If your breasts leak frequently, consider using nursing pads. You may see colostrum leaking from your breasts or notice a dry crust on your nipples. And, colostrum gives your baby nourishment until your breasts start making milk a few days after your little one is born (1,3). It contains proteins and antibodies that help boost baby’s immune system. Colostrumīefore your baby is born, your breasts begin producing colostrum, a highly nutritious fluid that’s your baby’s first milk (2). Along with your shifting hormones, these contractions are preparing your body for labor. Your contractions may seem to be set off by everything - exercise, a sneeze, bumping your belly, or absolutely nothing at all. Your uterus may be contracting more often and more strongly (3). You’ve likely been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions for a while. No talk of late pregnancy symptoms is complete without mentioning the contractions that you may be feeling with increasing frequency. We’ve talked about contractions the last couple of weeks, but it’s worth mentioning again. For reference, it was about 2 ounces before you were pregnant! Isn’t your body incredible?! Week 38 Pregnancy: Symptoms Contractions It may be hard to believe it, but your uterus (just the uterus itself, not baby or anything else) now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (2). The top of your uterus is now 14 1/2 to 15 1/4 inches from the pubic symphysis, and 6 1/2 to 7 1/4 inches above your belly button (1). You probably feel like you’re all belly at this point. These stores, along with what he’ll get from breast milk, will meet his needs for the next 6 months (2). Cells in the lungs produce chemicals such as surfactant, which are needed for breathing after birth (1). (And really, what is cuter than baby chub?) He or she continues to gain weight, storing fat that will help with body temperature regulation.He or she is about 14 inches from crown to rump, or 19 2/3 inches from crown to heel (1). This downloadable chart, together with our information on how to time contractions, should make preparing for labor a bit easier.Your little one probably weighs in at around 6 3/4 pounds. This will help you collect accurate information about your contractions that you can share with your healthcare provider. You might want to track them using this handy, printable contraction tracking chart. In many cases, contractions will start sometime soon after you lose the mucus plug. If you notice what looks like the mucus plug before 37 weeks of pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider, because this may be a sign of preterm labor. If your pregnancy goes to full term, you’ll most likely lose your mucus plug in the ninth month of pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different, so contact your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns. Or, your mucus plug might want to wait until the last moment and appear at the very onset of labor. The mucus plug can come loose several days or even one or two weeks before labor starts. How Long After Losing the Mucus Plug Does Labor Start?Īlthough losing the mucus plug can be a sign of labor, it doesn’t always mean it’s baby time in the near future. Increased vaginal discharge is common throughout pregnancy, whereas the mucus plug acts like a barrier and typically isn’t expelled until later in your pregnancy. The mucus plug is thick and jelly-like, whereas vaginal discharge tends to be thinner or lighter in texture and consistency. Vaginal discharge, on the other hand, is usually light yellow or white. As you read above, the mucus plug is typically clear or off-white, but might appear red, brown, or pink if it mixes with blood in your cervix. So, if you’re wondering if it’s the mucus plug you see or normal vaginal discharge, here’s how you can tell:Ĭolor. Is It the Mucus Plug or Vaginal Discharge?īecause vaginal discharge is common during pregnancy, it’s easy to mistake this for the mucus plug, especially as you near labor. Thick, jelly-like, and slightly sticky and/or stringyĪnywhere from one to two inches in lengthĪnywhere from one to two tablespoons in volume The overall look and texture of a mucus plug will vary from person to person, but most commonly the plug will be:Ĭlear, off-white, or slightly bloody with a pink, red, or brown hue You might notice it on the toilet paper after you wipe, or you may not see it at all! If you notice bleeding that’s heavy, like a menstrual period, contact your healthcare provider, as this might not be the mucus plug coming out but something else that may require medical attention. The mucus can come out in one thick string, one big glob, or in smaller segments. The discharge you might see in a mucus plug can be clear, pink, a little bloody, or brownish in color.
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