![]() ![]() 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 No matter where you are in your pregnancy journey, we are here to help.The mucus plug is a barrier that seals your cervix, the opening to your uterus, during pregnancy. If you’ve passed your due date, a membrane sweep should be offered before other methods of induction. As you become more overdue, the risk of childbirth complications increases, so your doctor may want to induce labor. Your doctor or midwife won’t offer this procedure until you’ve reached 38 weeks. If you experience any heavy bleeding, you should contact your doctor right away. You may experience some spotting, cramps or irregular contractions soon afterwards. Any breathing techniques you have been practicing may come in handy to help you relax during the procedure. What Does a Membrane Sweep Feel Like?īecause the cervix is often difficult to reach before labor begins, a membrane sweep can be uncomfortable and even painful. If your water has broken, a membrane sweep may not be advised, as it increases the risk of infection. You can rest assured that a membrane sweep holds no danger of infection for your baby, as long as your water hasn’t broken. While membrane sweeping is less effective than induction by medication, it is the most successful natural method of inducing labor. How Effective is a Membrane Sweep?Ī membrane sweep increases your chances of going into labor naturally within 48 hours. It should only be carried out by a trained medical professional. This separation causes your body to release hormones (prostaglandins), which may kick-start your labor. This separates the amniotic sac from the sides of the uterus near the cervix. Your doctor puts a gloved finger into your vagina and then into the cervix, making a gentle circular (sweeping) movement with the finger. Membrane sweep is a natural and gentle way to trigger labor in a normal pregnancy that has reached full-term. Here are some important things to know about this common procedure. And let’s be honest, you also might feel like you’re going to pop! You should be ready for your doctor or midwife to mention membrane sweeping, or a mucus sweep, to help induce labor. You are, no doubt, looking forward to seeing your baby for the first time. If you’re pregnant and approaching 39 weeks, you are nearing the milestone known as full-term. The mucus sweep, or membrane sweep, is a common and safe method for helping induce labor in pregnant women who are ready to deliver. ![]()
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