Mucus Plug. This is a TMI kind of thread. ;-) « Back to Group Discussions

[CDsMom1031]

Can you tell the difference between a mucus plug and discharge?

Here's the TMI part for you! =D

I showered this morning. While I was lotioning up, I started to dribble, LOL. I thought I was peeing myself so I ran to the toilet. As soon as I sat down, a glob plopped into the toilet. After about 5-10 seconds, I actually peed. When I looked in the toilet after I peed, I noticed a white glob in the toilet. It wasn't big or anything. So, I don't know if it was just discharge or if it was a part of my mucus plug or... ?

Thanks. =D

[jbk21]

if it was white I'd say it was just discharge.  The plug looks like yellow snot- really thick and stringy.  It's probably like nothing you've seen before :-)  When you wipe you might be able to tell better on the toilet paper- it's very, very thick.

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by jbk21 

if it was white I'd say it was just discharge.  The plug looks like yellow snot- really thick and stringy.  It's probably like nothing you've seen before :-)  When you wipe you might be able to tell better on the toilet paper- it's very, very thick.

I definitely think it is usually yellow and snot-like. I think the consistency can vary a bit, though. 

[Abraisme]

Yeah, it's pretty easy to tell the difference.  Also, it may be slightly pink from blood.

I've never lost or noticed any mucus plug until I was well into labor.  I'm pretty sure that it has to do with how your body dialates and I don't seem to dialate at all before I'm in labor...

Edited by Abraisme - 10/20/11 at 1:38pm

[Jaimee]

Seriously, I have been dripping like you  wouldn't believe.  The other day, before I got dressed, I was walking around my room without any underwear on and suddenly felt wet.  I looked down and discharge was just running down the inside of leg.  So, yeah, what you're talking about sounds like discharge.

Mucus plug is generally difficult to miss.  While it normally does not all come out at once (and will regenerate if you're not in labor), it's still pretty profuse, thick, yellowish, possibly streaked with blood if you're nearing labor or in labor and dilating, and will take several wipes usually to get it all off of you in which case you'll have a chance to inspect it on the toilet paper.   

[CDsMom1031]

Thanks everyone. LOL Being a FTM is crazy! Everything is so weird. When I catch myself dripping, I'm like, "Seriously. Am I 70 years old? I can't even hold my own pee!" And while I figured it was discharge, it was really stringy, which the discharge I get in my underwear all of the time isn't, so I didn't know and thought I'd ask. =D

[Gemini529]

Don't feel bad...I am a second timer here and would have no idea what to look for.  I don't remember losing mine last time.  My water broke and there was some blood in the fluid after awhile, but I didn't experience anything like what people are describing online.  So...I'm not sure what to look for either.

 I also feel like I won't know when I'm actually in labor.  With my first, my water broke, then I went to the hospital, was put on abx, had high blood pressure, was totally out of it by the time real labor started (it was the middle of the night and I was sooooo tired from writing sub plans all day and just, ya know, being pregnant and all.  Seriously, if contractions start out slow and my water doesn't break, I'm probably not going to know if it's real or not.  I've already had two different occasions where I've been timing out intense braxton hicks contractions that have fizzled out.  

[LiLStar]

Hmm... one morning I woke up and felt a trickle and some wetness, before getting out of bed. I went to the bathroom, pulled down my undies and a big huuuuge string of mucus dangled so far down it nearly hit the floor! (while still, umm, attached to me) I think it might have been clear/whitish? And not incredibly thick. I was in labor 2 hours later so I'm pretty certain that was mucus plug! I've always wondered how to know the difference between semen and mucus plug. I've never been able to tell the difference between EWCM and semen :/ 

[jbk21]

I don't know, I think if it was dangling to the floor and attached to you it must have been a pretty thick consistency.  What a visual image ! LOL!  

Mucus plus loss is pretty unreliable as an indicator of impending labor, though.  I lost mine repeatedly for well over 5 weeks and still had to be induced.  

 

[Jaimee]

Rachel- to tell the difference between EW CF you can look for two things.  EW will stretch between your fingers, often for several inches.  Semen won't.  Semen will dissolve in water, so if you're looking in the toilet, the semen will break apart and disintegrate.  EW does not dissolve easily or quickly and will instead ball up and start to sink.

I suppose it's possible that your plug was white.  I haven't heard of EW extending to the floor before, usually it breaks after several inches, but I believe there is a story in TCOYF about EW stretching over a foot.  So who knows!

[IwannaBanRN]

Originally Posted by jbk21 

if it was white I'd say it was just discharge.  The plug looks like yellow snot- really thick and stringy.  It's probably like nothing you've seen before :-)  When you wipe you might be able to tell better on the toilet paper- it's very, very thick.

Mucous plug can vary in colors from snotty yellowish white to pink or even have red "strings" in it. I never lost my mucous plug with my daughter before I went into labor with her, but with my son, it was all 3 of those color variations. lol I lost the first part of it and it was yellowish and then pink and the 2nd part was red.

[Breed210]

I have a photo of my mucous plug with my last babe somewhere if you want to see it, lol.. DH was in the field and I sent him a photo.. It's like semi hard jello, snot like with streaked blood in it.. As for discharge.. I own no underwear and had to buy some because it's ridiculous!

[Jaimee]

YES!  Bring on the photo Ang!!!!   Good to hear from you, btw!    I'm single parenting it right now and I just have the most enormous amount of respect for mothers like you that do this for such extended periods of time. 

[KayPea]

I've lost pieces of mucous plug so far this pregnancy, and it has been yellowish white, but really really thick, like that gross snot at the end of a really bad cold. I don't think it would stretch, just glob and plop. With my first pregnancy, I lost parts of the mucous plug over several days, a few days before going into labour, and it was pinkish brown. It's exciting when you do catch it, though my husband thought it weird and gross when I excitedly showed it to him.