Bloody show

Bloody show or show is the passage of a small amount of blood or blood-tinged mucus through the vagina near the end of pregnancy. It is caused by thinning and dilation of the cervix, leading to detachment of the cervical mucus plug that seals the cervix during pregnancy and tearing of small cervical blood vessels,[1] and is one of the signs that labor may be imminent.[2] The bloody show may be expelled from the vagina in pieces or altogether[3] and often appears as a jelly-like piece of mucus stained with blood.[4] Although the bloody show may be alarming at first, it is not a concern of patient health after 37 weeks gestation.[5]

  1. ^ "Vaginal birth - series—Indications". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  2. ^ "Am I in labor?". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  3. ^ Brennan D. "What Does the Bloody Show Look Like?". MedicineNet. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  4. ^ "Cervical Effacement: Causes, Measuring & What It Means". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cleveland Clinic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).