What is a ''show''?

Cervical plug passes: Back in the days of our grandmothers (or before), terms used to describe women and their pregnancies were not always flattering, but they did allow communication between midwives, fps, nurses, etc so some persisted. The term "bloody show" refers to the passage of some blood-tinged mucus from the cervix through the vagina. It happens in many cases before the onset of labor. If preterm risk, call ob.

Mucus and blood: As the cervix opens and the baby's head descends, there is a significant amount of mucus and bloody mucus that is pushed out of the vagina.

Light bleeding: Bloody show is the mixture of a small amount of blood and mucus that many women will notice in early labor. It can be red, pink or brown and kind of goopy. It is normal. There should never be enough liquid to saturate a pad- that's abnormal and needs to be evaluated at the hospital. If you're noticing show early in pregnancy, it needs to be checked out for possible early changes in the cervix.