The mucus plug can regenerate itself if it’s dislodged too soon before birth. Which is important to keep in mind if you lose your mucus plug early. And you should mention it to your provider if this happens before late pregnancy as it can be an indicator of preterm labor.
The mucus plug can be about 4 centimeters long. You can lose it in pieces or all at once.
The mucus plug looks different for every person but it can vary from white, yellowish, beige/brown, clear and be tinged or streaked with pink or red which is associated with blood.
The consistency is similar to a thick snot or egg whites.
Losing your mucus plus is not a sure sign that labor is coming soon. Although some people report going into labor fairly soon after losing their plug in late pregnancy. It’s more of a sign that the cervix is making some changes.
You may not lose your plug at all until well into active labor and that’s perfectly normal.
You can also lose this protective barrier sooner than your body intended to when you consent to routine cervical exams during pregnancy when checking for dilation/effacement/station.
Losing your mucus plug is usually painless and odorless and there’s no need to avoid baths or sex.
