During the formation of the embryo, many natural and unnatural physiological processes occur. For example, the absolute norm is cork detachment during pregnancy. This article will discuss what it is and why all expectant mothers are waiting for her to leave?
What is a cork?
A 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, a cork is formed during the first month of embryo development due to exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Destination
There is one main function of it - protecting the mother's body and the embryo from infection. As soon as the cork escapes during pregnancy, a woman is forbidden to take a bath, swim in a pond and have a sexual life.
How long should the cork go?
Many women are worried about when the cork leaves during pregnancy. It is worth noting that this is an absolutely individual process. She can leave the uterus both 3 hours and 3 weeks before giving birth. Normally, this should happen between the 37th and 42nd week of embryo development. If this happened earlier, then it is necessary to inform the doctor about it.
Distinctive features
We should also talk about what a cork looks like during pregnancy. In total, several distinguishing features can be distinguished.
Color
Normally, a 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. This phenomenon is not worth fearing, they characterize damage to small vessels during uterine contractions.
Volume
The total volume of prenatal discharge is normally 1.5-2 tablespoons.
Consistency
The cork is viscous. In appearance, it looks like sticky mucus. In the schematic photo, the cork during pregnancy is a dense clot of a cylindrical oblong shape.
How to understand that she has departed?
Surprisingly, not all young mothers can answer the question of how the cork is removed during pregnancy. Due to physiological characteristics, this can happen almost imperceptibly. A harbinger of cork discharge is pain that occurs in the lower abdomen and lower back. A similar discomfort appears 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 can exit in a few seconds. Most often this happens after waking up, while taking a shower or urinating.
In what cases do you need to see a doctor immediately?
Every expectant mother should know how the cork looks and goes away during pregnancy. If in this natural process there are any deviations from the norm, then you need to immediately contact a specialist.
- The patient should be confused by a scarlet clot or the appearance of spotting. It is mandatory to do an ultrasound scan. Perhaps, along with the discharge of the cork, detachment of the placenta occurred. A dark brown hue should also alert. It is worth noting that normally it should not have a smell.
- An adverse event is cork discharge before the 37th week of pregnancy. A woman must be sure to report what happened to the counseling doctor. From this moment, you need to protect yourself and your baby as much as possible from infection.
- Another reason for contacting a specialist is abundant mucous discharge. As already mentioned, normal clot volume is 1.5-2 tablespoons.
- If the cork has already receded, then you should pay attention to how the body will behave further. There are two points when you need to 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 leakage of amniotic fluid).
- The appearance of pain of any nature is also an occasion to visit a specialist. A similar action is required to be performed if within 9-12 hours the baby does not feel stirring.
Physiological features in primiparous women
In the body of women who are first preparing to become mothers, all processes occur slowly. This is due to the fact that the body has not yet had time to prepare for the birth of a baby. First, the level of hormones changes. As soon as this happens, the cervix begins to shorten, and the uterus begins to contract. A symptom such as false contractions appears.
The cork leaves for a long time - within a few hours. The time interval between this phenomenon before childbirth is from several days to three weeks.
Physiological features in multiparous women
In a slightly different way, the cork during pregnancy in multiparous women departs. 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 delivery. In most cases, contractions appear several hours after the cork has come off. An exception are patients in whom the interval between the first and second birth is more than 10 years.
Post-cork action plan
So, the future mother had a cork during her first pregnancy. What should she do next? The procedure should be as follows:
- To take a shower. It is important! It is necessary to take a shower, not a bath. Any immersion in water is strictly prohibited. It should be washed only with an antibacterial effect. If there is none, then it is safest to use baby or household soap. It does not contain chemical impurities that can cause an allergic reaction.
- It is mandatory to change underwear at least 1-2 times a day.
- If there are pains of a light pulling nature, then you should take a horizontal position and try to relax as much as possible. It is recommended to alternate a long breath with a short exhale. Such breathing exercises will significantly improve your well-being.
- It is required to continue to monitor your condition: observe the secretions, listen to your body.
- If a woman feels well, then she can start collecting documents and necessary things for hospitalization.
- It is necessary to control the baby's movements.
If after the clot has left the uterus, there is no pain, contractions and water has not departed, then there is no need to rush to the hospital.
What to do if the cork is removed and labor does not start?
For many women who are carrying babies for the first time, the real problem is that the cork has already receded during pregnancy, and labor activity is beginning. Of course, ideally, the patient should wait for contractions in a calm environment. But some expectant mothers lack patience and they begin to think about stimulating labor.
The easiest and safest way to “trick nature” is to walk and climb stairs. It is also recommended to do light squats. Short light physical exertion increases the tone of the uterus, causing it to contract. A similar effect can be achieved by stimulating the nipples and taking laxatives. The most courageous mothers decide on acupuncture. This procedure helps to reduce the uterus and open 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 important issues that concern pregnant women.
When should I call an ambulance?
If the cork has departed painlessly and without bleeding, then you should not rush to the hospital. It is necessary to 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 the amniotic fluid leaves.
Should I give up intimate life?
Much has been said above that after the cork has passed, the baby and the body of the pregnant woman are left without protection. Sexual intercourse becomes a provocateur of the development of infection, so you should abandon the love joys. If this is not possible, then contraception must be used without fail.
Pregnancy is a very responsible period. In the third trimester, a phenomenon such as the passage of a mucous plug located in the cervix may appear. Do not be afraid of this. Listen to your well-being. If you experience pain or heavy discharge, be sure to contact a medical specialist for help.
Does the cork always come off?
Some young mothers claim that during pregnancy their cork did not go away. Is such a phenomenon possible? Why did it happen? A clot does not always depart entirely. The cork may partially discharge in the form of discharge during showering or urination. Therefore, a pregnant woman may not notice how she left the uterine cavity.
What to do if the cork is removed before the 37th week of pregnancy?
The patient should be alert for such a phenomenon as the departure of a protective clot in the early stages - until the 37th week of pregnancy. This can cause premature birth. It is mandatory to tell the gynecologist about what happened.