Is there blood in the mucus during late pregnancy? It could be a 'Bloody Show'!

Is your due date approaching? If so, you've probably been paying close attention to the changes in your body these days. If you're feeling a little anxious, you might notice a pink or brown discharge on your underwear, on your toilet paper, or on your toilet seat. But don't worry, most of the time, this is a normal sign that your body is preparing to deliver your baby. In medical terms, we call this the 'Bloody Show.' So, let's talk about this today.

What is a 'Bloody Show' like?

The 'Bloody Show' doesn't look the same for everyone. For some people, it may come out as a lump of mucus. For others, it may look like a few drops of pink or brown mucus. There may also be a few streaks of blood.

Typically this might look like this:

• Brown
• Light pink.
• It has a transparent appearance, like mucus .
• Mixed with a few drops of blood

What is the difference between a 'Mucus Plug' and a 'Bloody Show'?

Many mothers confuse the two. Although both are signs of pregnancy, there is a slight difference. Simply put, the ' Bloody Show ' is part of the 'Mucus Plug'.

• Mucus Plug: Throughout your pregnancy, the neck of your uterus, or cervix, is covered with a thick layer of mucus. It's like a stopper on a bottle. This mucus plug prevents germs from getting in from the outside, or vagina, and harming your baby. This mucus plug comes out when your cervix begins to dilate as you get closer to delivery.
• 'Bloody Show': When the cervix begins to dilate, the tiny blood vessels there rupture and a small amount of bleeding occurs. When this blood mixes with the mucus from the loosened 'mucus plug' and comes out, we call it a 'Bloody Show'.

Let's look at this table to make it clearer.

What should I do after watching 'Bloody Show'?

First of all, don't panic. You don't need to rush to the hospital after seeing the 'Bloody Show.' Because for some people, labor actually starts a few days, maybe a week, after seeing this.

What you need to do is:

1. Take notes: Keep a record of the time you saw the 'Bloody Show', its color, texture, and size. These details will be helpful if your doctor asks.

2. Pay attention to other signs: This is when you should also pay attention to other signs of labor.

Pay attention to these signs.

• Contractions: If you experience severe pain that comes and goes, like during menstruation, and the pain gradually increases and the gap between contractions decreases, it could be labor pains .
• Heaviness in the lower abdomen and back: If you feel a heaviness or pressure in the lower abdomen, vagina, and back area.
• Water breaking: If you suddenly feel a lot of water coming out of your vagina or if it feels like it's slowly trickling down, it could be your amniotic sac breaking.
• Frequent need to go to the toilet: As the baby's head drops, he may feel the need to go to the toilet more often, as his bladder is emptying.

Causes of 'Bloody Show' and other bleeding to be aware of

We now know the main reason. That is, the cervix thins (`effaces`) and opens (`dilates`) to make way for the baby to come out.

Apart from that, there could be several other reasons for this kind of light bleeding in late pregnancy.

• Sexual intercourse: The cervix is ​​very sensitive in the last weeks, so a small amount of blood may appear after sexual intercourse.
• A medical exam: Even after your doctor examines your cervix (cervical exam), a small amount of blood may come out due to a slight scraping of it.
• Membrane Sweeping: Sometimes the doctor will gently sweep the membranes around the cervix to hasten labor. This can still cause a 'Bloody Show'.
• Accident: If you have a car accident or fall, you may bleed. In such a case, you should definitely go to the emergency room (ETU) of a hospital immediately.

Bleeding that can be serious

These are very rare conditions, but they are definitely something to be concerned about. These are not 'Bloody Shows'. If you are bleeding heavily, it could be due to one of these.

• Placenta Previa: The placenta is located lower in the uterus, near the cervix, instead of at the top.
• Placental Abruption: The separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the baby is born.
• Vasa Previa: The blood vessels that supply the baby's blood pass through the cervix instead of being properly positioned in the placenta.
• Uterus Rupture: A rupture of the uterus. (This is very rare).

Therefore, remember, if you notice any unusual or heavy bleeding at any time during pregnancy, do not hesitate to inform your doctor or go to a hospital immediately.