What to avoid after losing mucus plug

Losing your mucus plug when you're pregnant doesn’t happen in the same way for all women — and it’s not the same as bloody show.

Here’s what you need to know about these common signs that labor’s on its way.

What is a mucus plug?

The mucus plug is a "cork" barrier that seals your cervix, the opening to your uterus, during pregnancy. Along with your amniotic sac, it helps protect your baby from the outside world while you're pregnant until you’re ready to deliver.

What does it mean to lose your mucus plug?

It means the mucus plug is discharging, which is one sign your cervix is softening and opening up to prepare your body for childbirth.

You should never try to pull out your mucus plug, as you don’t want to risk infection. Just try to let nature take its course (as challenging as that can be in the exciting time leading up to labor and delivery!). 

What does a mucus plug look like?

The mucus plug is a clear, sticky, gelatinous glob of mucus. It can also be yellow or brown. It should not be bright or dark red, though, so if you think it is, give your practitioner a call.

Your mucus plug always discharges before you deliver. However, while some women notice the plug passing, others miss it entirely.

Know that whatever happens, it doesn't predict anything about how your experience with giving birth will eventually unfold.

Does losing your mucus plug mean you've gone into labor?

In terms of when labor will start after your mucus plug discharges, it can vary from person from person. While some women lose their mucus plug weeks before labor begins, others lose it right as labor starts.

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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. And your baby is still safe even after you’re unplugged.

In fact, your body continues to make cervical mucus to prevent infection, which means baby’s still snugly sealed off. So you can still have sex, take a bath and otherwise go about your business.

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.

Since the mucus plug can come out in bits and pieces over time and many women don't even notice when they lose it, what's more important is to get to a doctor as soon as possible when your water breaks or you leak fluid.

What is bloody show?

Bloody show is a discharge of mucus that's tinged pink or brown with blood. It means the blood vessels in the cervix are rupturing as it begins to efface and dilate — a good, normal pre-labor sign if you’re close to your due date.

If, however, you notice any significant change in your vaginal discharge before 37 weeks, if it suddenly becomes bright red blood (instead of blood-streaked discharge), or if you notice more pronounced bleeding, call your doctor or midwife ASAP to rule out conditions requiring immediate medical attention.

Passing bloody show is different from passing the mucus plug. Though they definitely have mucus in common, bloody show is a blood-tinged discharge that means it's almost showtime. The mucus plug is more of a onetime, jelly-like glob that means you'll have your first contraction fairly soon, but labor isn't necessarily right around the corner.

How long after experiencing bloody show will you go into labor?

If you've experienced bloody show, you can usually expect to go into labor within the next day or two — unless you're a fast starter, in which case you could have your first contraction within the next several hours. (Nice and predictable, right?). So get ready, but don't head out the door just yet.

What to do if you think you're in labor

If you’re having bloody show and/or labor contractions, pack your hospital bag and contact your practitioner — labor is probably only a few days away at most.

Otherwise, if you’ve just lost your mucus plug, sit tight. Baby's not here just yet, but he will be soon. If your doctor tells you to come in, a quick vaginal exam will determine how dilated you are and how close you are to being in active labor.

Either way, it's not long now before you'll be giving birth to your precious new baby!

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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