The mucus plug is a cushion of mucus in the birth canal that protects and eventually seals the area to protect your fetus. While losing your mucus plug can be a signal of impending labor, it may not mean that your baby is ready to come right in that instant.
Do I Need to Rush to the Hospital If I Lose My Mucus Plug?
While it may be disconcerting, losing your mucus plug can actually happen weeks before you actually go into labor and deliver the baby. You should certainly call your OB/GYN, but unless you are a high risk pregnancy, you’ll most likely be told to wait to come to the hospital until your contractions are less than 5 minutes apart or until your water breaks.
How Do I Know If I Lost My Mucus Plug?
Determining whether or not you lost your mucus plug is not always easy, because most women have vaginal discharge throughout their pregnancy. The mucus plug does have a different consistency than other vaginal discharge. It will often be thicker than your regular discharge or appear to be stringy. While it may be clear, it’s not concerning if it is pink or bloody.
Why Did I Lose My Mucus Plug?
You can lose your mucus plug for a variety of reasons. It can be dislodged during intercourse or during a pelvic exam by your OB/GYN. It can come out because your cervix has started softening to prepare for childbirth. It is not, however, an indication that anything is wrong, nor is it necessarily an indication that you are headed into labor.
If you are planning to become pregnant, believe you may be pregnant and would like medical confirmation, or if you are currently pregnant, schedule an appointment today with an Ob/Gyn specialist at Huey & Weprin Ob/Gyn. With specialized care and cutting-edge treatments in obstetrics and gynecology, Huey & Weprin Ob/Gyn offers a wide variety of gynecologic and obstetric services from leaders in Ob/Gyn research development. Call 937.771.5100 or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment.