I get asked this question all the time (and I'm sure that OBGYNs, Midwives & even Google gets asked pretty often as well). It's a really good question! Especially as a mother approaches her due date, as she will start looking for any sign that her labor is coming.
First though, let's learn what a mucus plug is, and what it does! A mucus plug is basically exactly what it sounds like, it is mucus, that forms at the cervix during pregnancy, acting as a seal. This plug helps prevent bacteria from getting inside the uterus.
Now what does the mucus plug look like? Well... Basically like a mucus, snotty blob (sometimes tinged with blood). Click this link to see some examples pictures of a mucus plug ( https://www.babycenter.ca/l25008775/what-a-mucus-plug-looks-like-photos) You can lose it all at once, or a little bit at a time over the course of several hours, or days.
How quickly after losing it will you go into labor? Here's the thing though... The loss of your mucus plug, really has very little to do with when labor will start. I know, I know, you were probably hoping for a different answer, as I'm sure you are done being pregnant. But it is the unfortunate truth. You can lose it, and it can regenerate, replugging up your cervix, sometimes multiple times throughout your pregnancy.
But here's some good news, you don't have you notice the loss of your mucus plug for labor to be close or for you to even be in labor. You can just start having contractions, and progress from there, and lose your mucus plug or have your bloody show much later in the process.
留言