“While passage of some mucus in the preterm period, especially in scant quantities, is not unusual, the passage of a large ‘mucus plug’ is quite unusual and should warrant a call to your doctor,” says Dr. That said, anything you’re concerned about warrants a call to the doctor. So you can still have sex, take a bath and otherwise go about your business. In fact, your body continues to make cervical mucus to prevent infection, which means baby’s still snugly sealed off. And your baby is still safe even after you’re unplugged. There's no need for concern if your mucus plug dislodges even weeks before your due date - it could still be a few weeks before labor actually starts. While some women lose their mucus plug weeks before labor begins, others lose it right as labor starts. In terms of when labor will start after your mucus plug discharges, it can vary from person to person. “There is nothing written in stone about the timing of the mucus plug passing and how soon spontaneous labor will ensue,” Dr. It can sometimes be a sign labor is coming soon - or not. Losing your mucus plug is not a sign you’re actively in labor. Does losing your mucus plug mean you've gone into labor? Know that whatever happens, it doesn't predict anything about how your experience with giving birth will eventually unfold. “For some women, it is huge, like a jellyfish, and for others, it is unnoticeable amongst the other naturally occurring discharge.” “There is a big variation between women in the quantity and quality of the mucus,” Dr Adberg says. However, while some women notice the plug passing, others miss it entirely. Your mucus plug always discharges before you deliver. It should not be bright or dark red, though, so if you think it is, give your practitioner a call. It can be clear, pink, or slightly bloody, according to the American College of Obstetricians (ACOG). The mucus plug is just what it sounds like: a sticky, gelatinous glob of mucus. Labor Contractions: What Do Contractions Feel Like? What does a mucus plug look like?
“It serves as a barrier, so that the bacteria that naturally live in the vagina don’t cause infections in the uterus during pregnancy,” adds Rebecca Amaru, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN in private practice in New York City and a member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board. The mucus plug helps protect your baby from the outside world while you're pregnant until you’re ready to deliver. “The cervix is lined by mucus-producing glands, and normally produces a lot of clear mucus during the ovulatory phase, to help convey sperm to the awaiting egg,” explains Christina Adberg, M.D., a Healthtap OB/GYN at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “During pregnancy, the ovulatory function is on hold, and progesterone levels are high, so the mucus thickens and forms a bit of a barrier between the vagina and the amniotic sac”. Trusted Source Cleveland Clinic Mucus Plug See All Sources The mucus plug is a barrier that seals your cervix, the opening to your uterus, during pregnancy.
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