In some cases, losing the mucus plug happens days or weeks before your baby's due date. Some people don't lose it until they're in labor. If you lose your mucus plug sooner than 37 weeks of pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider as a precaution.
The mucus plug is usually thick, stringy, sticky, and/or jelly-like, and may appear clear, off-white, or slightly bloody with a pink, red, or brown hue. Your mucus plug is not the same as regular vaginal discharge, which tends to be thinner and yellow in color.
Mucus discharge: if your mucus plug hasn't dropped yet, it could do so this week. It's normal to experience thick, heavy, mucus discharge once this happens. It could also be pinkish or have streaks of blood. Braxton Hicks contractions: your uterus is in full-on practice mode for the big event.
The cervix generally needs to be dilated to 10 centimeters before it's ready for the baby to pass through. Your cervix can be dilated to a couple of centimeters for a few weeks before delivery. This softening can cause the mucus plug to be dislodged and come out.
That depends. “It could be hours, days or weeks” until a woman goes into labor after losing her plug, Cackovic says. “It's not the reliable sign that some make it out to be.” Though losing your mucus plug is typically a sign that labor is on its way, there's not a prescribed time period for when it will actually begin.
When you are losing the mucus plug, You'll notice it on your underwear or on toilet paper after going to the loo. It could be in one single piece, like a blob of gel. Or it could be in smaller pieces which come away over several hours or more. You don't normally need to tell your midwife about it.
The mucus plug is usually thick, like jelly, and sticky. Vaginal discharge is usually thinner and more slippery than sticky. If the mucus comes out all at once in a big clump, it's your mucus plug (though again, it can come out over the course of days). Vaginal discharge is usually ongoing.
Clear and stretchy — This is “fertile” mucous and means you're ovulating. Clear and watery — This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising. Yellow or green — May indicate an infection, especially if it's thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odor.
Texture: It has a gelatinous look and is thick while in the cervix, but typically becomes thin and more liquid once expelled. Size: The mucus plug is about 4-5 centimeters long, or about 1 ounce in volume. If your body doesn't expel the plug all at once, it may seem like much less.
By 36 weeks, your baby's lungs are fully formed and ready to take their first breath after the birth. The digestive system is fully developed and your baby will be able to feed if they're born now.
Some women don't even notice their mucus plug because it comes out slowly over a few days, or even weeks. You might see it as one obvious blob of mucus plug, when wiping with toilet paper, or you might notice an increased vaginal discharge over a few days.
Many people notice blood-tinged mucus discharge after losing their mucus plug. However, because it can come out in small pieces over time, some people may not notice any changes or experience any symptoms after losing their mucus plug.
After ovulation your vaginal discharge will become dry and thin. This is due to estrogen levels decreasing. However after ovulation you may notice jelly like discharge if conception has occurred. This is due to estrogen and progesterone rising.
The mucus plug is typically thick, stringy, gooey, and/or jelly-like and may be translucent, off-white, or slightly bloody with a pink, red, or brown hue if it mixes with blood in your cervix.
You at 36 weeks pregnant
If your baby's head has 'engaged' (entered the pelvic cavity), you might be feeling more pressure lower down in your pelvis. You might even feel baby's head putting pressure on your cervix, which can be quite uncomfortable. You'll probably need to go to the toilet even more often.
Most pregnancies last about 40 weeks. Babies born between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy are called “full term.” Babies born between 34 and 36 full weeks of pregnancy are called “late preterm” babies.
Your growing belly and baby often cause a sensation of stomach tightening late in pregnancy. At this point, your uterus is crowding your internal organs and pushing up against your abdominal wall. If the tightening sensation isn't painful, but comes and goes, you may be having Braxton Hicks contractions.
If any of the following occur, you should contact your healthcare provider right away: Loss of your mucus plug before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Heavy bleeding accompanied by pain or contractions. Feeling a sudden gush of fluid from your vagina.
In the last week or so of pregnancy, it may contain streaks of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus. This is called a "show", and happens when the mucus that's been present in your cervix during pregnancy comes away. It's a sign that the body is starting to prepare for birth.
Yes, losing your mucus plug does signal labor, but not right that second. "The loss of the mucus plug, especially when there's a little bit of blood, is usually a good indicator that labor is coming within one to three days," explains Mallon.
Irregular contractions are not the same timing, duration, or strength as each other. They are common in early labor, as active labor is approaching. They are usually one of the strong signs labor is 24-48 hours away. Irregular contractions can feel like your belly is tightening, with cramping lower in your pelvis.