Mucus Plug

What does the mucus plug look like once it is expelled?

Mucus Plug

During pregnancy, secretions will accumulate and form a mucus plug at the opening of your cervix. The mucus plug helps to prevent infection from occuring in your uterus and developing baby. The mucus plug will remain at the top of the cervix until just before labor begins.

As labor begins, the cervix will begin to thin out and dilate. As this happens, your body may expel the mucus plug. Many women find a gooey blob on their underpants or toilet tissue after using the restroom. The mucus plug may be stringy mucus or a sticky discharge. The mucus plug may come out all at once or it may come out over a period of time, so you might not realize that you are losing it. Sometimes the mucus has brown, pink or red streaks of blood mixed within it. This is normal and should not be a cause for conern unless there is a significant amount of blood. There is not a set to lose the mucus plug. Some women may lose the plug early in their third trimester, towards the middle of the third trimester or immediately prior to labor starting.

While it is true that labor will begin after your mucus plug has come out, there is no set time for labor to actually begin. Sometimes labor begins within a few hours and sometimes it can take weeks. You can tell your doctor that you think your mucus plug has come out, but there is no reason to pack your bags up and rush to the maternity ward! Sit back, relax and get some rest until other signs of labor begin. However, if your discharge is bright red or is more than a few tablespoons, you should call your caregiver promptly.

Comments: Mucus Plug

Comments 26 to 49 of about 51.
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lilmissk - 205 days ago.
I'm 39w2d and I lost mine this morning! Yay!

foxdashbethany - 208 days ago.
Im also 39 weeks and not sure if I've lost it. I have gotten some booger-y looking discharge lately but it's such a small amount each time Im not sure if its just xtra discharge or what. Im hoping and leaning towards the idea that its bits and pieces of my plug but who knows. I guess I'll ask tomorrow at my appt.

lucy01 - 227 days ago.
my midwife said you can lose it even a few hours before u have bub!

klo0426 - 227 days ago.
Hi ladies.....I'm 39weeks and still haven't lost my plug yet. Getting a little peeved because I want this prenancy over. Has anyone gone this long before they lost theirs?

nevertooyoung19 - 243 days ago.
This will be a bit gross in descirpition but... does the mucus plug ever look like a booger... h ah like a wet stringy booger? Well i am 30 weeks and i dont thing women are supposed to lose the plug this early but i wear panty liners and when iw ent to go to the bathroom today i saw what looked like one of those stringy wet boogers on my pantiliner but it was brown or red or anything like that, it was actually a greeninsh color... just like a booger! so sorry that was so gross but i want to know if this is my plug and if i should call my doc since i am only 30 weeks.

lucy01 - 249 days ago.
develops as soon as u fall pregnant..

chumashyaqui - 249 days ago.
when does a mucus plug develop? how long does it take to form?

charcharsuperstar - 258 days ago.
hi, yes i think i am losing mine today , too.. i'm in the same boat, not sure if i should call my DR... like the page says, i'll wait for other signs of labor. Pelvic pain i think is common after the little one dropped. I dont know.. i just noticed i def feel , sensetive in that area.. and pressure.

gamama31791 - 259 days ago.
i think i just lost my mucus plug. i will be 33 wks in 2 days. it was really long and stringy snot, sorry if its TMI and i kept wiping and it kept coming out. but it was clear. My DH and I had very uncomfortable sore sex last night and i wonder if that i did lose it and thats what made it come out. this is my 3rd child and my youngest child is almost 8 yrs old. so all of the pregnancy things happening is almost new to me. my pelvic area is very sore and uncomfortable and quite painful to move around. what should I do

jade - 281 days ago.
As ugly as it looks i cant wait to loose it.

Jens3rd - 305 days ago.
ok ladies I have a question for you if it tmi I am sorry. I just lost my mucus plug it was nasty. Looking that is. What do you guys think about that?? I went to l and d last night and they said other then the little contractions that there was nothing more. I know that I a bit dialated but no really cramping and baby is very active. Let me know please

hot-mama - 321 days ago.
I'll be 32 weeks Thursday and I think I lost my mucus plug this morning. It was greenish/yellowish look like snot..is it mucus plug?

Proud Mommy of a Son!!! - 321 days ago.
I think i lost my mucus plug today! But mine was like snotty nose no blood. I have had contractions for week and half now Original due date is Jan 12th but as of 20 weeks they move it to Jan 5th which is tomorrow. Maybe i go into labor tomorrow or Middle of this week, if not then i am going to get induce but the end of the week.

Mrs-Ginge-A - 333 days ago.
I am also having a bit of a freak out, i know i shouldnt stress as i am only 34 weeks, but i have been cramping like a period cramps today, worse than usual and a dull back ache, went to the loo and noticed a big gooey lump on the paper, much like nose mucous when you have a bad cold but it was clearish white (no blood), then i dropped another which seems to have a bit of a yellowish tinge and i am still feeling a constant dull ache...I guess i will have to wait and see.

Zillah Cain - 335 days ago.
I remember only losing my mucous plug the day I went into labor with my fourth child - I made a bad joke - I told my husband it looked like my vagina sneezed - sorry TMI but I was grasping for strings to distract me for a few moments while I was having a major contraction and when I said that to him - he cracked up laughing. I know that was gross - but sometimes it is nice to joke about things to keep from stressing about them. Usually I would lose my mucous plug and not notice it much because it wasn't so large - but with my fourth child - it was alot.

ZairaBaby2006 - 335 days ago.
I have been loosing my mucous plug for the past 3 days in little strings, today I lost what i believe to be the end of it.. It was about the size of a hotdog and extremely brown, very goopy. It was not the prettiest thing i've ever seen haha. It was weird tho cuz with my first baby I never saw my mucous plug.. It was definately an experience.

17andpregnant - 341 days ago.
I'm pretty sure that I've started losing my mucus plug. I went to the bathroom a couple days ago and noticed wiping was a little easier due to the amount of slickness I had and then when I looked at the paper, I saw some greenish discharge; and then today I went to the bathroom and saw some of a brownish color...I'm 38 weeks, and figured it's to be expected...I'm just waiting for this baby to come OUT! After my experience, I decided to get on here and see what you ladies had to say about the mucus plug, and lo and behold I am reassured! Thanks so much.

sweetp22 - 341 days ago.
p.s. mine was about the size of a quarter, rusty brown in colour and looked like snot or jelly... sorry to be so graphic, but it's the truth.

sweetp22 - 341 days ago.
I'm 30 weeks and lost all or part of my mucus plug today. I was so panicked and showed my BF - we were both so worried and grossed out! The dr says not to worry and to call her or go to the hospital if there are any additional signs of labour only. Oh the joys of pregnancy...

jhjohnston - 355 days ago.
I think that I am losing my mucus plug. I had some stuff for the last week and tonight I got a lot more so I think it was. It didnt have any brown or red or pink it just mucus.. so I am 32 weeks and not sure really what it means. I have an appointment on Thursday so maybe wait till then or should I just call and let my midwife know. Let me know what you think. thank you

Aussiemumma - 355 days ago.
When I lost my mucus plug with my son my contractions started almost straight away, I wasn't expecting that since most of the sites tell you it can be days after..

LuckyLouise - 362 days ago.
I lost my musus plug 3 and a half hours ago!! Lost it all in one go was sticky and stringy and a pinky, browny colour.....wasnt nice too see!!!xXx

myliltiger - 369 days ago.
i am 35 weeks and have not lost my mucous plug yet

sonyasfirstbaby - 372 days ago.
At 32weeks, a day or 2 before i had an ultrasound I lost my mucus plug. This does NOT mean you will go into labour shortly! At my ultra sound they confirmed I did in fact lose it but I wasn't dialted and the doc told me that the plug would probably grow back. Just an FYI. ;) I ended up being 6days late form my EDD.

jacquelyn - 379 days ago.
I'm only 15 weeks, but have already seemingly started losing my mucus plug. I just had a baby 6 months ago so I remember what it looked and felt like. Has anyone else lost their plug this early? I don't mind if it means I might have problems or even a miscarriage. I just need to know. It doesn't seem normal to lose the plug if my cervix isn't dilating. I don't think it's just an infection because I don't always have it. It's just sometimes once a week I'll notice a lot when I wipe, and other days I'll notice it 3 or 4 times a little at a time. I've never heard of it happening this early. Any insight you girls could give me would be much appreciated. Please comment on my page. Thanks.