Many times, after having a cervical exam or sex at the end of pregnancy, a brownish discharge from irritation at the cervix can appear. This is commonly mistaken for bloody show; bloody show is pinkish or red and usually happens more than once, as well as throughout labor. It is common and totally normal to head all the way up to your labor and not see any bloody show. Bloody show is a discharge of mucus that's tinged pink or brown with blood. If, however, you notice any significant change in your vaginal discharge before 37 weeks, if it suddenly becomes bright red blood instead of blood-streaked discharge , or if you notice more pronounced bleeding, call your doctor or midwife ASAP to rule out conditions requiring immediate medical attention.
Passing bloody show is different from passing the mucus plug. Though they definitely have mucus in common, bloody show is a blood-tinged discharge that means it's almost showtime. 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. If you've experienced bloody show, you can usually expect to go into labor within the next day or two — unless you're a fast starter, in which case you could have your first contraction within the next several hours.
Nice and predictable, right? So get ready, but don't head out the door just yet. Baby's not here just yet, but he will be soon. If your doctor tells you to come in, a quick vaginal exam will determine how dilated you are and how close you are to being in active labor. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. If they happen separately, it can be a brighter red in color. For some women, the bloody show happens after active labor has already begun, so you may be a bit too busy, to say the least, to even notice it. Hoping your bloody show is your ticket to immediate labor? It might be…but not necessarily. Like many things pregnancy related, the time between when you see the bloody show and when labor begins can vary from woman to woman.
The bloody show can appear minutes, hours, days or even weeks before labor officially begins. Again, this varies from woman to woman. Some women will see the bloody show all at once, like noticing it in your underwear or seeing it on the toilet paper when you wipe. They also wanted to know what to do with it. One woman even brought hers to the hospital in a plastic baggie. I can assure you — this is very unnecessary. Therefore, it can bleed easily. 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 can actually be very slight blood-tinged discharge. It can be so slight that you might not even notice it. Again, this is because the cervix bleeds easily. Losing your mucus plug, which is often accompanied or followed by the bloody show, usually happens right before labor starts or several days before.
Everyone is different. After that, we can all get back to our normal, non-bodily-fluids-obsessed selves. Chaunie Brusie, BSN, is a registered nurse with experience in labor and delivery, critical care, and long-term care nursing. The mucus plug is often clear, pink, and slightly bloody.
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