what is the difference between losing your mucus plug and your water breaking?
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Many a first-time mom has confused these two, especially since a ton of discharge can follow the loss of your mucus plug. Think of it this way: Mucus is gooey; water is liquid. So if it's thick, it's not your water. When your water breaks, it will be like…
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The mucus plug acts as a barrier and can keep unwanted bacteria and other sources of infection from traveling into your uterus. Losing a mucus plug during pregnancy can be a precursor to childbirth. As the cervix begins to open wider in preparation for delivery, the mucus plug is discharged into the vagina.
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If the baby's head is well applied to the cervix, breaking the bag of waters allows the head to apply more direct pressure on the cervix to encourage dilation. If amniotomy is not performed, the sac will usually spontaneously rupture during active labor (anytime between the first signs of labor and delivery).
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While it's possible to break the water balloon, causing a strong gush of fluid (known as your water breaking), it's also possible that a small hole could develop in the sac. This can result in a slow leak of amniotic fluid.
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The mucus plug comes loose and dislodges when the cervix starts to open (dilate), so yes: Losing the mucus plug can be a sign that you're approaching labour, or it may even be an early sign of labour itself. Sometime before labour starts, your cervix – the entrance to your uterus – softens and starts to get thinner.
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Giving birth will be different for every woman, but the main signs that you are starting labour will most likely be strong, regular contractions, and a 'show'. During your pregnancy, a plug of mucus sits in your cervix. A show is when that plug of mucus comes away, indicating that the cervix is starting to open.
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The mucus plug can come loose several days or one or two weeks before labor starts, or even at the very onset of labor.
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The main symptom of the mucus plug falling out is the sudden appearance of blood tinged mucus. Some people experience labor symptoms, such as contractions, when this happens. It is important not to confuse the loss of the mucus plug with other types of bleeding.
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What does it feel like when my waters break? Your waters breaking can feel like a mild popping sensation, followed by a trickle or gush of fluid that you can't stop, unlike when you wee. You may not have any sensation of the actual 'breaking', and then the only sign that your waters have broken is the trickle of fluid.
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If your water breaks, but you have no contractions, your doctor may discuss labor induction with you. Intervention to help bring on contractions can reduce the risk of infection, because this risk increases with time between the water breaking and contractions starting.
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When the cervix starts to open and the mucus plug dislodges, some of the blood vessels in your cervix will rupture and bleed. This is what you see with the bloody show. It's part (or all) of the mucus plug mixing with a small amount of blood from your cervix's blood vessels.
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Is it my water breaking or is it discharge? Amniotic fluid is a pale, straw-colored fluid. Vaginal discharge, on the other hand, is a thin, milky-white mucus that's similar to (but heavier than) what you might experience between periods.
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What color is the mucus plug when it comes out? The mucus plug is a clear, sticky, gelatinous glob of mucus. It can also be yellow or brown. It should not be bright or dark red, though, so if you think it is, give your practitioner a call.
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The mucus plug accumulates at the cervix during pregnancy. When the cervix begins to open wider, the mucus is discharged into the vagina and may be clear, pink, or slightly bloody. Labor may begin soon after the mucus plug is discharged or one to two weeks later.
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Though they definitely have mucus in common, bloody show is a blood-tinged discharge that means it's almost showtime, while the mucus plug is more of a onetime, jelly-like glob that means you'll have your first contraction fairly soon, but labor isn't necessarily right around the corner.
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The mucous plug might begin to come away because the cervix is softening and thinning. You might see some blood in the mucus, which gives it a pink tinge, but there might also be no blood. Bloody show happens because the cervix is dilating. This commonly happens after losing the mucous plug.
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Is excessive watery discharge a sign that your water broke or you're leaking amniotic fluid? Excessive watery discharge can be a sign that your water broke if it turns out to be amniotic fluid, not vaginal discharge, and rarely, it could be a sign you're leaking amniotic fluid at other times during your pregnancy.