Mucous plug3/4/2023 Mitchell Kramer, Chairman Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Long Island’s Huntington Hospital, “the mucus plug is a mucus seal that acts as a barrier between the vaginal environment which contains bacteria and the sterile environment inside the uterus where the pregnancy sac and fetus reside.” Ok, we know the uterus, we know the fetus, we know the placenta, but do we know what the mucus plug is, and does?Īccording to Dr. More: How the MTHFR Gene Impacts Pregnancy What is the mucus plug? What the heck is a mucus plug and when it “comes out” of you, vaginally, when pregnant, does that mean you’re in labor? I contacted an OB-GYN to learn everything about the mucus plug and more. Speaking of ‘unglamorous’.when you hear the term “mucus plug” associated with labor, chances are you cringe at that medical term. Their goal is to keep you safe and help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy.Ok, no one said labor was glamorous-and if they did, I’d sure love to meet that person because I adore my kids, but NO, my labors were not glamorous. If you have any doubts or concerns about your pregnancy or mucus plug, contact your doctor. Both of these situations are normal and healthy. Others don’t feel anything until up to three weeks later. ![]() Some women have experienced contractions and other symptoms of labor just before or just after losing their mucus plug. Although it can’t be used to determine when you will deliver your baby, it means that your body is getting ready for it. It means that your pregnancy is progressing as normal. Losing the mucus plug after 37 weeks of pregnancy is a good sign. If you’re not experiencing contractions or any other labor symptoms, your delivery may still be weeks away. Check all of your symptoms, and talk to your doctor. You may want to consider wearing a panty liner between losing your mucus plug and labor, but you certainly don’t have to pack up and head to the hospital right away. Sometimes this can cause you to have more vaginal discharge than normal. You will likely lose your mucus plug after the 37th week of pregnancy. No matter what, it’s a good idea to inform your doctor if and when you suspect you’ve lost your mucus plug. Losing your mucus plug is not a guarantee that labor will begin within the hour. It can take your cervix a few weeks to expand and dilate before you begin to feel labor pains. If you don’t have any symptoms of labor or distress, then there might not be any cause for concern. If you think you may have lost your mucus plug after 37 weeks of pregnancy, then check for other signs of labor. ![]() If they’re concerned that it’s too soon for you to have lost the mucus plug, they will want to perform an examination right away to check on the status of your cervix and your baby. If you suspect you’ve lost your mucus plug and are less than 37 weeks into your pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor. If it falls out right after an exam, talk to your doctor. This can cause the mucus plug to fall out. ![]() The exam may jar or stretch the cervical opening. Cervical exam - Sometimes your doctor needs to give you a cervical exam to ensure everything is moving along smoothly.Dislodging the mucus plug too early in pregnancy can present some risk, so if you lose your mucus plug after sex and you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant, talk to your doctor right away. While it’s not harmful to have sex during pregnancy, it’s a good idea to be more careful at this time. Sex - Sexual intercourse can jostle the mucus plug and make it dislodge.This softening can cause the mucus plug to be dislodged and come out. Your cervix can be dilated to a couple of centimeters for a few weeks before delivery. The cervix generally needs to be dilated to 10 centimeters before it’s ready for the baby to pass through. Cervix softening - During the end of your pregnancy, your cervix begins to soften and expand in preparation for delivery.Mucus plug or discharge: how to tell the difference They will want to see if it is forming correctly in early pregnancy or if it has dislodged due to cervical expansion during late pregnancy. The molecules are so large, in fact, that they inhibit bacteria and infections from passing through the mucus into the uterus.ĭoctors may want to give you a cervical exam in order to check the mucus plug. Mucins have much larger molecules, making the mucus very thick. The mucus plug is made of large glycoproteins or mucins. Sometimes the mucus plug can be pink or even bloody. The mucus from the cervical canal is very thick and jelly-like, unlike the mucus from your nasal passages. Sometimes losing the mucus plug can indicate that you might start going into labor, but that’s not always the case. Several things can cause it to be dislodged early. ![]() The job of the mucus plug is to remain in the cervical canal and prevent any pathogens or bacteria from entering the uterus.
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