Brown discharge during labor

The due date is approaching. In recent days, female friends have been paying attention to their physical condition and wondering when to be hospitalized for delivery. Some female friends have found that brown secretions have been secreted from their lower body in recent days. Is this normal? Will pregnant women have brown discharge before giving birth? Let’s learn about it together below.

Does a pregnant woman have brown discharge before giving birth?

Pregnant women may have brown discharge before giving birth. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, the cervix secretions increase and leucorrhea occurs spontaneously. Normal cervical secretions are viscous liquid. Usually, mucus plugs are formed in the cervix to prevent bacteria from invading the uterus. During pregnancy, this type of secretion is larger and more viscous. As the uterus contracts regularly, these mucus plugs are discharged with the contraction of the uterus at the beginning of labor; and due to the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall at the os of the uterus, there is bleeding.

This bleeding is mixed with the uterine mucus plug, which mothers may call brown discharge. This discharge from the vagina is called pregnancy spotting. Spotting during pregnancy is a relatively reliable sign that labor is about to begin. If the bleeding exceeds the usual amount, you should consider whether there is any abnormality. It may be placental abruption and you need to go to the hospital for a physical examination immediately.

What are the signs before a pregnant woman gives birth?

1. Feeling of the fetus descending: At this time, the pregnant woman's breathing is more cheerful than before, the upper abdomen is more comfortable than before, and the amount of food eaten increases. Because the fetal head position is lowered and the pelvis and bladder are compressed, pregnant women often experience increased urination.

2. False labor: Before a pregnant woman starts giving birth, she often experiences "false labor" of varying lengths. Its characteristics are: the time interval between uterine contractions is irregular; the attention is not great, only a mild distending pain in the lower abdomen is felt, which often occurs at night and disappears in the morning; the duration is short and unstable, usually not exceeding 30 seconds.

3. Spotting during pregnancy: When approaching delivery, some pregnant women may have a small amount of pink secretions discharged from the vagina, which is called spotting during pregnancy. Sometimes, mucus plugs may also be discharged at the same time. Spotting during pregnancy is a reliable sign that labor is about to begin. Most pregnant women give birth within 24-48 hours. The amount of bleeding during pregnancy is very small. If it exceeds the menstrual volume, you should consider whether there is bleeding in late pregnancy such as placenta previa.

4. Rupture of amniotic fluid: A lot of fluid is discharged from the vagina and it cannot be controlled. Rupture of amniotic fluid may easily cause umbilical cord prolapse, which may seriously endanger the life of the fetus. Pregnant women should lie flat and go to the hospital immediately.

If there are regular and gradually increasing uterine contractions, usually every 5 to 6 minutes, each lasting 30 seconds or more, and accompanied by typical dilation of the cervix and lowering of the presenting part, this indicates the beginning of labor, and the pregnant woman should go to the hospital for delivery immediately.