Although I had heard of a mucous plug, I wasn’t expecting to see blood when mine came away. Should I go to the hospital?

The loss of the mucous plug shows that the cervix is preparing for the birth process, and can even mean that dilation has began. However, the first contraction could be weeks away. If the mucous plug has tinges of pink or brown blood, this is also perfectly normal. The time to be concerned is if you see red blood, as this can indicate a problem with the placenta. If you see red blood, even if only a little, it is worth calling the doctor, who may arrange to meet you at the hospital to investigate. It may be a false alarm, but if the blood is red you should not hesitate to have it checked out.

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