.
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| expulsion of this gelatinous discharge
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| | • It is important to remember that this
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| and this therefore makes it one reason
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| | glob of mucus cannot be considered as a
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| why this mucus chunk cannot be relied
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| | reliable sign of labor.
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| upon as a true sign of labor.
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| | • Towards the end of pregnancy the
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| • Towards the end of pregnancy the
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| | mucus plug lessens in importance because
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| mucus plug lessens in importance because
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| | its tendency to free itself from the
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| its tendency to free itself from the
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| | cervix increases with vaginal exams or
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| cervix increases with vaginal exams or
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| | with the natural thinning and dilation of
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| with the natural thinning and dilation of
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| | the cervix.
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| the cervix.
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| | • When the plug dislodges, labor can be
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| • When the plug dislodges labor can be
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| | 1 day to 3 weeks away. Do not panic and
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| 1 day to 3 weeks away. Don't panic and
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| | assume that labor has begun at the sight
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| assume you are going into labor at the
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| | of this clear or blood stained discharge
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| sight of this clear or blood stained
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| | on your underpants.
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| discharge on your underpants; it could
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| | • When the plug dislodges, it is simply
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| simply mean that the cervix is undergoing
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| | telling you that your cervix is effacing
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| the expected pre-labor changes.
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| | and or dilating and that the labor
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| • When the plug dislocates, it is
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| | process is not too far behind.
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| simply telling you that your cervix is
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| | • This wad of sticky, thick mucus
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| effacing and or dilating and that the
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| | dislocates from the cervix when it begins
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| labor process is not far behind.
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| | to dilate or open wider and is pushed
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| • This wad of sticky, thick mucus
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| | into the vagina
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| dislocates from the cervix when it begins
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| | • Dislodgement doesn't necessarily
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| to dilate or open wider and is pushed
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| | indicate that labor is imminent; it could
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| into the vagina
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| | simply mean that the cervix is going
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| • If you are not sure about what you
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| | through normal changes.
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| see, don't hesitate to contact your
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| | • If you are unsure about what you see,
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| doctor to rule out serious possibilities
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| | do not hesitate to contact your doctor to
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| When to call your doctor..
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| | rule out serious possibilities.
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| • This discharge can be confused with
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| | You should call your Doctor..
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| the amniotic fluid which is watery in
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| | • Don't confuse this discharge with the
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| consistency as opposed to the gelatinous
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| | amniotic fluid which is runny in
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| texture of the mucus plug. Amniotic
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| | consistency as opposed to the gelatinous
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| leakage is not something you should take
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| | texture of the mucus plug. Amniotic
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| lightly; report it to your caregiver ASAP
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| | leakage should be reported ASAP.
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| • If the discharge is bright red in
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| | • If the discharge is bright red in
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| color and copious, contact your care
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| | color and copious, contact your care
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| provider ASAP. You could be bleeding
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| | provider ASAP.
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| which is indicative of premature
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| | • You could be bleeding which is
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| separation of the placenta or placenta
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| | indicative of premature separation of the
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| previa, both of which require immediate
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| | placenta or placenta previa, both of
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| medical attention.
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| | which require immediate medical
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| One sure sign of labor is when you lose
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| | attention.
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| the mucus plug. It can be tinged with
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