How soon does labor start after losing mucus plug?

[LeAnnie]

I'm looking for opinions on this, because my conservative OB won't say and my doula says it could be days or weeks. The plug has gradually come out over the past week with some random intense contractions during evening/nighttime. I am 3 cm dilated and 6 days until due date. With dd, I started labor 3 days after losing the plug.
How long or when did this occur in everyone's experience??

[thismama]

Mine was a whole week.

Bloody show is a lot more reliable IME. If there is no blood in the mucous plug... could be a few hours or several days/weeks.

[flyingspaghettimama]

I lost mine a week ago, on my due date. I guess it was my body's funny little psych! on me.

I think they probably won't tell you because it's true - you can lose it a few hours, not at all until labor, or weeks before labor. But it is rather exciting in any case, even if it doesn't go anywhere labor-related in the near future.

[AmyGirl28]

Last time with DD I lost my plug 1.5 weeks before DD was born (she was induced). So that goes to show you that it can be as much as 2 weeks after you lose your plug. I never even got to go into natural labor. You are so lucky to be dialated. I keep waiting, but no progress. Less work you will have to do when the time comes to give birth. Good luck!

[MrsMoe]

I lost my plug and went into labor immediately with my first.

This time, I lost bits (but not all) of my plug a week ago and still nothing.

[snugglebutter]

I have lost little bits for well over a week now. On Friday I lost a lot more and some of it included a touch of blood, but I had had an exam the night before during our false alarm and that can also be a contributor.

[Godiva]

I've been loosing mine since the very beginning of October. Loosing a mucus plug is the worst 'imminent labor" sign in the world. Some people even loose them and it grows back and they loose it again.

[Queen of Cups]

Originally Posted by thismama

Bloody show is a lot more reliable IME. If there is no blood in the mucous plug... could be a few hours or several days/weeks.

I lost my mucus plus around 34 weeks both pregnancies, but delivered DS at 38w2d and I'm 38w0d today with no labor yet (just been at 4 cm for 2 weeks now!). Last time I had a bloody show as labor was beginning - about 6 hours before DS was born. I keep having bouts of semi-regular contractions, and I've decided I'm not even going to call my midwife until I have either a bloody show or my water breaks...

[hypatia]

I never noticed losing mine my last pregnancy.

[aisraeltax]

how do you know you lost it?????

[Godiva]

some people don't know or they don't loose it at all. But if you did loose it, it basically looks like someone blew their nose in your underwear/on your toliet paper. It's really quite gross. It's a big ol hunk of mucus, just like the name implies.

[flapjack]

Until this pregnancy, I'd only ever lost my plug in early labour. This time, early labour is taking 3+ weeks (including losing my plug- with lots of bloody show) so like QofC, I'm no longer getting excited about anything.
But hey, there's only 41 days until Christmas! and that's something I can actually plan for

[BensMom]

I've been quite muscusy for the last month or so, but nothing ever bloody. More like thicker fertile CM. I do find myself checking TP like a crazy person (like during those loong months of ttc).

Why? I dont know. My rational brain tells me that loosing my plug means nothing. I lost mine a few days before I was induced with DS, so it didnt mean much then either.

[*Amy*]

Originally Posted by BensMom

I do find myself checking TP like a crazy person (like during those loong months of ttc).

Me too! I had that exact thought last night!

[babykaoss]

what does 'bloody show' look like? like you started your period?

[samsmamma]

I never noticed my plug with Sam and this time it looks like I'm going to be plugged up forever...

[Frigga]

Originally Posted by babykaoss

what does 'bloody show' look like? like you started your period?

Mine didn't look like I started my period, but the plug was tinged slightly brownish/dk., dirty red. This differed from the normal mucus that was shed previously.

[pixiedust]

I lost mine on Sat. and went into labor the next wed. morning..

[spughy]

Here's a follow-up question: if you haven't lost your plug and your midwife does a stretch-n-sweep, would that dislodge the plug (presumably onto your midwife's glove) and make it less likely that you'd notice it was gone? Or is it somehow more tenacious than that?

I never thought I would have this much interest in mucous. Funny what pregnancy does to you.