Uh...gross. I lost part of my mucous plug...

[momtokay]

Anyone know if that's something I should call the midwives about? I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow. With my first two, I never saw any of my plug until I was in acitve labor. This time, no blood, but (warning waaaaay TMI) a bunch of ruber cement type stuff....ewwwww.....!!!! I'm assuming it's just a sign that some dilation and/or effacement is occuring, but I'd hate to not call if I should let them know. TIA for any BTDT advice.

[wombatclay]

As long as you don't have any other premature labor signs I'd probably wait till regular business hours tomorrow. But I'd definately call them then to let them know! They'll probably just tell you to keep an eye out for those other signs and maybe tell you to take it a little more slowly...but they may also have some specific advice or want you to come in for a quick visit.

Although losing part of the plug (or even the whole thing) doesn't mean that birth is around the corner, 33 weeks is a bit early for those "early" signs since we really want those babes in there for at least 36/37 weeks if we can! (I lost my plug...I called it a "banana slug"...but it was still a week or so before my birth)

And of course, if you start having more contractions, or bloody show, or backache, or really loose stools....or a sudden irrational urge to alphabetize your shelves or clean the fridge with a toothbrush...I'd call right away!

[jstar]

it can regenerate so while it is probably a sign of dilation it may not be a big deal. wouldn't hurt to let them know though.

[torio]

Agree with PPs. It may not mean anything is imminent. However, our midwife said definitely call if it happens---better to know than not. Good luck.

[Shell_Ell]

This happened to me last week and I just let my midwife know at my next appt (which was 2 days after)

FWIW I lost parts of it a few different times with DS, the first time it was right around 33ish weeks. So I think for some women, it's normal to lose a bit here and there.

If you feel like you should call, then call.

[Jilian]

A TMI question:
Was it really slimy?
When you say "rubber cement" it makes me think it was dried discharge, which is ok. I think mucuous plugs are usually thick and slimy, kind of like a giant glob of mucous. Sometimes they are tinged with blood, sometimes not.

I've lost my mucous plug two seperate times this pregnancy and it just keeps coming back! Are you having contractions? A centimeter or two of dilation is ok at this point, but if you're contracting away then you should probably head into your MW's office to try to stop labor.

Arr you familiar with checking your cervix? You can check it out for yourself and see what is going on down there. It's actually better for you to check your own cervix if you know what you're doing because you will be more gentle with yourself that someone else would. Pre-labor it should be about as firm as the tip of your nose, and when it starts softening it will be soft like your bottom lip. If you've had a baby before it may be 1 cm dilated already and that is ok. Any more than a roomy fingertip is probably too much at this point in pregnancy.

[momtokay]

thanks everyone!! i am having ctx, but i've been having "too many" contractions since the start of the second trimester. i have what they call an "irritable uterus". and jilian, it was thick and slimy. i said rubber cement because it was quite a bit thicker than the cm i've been having on and off all pg long and that was the closest thing i could think of.

i tried to check my cervix while ttc, but never could figure it out so i'm not sure if it's worth trying at this point. i might though just to make sure nothing is happening. i do have a negative fFn test from last week though so all in all i have less than a 1% chance of having this baby in the next week...i'll just cling to that statistic and hope that she stays put until at least 36 weeks...

thanks again!

[Ms Ladybug]

While we're discussing the look of the mucous plug...
I lost mine in the shower, and dh said it looked like a dead, wet hamster

[miso]

Haha, sorry... the visual on that was just hilarious.

My midwives told me to call if I start having any kind of regular contractions, or even if I lose part of my mucous plug without contrax. If it was me, I would call but I've also never had a baby before so I never know what is normal and what isn't.

[JenInO]

I lost a little piece around 33 weeks, too. My m/w was not happy about it, but said as long as no other labor signs were showing, to continue about my business. She DID say, however, to be SURE to drink lots & lots of water. Whether labor is around the corner or not, we MUST be hydrated very well in these last few weeks.

[boheime]

With ds, I lost little pieces the week preceding his birth and then the major portion during labor. However, with dd, I never noticed loosing it at all. I must have been losing such small pieces for a long time that it never really lookd like plug.