![]() Ripening means that your cervix softens and shortens in readiness for labour. ![]() When your baby is engaged, your body will produce the hormones (prostaglandin) that stimulates your cervix to ripen. Sometimes this is called “lightening”, because you'll feel some relief from the pressure on your stomach and lungs as your baby moves down. Doctors and midwives will often tell you that your baby's head is engaged. In late pregnancy, your baby should settle downwards into your pelvis, ready to enter the world. What happens when you lose your mucus plug? If you can, keep it in a small pot and take it along to show your health care provider. If you think you might have lost your mucus plug early or you aren’t sure, talk to your doctor too. It is possible to lose your mucus plug earlier, but if that happens call your doctor or midwife immediately - it could be a sign of very early labour and you could be putting yourself at risk of infection. Usually, you lose your mucus plug after 37 weeks. Here are some examples, shared on-line, by other women. It's important to remember that they do not all look the same! Losing your mucus plug might happen when you go to the toilet, or you might find it in your underwear. “It can have a red or pink tinge associated with blood.” “The mucus plug colour is usually white, yellowish, beige or brown, or any variant thereof,” Dr Michael Cackovic told The Bump. When you see the mucus plug, you'll notice it is different from “regular” discharge that most women get - it’s thicker and there’s a lot more of it. Since the mucus plug is designed to “plug” your cervix, it’s usually about 4cm long and there is roughly two teaspoons full of mucus in the plug. It usually stays in place throughout your pregnancy until you begin to dilate before labour. Your mucus plug starts to form when you first become pregnant and the glands in your cervix secrete mucus, but it doesn’t reach its full size until you’re about 12 weeks along. When does your mucus plug form and how big is it? It prevents bacteria from entering the uterus or womb. Every woman has one. The mucus plug protects your cervix from infection throughout your pregnancy. ![]()
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