Mucus Plug: What You Need To Know & Ask

In the early stages of pregnancy, a collection of mucus forms in the cervix – this is called a mucus plug. The purpose of a mucus plug is to block bacteria and infection from getting into your uterus and reaching your baby. As your body and cervix get ready for labor you will lose the mucus plug. This is all a very common and natural occurrence during pregnancy.

A mucus plug is exactly that, a thick piece of mucus. It is normal for a mucus plug to be clear, off-white, or slightly bloody (red, brown, or pink.) It will usually have a jelly-like texture while being sticky and stringy. It is one to two inches long and one to two tablespoons in volume. Also, it will be relatively odorless.

Towards the end of your pregnancy, as your cervix starts to dilate (open) and/or efface (soften & thin,) you may lose your mucus plug. This is because it will start to dislodge and then be pushed out of your vagina. This may occur all at once in a glob or you might gradually lose it over time and never notice. Vaginal discharge of a mucus plug will look thicker than normal and could have some red, pink, or brown color to it (from the blood). Most people lose their mucus plug after 37 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes losing a mucus plug happens days or weeks before a baby’s due date, sometimes it happens during labor.

There are no side effects of a mucus plug, just think of it as a safety barrier between outside bacteria and your baby!

Looking to talk to your doctor about this topic? Here’s 3 potential questions to ask:

• What should I do if I think I lost my mucus plug prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy?

• What if I can’t tell whether or not I lost my mucus plug?

• What should I do if I think my mucus plug is too bloody?

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