Bloody show
Encyclopedia
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:
However, these may occur at any time and in any order. Some women neither experience a bloody show nor have their waters break until well into advanced labor.
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
near the end of pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
. It can occur just before labor
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
or in early labor as the cervix
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
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
Placental abruption
Placental abruption is a complication of pregnancy, wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of the mother. It is the most common pathological cause of late pregnancy bleeding. In humans, it refers to the abnormal separation after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to birth...
or placenta previa. Large amounts of bleeding during or after childbirth itself may come from uterine atony
Atony
Pronounced In medicine, atony refers to a muscle that has lost its strength. It is frequently associated with the conditions Atonic seizure, atonic colon, uterine atony, gastrointestinal atony and choreatic atonia.Atony can also refer to the paralyzed or extremely relaxed state of skeletal...
or laceration of the cervix, vagina, or perineum
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
.
There are 3 signs of the onset of labor:
- A bloody show
- Rupture of membranesRupture of membranesRupture of membranes or amniorrhexis is a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac. Normally, or "spontaneously", it occurs at full term at the onset of, or during, labor...
(Waters breaking) - Onset of tightenings or contractions
However, these may occur at any time and in any order. Some women neither experience a bloody show nor have their waters break until well into advanced labor.