Mucus Plug
As the third trimester weeks crawl by, many pregnant women look for any sign that labor is impending. One of these signs is the loss of the mucus plug. Many women don’t even know what the mucus plug is, or what they should look for. They only know that the loss of it signifies that SOMETHING is happening after months of waiting.
What Is the Mucus Plug?
The mucus plug is exactly what it sounds like. It is a concentration of mucus that is deposited in the opening of the cervix to block germs and bacteria from entering the uterus.
During pregnancy, the mucus is clear and would look much like a woman’s normal vaginal discharge. However, as the cervix begins to thin out and blood is released, there will be some blood deposited onto the mucus plug. As a woman’s cervix opens she will begin to lose the plug, either in bits of stringy, blood tinted mucus over a period of time, or all at once. This can happen up to two weeks before labor actually begins.
The loss of the mucus plug should not be confused with a woman’s bloody show which occurs during labor as a woman begins bleeding prior to delivery. The bloody show will be obviously different than the mucus plug as it is mostly blood and very little or no mucus.
When Should You Call Your Doctor?
Generally there is no need to call your doctor or midwife when you begin to lose your mucus plug, assuming it is clear or just has a little blood showing. Of course, if you feel any concern or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact them. You can also mention it to your provider at your next visit. You should definitely contact your provider if the mucus becomes extremely bloody or you continue to experience discharge. It could be a sign that labor has started, or it could also possibly be a sign of a complication like placenta previa or of a placental abruption.
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December 19th, 2011 at 4:22 am
Hi Ladies, I am pregnant with my 5th baby and am due in 11 days. Just a piece of friendly advice, if you feel like you cant call your midwife with these problems you should find another midwife or doctor. Your midwife or doctor is use to any concerns you have especially if its your 1st. This is my 5th and I still have concerns and know I can call my midwife even if it may seem silly to me.
December 13th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
I’m 36 weeks and 3 days and I’m not sure if my mucus plug feel out or not I was wondering if it was visible by the doctors like can they see it on a sono.. this is my first and I’m dyin for my son to be born I haven’t really experienced much crampin does that mean he not ready I mean there lil pains here and there especially now but its nutin major like I’m thinkin it should be there is stringy yellowish kinda stuff comin out and I’m thinkin that it because I jus came from my docotor so all my test result are clear for any issues and at times it feels like a clump and then its jus a lil bit …
December 4th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I’m 35wks pregnant and I am having cramping and I also have an urge to push/ I’m really “wet” in that particular area I don’t have any red/pinkish discharge, could I still have lost my mucus plug? This is my first baby. should I call my Labor and Delivery Unit at The hospital?
August 15th, 2011 at 9:08 am
hi i am 39 weeks on thursday and have been getting pains cramps n period like pains since last week i had y show 2 weeks ago and yesterday had allot of pinky discharge it was that much it leaked through ny trousers and looked like my waters had gone this is my first baby and the head is well engaged and everyone keeps telling me how much iv dropped has anyone had this in there pregnancy and how long after did u go into labour x
August 4th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
I just had sex about a week ago. after having sex i bled for about a week and now I am having a white cloudy discharge. Is there a possibility I could be pregnant.
July 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Hi, I’m 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant and i lost the beginning of my mucus plug a week and a half ago. It was one huge blob, now i am having lots of snottish looking discharge and i’m wondering how long it could take to have this baby! It’s my first pregnancy and i am due next sunday. im ready for the little booger to be here already!:)
July 15th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Hello ladies. I am 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant with my 2nd child. With the first, I lost my mucus all at once in a big glob when I wiped after going to the bathroom. It looks like somebody sneezed healthy, clearish/yellowish snot into the tissue! Grose, but it’s the facts! With this one, I have been having stringy mucus when I wipe show up on the tissue for about a week. Then today, there was a big glob in my panties and I STILL have little stringy globs coming each time I wipe and on my panties. But it looks the same as last time. If there’s a tinge of blood, I heard that is normal, though I have never had that. But you’ll know when you’re losing mucus plug….that “snot” is unmistakable!!!!
July 6th, 2011 at 6:30 am
Hi im 37 + 5 days along, Since saturday i have been getting watery discharge, this is my first pregnancy and i dont know what it is at all, Should i call my doctor/midwife, or is it nothing to worry about?
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:55 am
I’m 8 1/2 weeks pregnant and I have brown stingy stuff coming out should I call the doctor
June 26th, 2011 at 8:23 am
Ms Tasha…Since you think poking fun at others who are just concerned is necessary…There is no way in hell you would”ve been almost a month over due. The drs will induce you at 42wks & a day due to the fact that the placenta can no longer provide the nutrients & oxygen to the baby. Even if they were off about how far along you were, it wouldn’t be that much of a difference. So start laughing at yourself for thinking you know it all. Lol