Losing your mucus plug generally means your cervix has started to dilate, efface or both. It means labor is around the corner, but there is not an exact time for how soon after other labor symptoms will start. In some cases, you may already be in labor when you lose your mucus plug.
"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.
Conclusion. If you've just lost your mucus plug, are 37 or more weeks into your pregnancy, and are not having contractions or other signs of labor, you may need to sit tight and wait a while longer.
Your mucus plug will usually come out before your water breaks, though you can leak amniotic fluid through a tear — which doesn't necessarily mean you've lost your mucus plug yet, as it prevents bacteria from traveling up to baby, not water from leaking out.
Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow. Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation.
There are no signs that your water is going to break; however, most people will be in labor and have contractions before their water breaks. So, if you're in labor and experiencing contractions, your water can break at any moment.
If you suspect you have lost your mucus plug and are less than 37 weeks pregnant, you should contact your healthcare provider. They could be concerned and want to examine your cervix.
Losing your mucus plug doesn't necessarily mean labor is starting, but it's best to contact your healthcare provider. This is especially important if you lose your mucus plug before 37 weeks of pregnancy, as it could be a sign of preterm labor.
The main symptom of the mucus plug falling out is the sudden appearance of blood-tinged mucus. Some people experience labor symptoms, such as contractions, when this happens. It is important not to confuse the loss of the mucus plug with other types of bleeding.
How Do You Feel 24 Hours Before Labor? Some of the most common things women experience when labor is 24 hours away are cramps and contractions. You might feel that your stomach is becoming tight and may experience discomfort in your lower back. Along with that, you might also experience cramps in your pelvic area.
The mucus plug blocks the opening of the cervix during pregnancy to protect the baby from bacteria. As your body prepares for labor, the cervix dilates (expands). This causes the mucus plug to dislodge. When blood from your cervix is mixed in with the mucus plug, it is called a bloody show.
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.
It is fine to take a bath or a shower, but please avoid sexual intercourse as this may increase the risk of infection. We will arrange a time for you to return to hospital if your labour does not start within 24 hours.
Usually the bag of waters breaks just before you go into labor or during the early part of labor. It happens often when you are in bed sleeping. You may wake up and think you have wet the bed. Sometimes women feel or even hear a small “pop” when the bag breaks.
If your water breaks, whether you're experiencing contractions or not, go to the hospital. This will help reduce the risk of infection. Note the color, odor and amount of fluid when your water broke.
However, some women experience water breaking but don't have contractions, pain, or discomfort. If that's the case, we recommend that you contact your doctor right away, which could increase the risk for preterm labor.
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.
For starters, the mucus plug is gooey, gelatinous, and usually yellowish-white in color (sometimes with tinges of pink or brown). In some respects, it can resemble egg whites. Normal pregnancy discharge, on the other hand, tends to be thin, mild smelling or odorless, and clear or milky white.
You may experience some red, pink or brown discharge, or notice that the mucus plug is streaked with blood. The bloody show can appear in your underwear, or you might see it when you wipe. However, it shouldn't be much more than a tablespoon or two of discharge, says the Cleveland Clinic.
Warning Signs of Premature Labor
Menstrual-like cramps felt in the lower abdomen that may come and go or be constant. Low dull backache felt below the waistline that may come and go or be constant. Pelvic pressure that feels like your baby is pushing down. This pressure comes and goes.
Very active baby before labor
Some women experience their baby moving a lot in the run-up to labor. One theory for this is the increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. As your body prepares for labor and birth, you might start to experience a greater frequency of Braxton Hicks contractions.
Researchers now believe that when a baby is ready for life outside his mother's uterus, his body releases a tiny amount of a substance that signals the mother's hormones to begin labor (Condon, Jeyasuria, Faust, & Mendelson, 2004). In most cases, your labor will begin only when both your body and your baby are ready.