Bloody show

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Bloody show is the passage of a small amount of blood or blood-tinged mucus through the vagina near the end of pregnancy. It can occur just before labor or in early labor as the cervix changes shape, freeing mucus and blood that occupied the cervical glands or cervical os.

Bloody show is a relatively common feature of pregnancy, and it does not signify increased risk to the mother or baby. A larger amount of bleeding, however, may signify a more dangerous, abnormal complication of pregnancy, such as placental abruption or placenta previa. Large amounts of bleeding during or after childbirth itself may come from uterine atony or laceration of the cervix, vagina, or perineum.

There are 3 signs of the onset of labor:

• A bloody show
• Rupture of membranes (Waters breaking)
• Onset of tightening or contractions. However, these may occur at any time and in any order. Some women do not experience a show or their waters breaking until well into advanced labor.

• Obstetrical hemorrhage
• Antepartum haemorrhage

• The Pregnancy Helpdesk

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