What the h**l is a mucous plug?!?

Question

Ok, call me stupid, but I don't remember learning about this from either my doctor or my parenting class at my high school...what the h**l is it exactly? And how do I know if I've lost mine? Because some people on the internet are saying it's just like discharge...so how do you know the difference? Because I had some discharge today...how do I know it wasn't my mucous plug? I'll be 34 weeks pregnant tomorrow and I have a doctors visit so I can always ask the doctor, but I'd like to find out tonight what the h**l I'm looking for...is it a big deal? I'm already anxious enough about having my baby so I'd like to know everything you know! So share with me! PLEASE!

Answer 1

Its all big clump of mucus that is protecting your uterus. Its like a gelatinous chunk of mucus.It can be passed through the v****a a week or two before the first real contractions or just as labor begins. Mine only came down 15mins before I gave birth too my son.

Answer 2

It was about as big as my thumb, but the consistency of snot when you have a very bad cold.  Yellowish colored.  It came out on the tissue when I wiped.  Very gross looking when you think of something that looks like snot coming from there.  My happened right before I was 38 weeks and I went into labor that day and had my baby.  Good luck to you.  Sorry for the TMI.

Answer 3

Definition: the plug of mucous that fills the cervix to protect against diease. this may start to leak out as the cervix slowly starts opening before labor, or may come out in big chunk. it can be pink or tinged with blood. known as bloody show.

My best friend lost hers the morning she went into labor, and she said it was very and clear and obvious what it was. It came out while she was peeing.  

Answer 4

Sometimes the plug comes out. Sometimes it stays in. Sometimes it comes out in pieces. Sometimes all at once. If it comes out too early, the body will reform another one. Nothing you have to look for or anything that has to happen. Just another weird and wonderful thing about pregnancy. Congrats and best wishes, G

Labor Signs:

http://web.mac.com/pregnancysecrets/Site...

Answer 5

it is the plug that stays inside your cervix i believe...i think its just to kind of seal it shut...dont quote me tho...but when you lose it you will know its not like normal discharge its a big chunk of mucus...relax you'll be fine!! =)

Answer 6

a mucous plug is the bit stopping your waters from breaking, it just keeps the fluids in

hope that helped =]

Answer 7

Go to http://www.bellybelly.com.au/articles/Pr... it explains exactly what it is. Good luck with your baby. Don't stress it is all worth it when the baby arrives.

Answer 8

the mucous plug keeps bacteria from getting to the placenta...you will SOO know when you lose it though. yes it is like discharge but WAY thicker and comes out in clumps...sometimes it can have blood sometimes it is yellow....not to have tmi but mine was just clear and globby and you could feel it almost coming out. put it this way when you wipe something you have never seen before that is probably it. as far as it being a sign of labor no not nessicarily because i lost mine at 36 and didnt deliver until 39 also hun hang in there because although its an exciting time and its easy to be impatient at 34 wks your baby isnt all the way developed yet...good luck!

Answer 9

i dont think your stupid i wanted to know as well lol theres so much that nobody tells you about pregnancy im 23 weeks and know nearly nothing

thanks for asking this question now i know 2 :-)

Answer 10

From my experience my mucous plug was a lot of white discharge always chunky. I had a whole lot of it. I lost it over a long period of time probably a month before I had my son. It means that your body is preparing for you baby but not quit yet. Good Luck. Remember that everyone loses their plug diffrently so yours might not be like mine.  

Answer 11

ha whe your water breaks your mucous plug will soon folow maybe even prior to your water breaking, im just guy here 47 and i know that, but i got a masters degree in nursing, so i guess it dont count

Answer 12

I had the same question til I saw mine come out in 2 parts.  I believe like every thing in a pregnancy it is different with everyone so here is a like from google about it!

Answer 13

to be quite honest...it looks like you blew your nose in your underwear.  

Answer 14

The mucus plug is sort of a thicker version of vaginal discharge that plugs up your cervix so that nothing goes in or out of your uterus.

Some people slowly lose their mucus plug, while others lose it all at once. I think most don't even realize if that happens. And, there's usually a lot of vaginal discharge that comes with pregnancy. You probably just need to look for whether it was tinged with blood (pink streaks etc.). If you do notice that, it may have been the plug. You should call your doctor, and keep an eye out for more blood.

Good luck, and congrats! :)

Answer 15

It's not a big deal, don't panic.  This will explain.  

http://www.justmommies.com/articles/muco...

Answer 16

I didn't know anything about a mucous plug until mine came out lol.  I was going to the bathroom, on my due date, and heard  a "plop" after I was done peeing.  It looked like a big glob of yellowish snot lol.  I yelled for my mom and she came and looked, and said "Oh don't worry, that's just your plug."  Mine came out in one big piece, but sometimes it can come out in pieces or not at all. I heard once it comes out it means labor is coming soon, I went into labor 3 days after losing mine.