Do you always lose the mucous plug?

[bethwl]

With my last, I lost it about a week before labor started. I haven't noticed it this time and I am 5 days before EDD (and feel REALLY ready to get this baby out). Do you always lose it before labor, or does it sometimes come out as part of labor?

[mama.ky]

I never did with my first, and this time around I lost it a couple of days ago (but only after a false alarm and a cervical exam). I don't think it really means anything either way, just like your waters breaking.

[bethwl]

Figured that was probably the case. Since I lost it a week before last time, I didn't want to think that not having lost it yet meant another week+ to wait!!

[MacKinnon]

As far as I know, it's pretty irrelevant. I lost mine the last time about 3 days before labor began. This time I lost pieces on Sunday and yesterday. I am due tomorrow, so it seems timely... My friend though, lost hers 18 days before she was induced (at 42wk1dy). I've heard it will regenerate too...

[ibusymomto5]

1st - Didn't lose it at all, but had c/sec at 38wks for breech

2nd - Lost a little bit one day before an induction at 39wks

3rd - Lost little bits over a couple of days before labor started

4th - Lost a lot at once after labor started

5th - I honestly can't remember for some reason

6th - Lost bunches a couple of days before labor started

[wendyk]

I did the first time, have not thus far at 39wks 4days. My MIL felt the need to share with me that she did the first time, but didn't the second time, which was WAY more information than I wanted from her.

[MacKinnon]

Do you call the mucus plug and bloody show the same thing? I ask because with DD, I had no bloody show but did have gobs of mucus that I assumed was the mucus plug. I had also lost to big gobs of mucus Sunday/Monday but last night started to have bloody show. This is a first for me!

[gamecaco4]

With my son, I lost the plug one morning and had my son the next morning. This time, I had some blood streaked mucus a week ago, but nothing but gobs of mucus since then.

[velveeta]

Oh, I feel left out! I never lost mucous plug or had bloody show with DS. I wasn't even dialated at all the day before going into labor with him. I am 8 days out from EDD, so we will see this time. I have had a definite increase in discharge, but I won't call it the plug.

[bethwl]

I believe that usually when people say mucuous plug or bloody show they mean the same thing, because typically there is a bit of blood in the plug? I don't know. With my first, I was in the bathroom at work about a week before EDD and noticed a gob of mucous tinged with blood in the toilet. This time I have not noticed anything at all. Last night, I seriously wondered if labor was starting, though, because I woke up feeling very crampy around 1:30 am but I got up, ate a bowl of cereal (I have been having milk before bed or in the middle of the night to help with hearburn), walked around a little bit and went back to bed and it kind of went away.

I was two cm dilated yesterday at midwife's office and I started putting evening primrose capsules in vaginally last night. Hoping this will help soften things up, because last time, I was 3 cm already about 16 hours before I went into labor, but still only 4 cm after having been in labor for 16 hours.

[ryleigh'smama]

My m/w told me that if you dilate and efface before you go into labor you are more likely to just have a lot of mucousy discharge rather than a "plug", but if you start having changes as a sign of impending labor you are more likely to lose a plug...does that make sense?

With dd I never lost a plug or had bloody show, none this time either yet, but I tend to dilate and efface a lot really early WAY before labor starts.

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by ilovemyavery

Do you call the mucus plug and bloody show the same thing? I ask because with DD, I had no bloody show but did have gobs of mucus that I assumed was the mucus plug. I had also lost to big gobs of mucus Sunday/Monday but last night started to have bloody show. This is a first for me!

It sounds like things are happening for you and that it won't be too long!

For me the mucous plug has been different than bloody show. A couple of times my plug has been pink tinged but not always. The plug is thick, huge and unmistakeable for me, much different than normal discharge. Bloody show on the other hand is pinkish red mucousy, but not so thick... more like menstrual bleeding and only has shown up for me once I'm in labor or when labor is just beginning. I'm one who doesn't make any progress till I'm in labor, but then I usually have a fast labor so my body does a lot of work quickly. So, maybe that's the reason I have bloody show at the onset of labor...

I keep wondering if things will be different this time around. I check the tp every single time I go to the bathroom hoping to see something, even though I know it wouldn't necessarily mean anything. It's crazy.

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by velveeta

Oh, I feel left out! I never lost mucous plug or had bloody show with DS. I wasn't even dialated at all the day before going into labor with him. I am 8 days out from EDD, so we will see this time. I have had a definite increase in discharge, but I won't call it the plug.

We must have the same due date. I'm due a week from tomorrow. I too haven't seen anything exciting yet, just an increase in discharge but nothing worth mentioning. I'm never dilated at all until I'm actually in labor either, but I do usually lose my plug a day or two before I go into labor. Here's hoping we both see something soon!

[quinbearzmama]

With both of my pregnancies, I lost a lot of mucous 3-4 weeks before my births. My mw also said that if you efface/dilate over time, you are more likely to lose the mucous slowly- and with my last, I was 100% effaced, 4cms dilated for a few days before. (and had contractions for weeks.) Good luck, mama!