Were you looking for information about the Mucus Plug? Mucous plug is an alternative spelling of mucus plug.
The mucous plug is a small amount of mucous that seals the cervix (the opening of the uterus) during the nine months of pregnancy, like a cork seals a bottle. It serves as a barrier during pregnancy that prevents bacteria from entering the uterus.
As labor approaches, the cervix thins and dilates (the opening gets larger). When this happens, the mucous plug is no longer large enough to fill the opening and it eventually comes out. It may come out all at once, or it may come out slowly in the vaginal discharge over a couple of days.
Losing the mucous plug is a sign your body is starting to prepare for labor.
You may lose your plug as early as one to two weeks before the true
signs of labor appear, or just as labor itself is beginning.
Remember, the mucous plug seals the cervix. Losing your mucous plug does not mean the amniotic sac is open to infection; the amniotic sac is still sealed until your water breaks.
What Does the Mucous Plug Look Like?
The mucous plug often looks like a jelly-like chunk of discharge. It can be clear, slightly pink, or tinged with a small amount of blood. Sometimes, instead of a jelly-like chunk, the mucous plug may look like stringy mucous or a sticky discharge.
Keep in mind that the amount of blood in the mucous plug is generally a spot -- no more than a teaspoon. If you see more blood than that, contact your healthcare provider.
Will You Notice Losing Your Mucous Plug?
Not necessarily. Many women don't even notice when they lose their mucous plug. This is because there is already so much vaginal discharge during pregnancy, especially during the time leading up to
labor and delivery.
Click the following links to learn more about the late stages of pregnancy:
- Prelabor Signs to learn about other symptoms of late pregnancy (besides losing the mucous plug) that are not signs of true labor.
- Signs of Labor to learn more about the signs that may indicate the beginning of true labor.
- False Labor to learn about the differences between false labor contractions and real contractions.
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