There are so many different rumors and old wives’ tales that pregnant women are told about the mucus plug. We’re here to break down what the loss of your mucus plug early in your pregnancy really means.
Mucus Plug Loss Early in Pregnancy
What is the Mucus Plug?
Alright, some of you might be wondering what a mucus plug even is, so we will start there. Its purpose is to keep bacteria from entering your cervix in the early stages of pregnancy, serving as a nice little barrier of protection.
As your body prepares for impending labor, your cervix releases its tight hold on the plug. When this happens it can either come out as one whole piece or slowly in small pieces.
How to Know if You Are Losing Your Mucus Plug
If you’re wondering what the mucus plug looks like, it is similar to the consistency of egg whites and might be clear, yellow, or brownish.
When you think your mucus plug has discharged, make sure to talk to your doctor about it and they can work through why it might be happening or if labor is possibly near.
With this being said you don’t need to be too alarmed if you have a mucus plug loss early in your pregnancy. There are plenty of cases in which a mucus plug is lost early on and the pregnancy still makes it full term. Something really amazing about the mucus plug is that if you lose it early, your amazing mama body can actually form a new one!
Important Signs to Call Your Doctor
- When the loss of a mucus plug is accompanied by bleeding over 2 tablespoons, contact your doctor.
- If you’ve gone into premature labor with a previous pregnancy, make sure to let your doctor know when you think you’ve lost your mucus plug.
- After you’ve lost your mucus plug, if you are cramping or if you believe your water has broken you also need to contact your doctor.
Mucus Plug Loss & Early Pregnancy
The typical time to lose your mucus plug is around 37 weeks, so anything before that is considered an early loss of the mucus plug. Do keep in mind, though, even losing it at 37 weeks might mean labor is still weeks away. The only reason mucus plug loss indicates labor is because losing your mucus plug usually means your cervix is opening because it is dilating.
Many times an early loss of the mucus plug is actually caused by a cervical exam because it becomes dislodged. Another cause can be sexual intercourse. So the basic conclusion is this; don’t get too worked up over losing your mucus plug at less than 36 weeks, just make sure to give your doctor a call so they can take the appropriate steps to make sure everything is progressing as it should.
Mucus Plug Loss in Early Pregnancy- Pin for Later!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you lose your mucus plug in the first trimester?
You can lose your mucus plug at any time. A new mucus plug may regenerate in your cervix.
What happens if you lose mucus plug early?
Losing your mucus plug may mean you are going into labor soon, but it may have just got dislodged during an exam or intercourse. Make sure to talk with your doctor, but it doesn’t necessarily mean anything is happening.
This site uses affiliate links, however, all recommendations are truly our own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All advice given is strictly from moms and our past experiences and education. We are just moms and not doctors, thus our opinions should not be taken as direct medical advice. Always consult your doctor beforehand.
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