How Long After Losing the Mucus Plug Does Labor Start? Experts Answer

I have four young kids and I’m still not sure I’d be able to identify the “mucus plug” with confidence. There’s a lot going on down there during pregnancy, making it hard to know if you’ve lost your mucus plug or are just dealing with pregnancy discharge.

The main distinction, experts say, is that the mucus plug (also sometimes referred to as the cervical plug) is a jelly-like collection of mucus that protects the cervix from bacteria and comes out before labor starts. Regular discharge, on the other hand, will be the norm throughout the full duration of pregnancy.

It’s okay if you can’t say with certainty whether or not you’ve lost your mucus plug (your doctor might ask as your due date nears), but it’s still good to know about its purpose, consistency and color. Ahead, learn exactly what the mucus plug is and when you can expect labor to start after losing it, straight from experts.

Key Takeaways

• What is the mucus plug? The mucus plug is a thick substance of mucus and cells from the cervix that covers the opening of the uterus during pregnancy. It usually stays in place until your cervix begins to dilate.
• What is the purpose of the mucus plug? It helps prevent bacteria from entering your uterus during pregnancy.
• When do you lose the mucus plug? It’s typical to lose your mucus plug at 37 weeks of pregnancy or later, in preparation for labor.
• How long after losing the mucus plug does labor start? The timeline varies. Labor can start days or weeks after losing the mucus plug.
• When to seek medical attention: If you lose your mucus plug before the 37-week mark, make sure to contact your doctor. Also let them know if your mucus plug is accompanied by heavy bleeding—or if you’re showing any signs of labor.

How Long After Losing the Mucus Plug Will Labor Start?

Typically, you lose your mucus plug sometime after 37 weeks of pregnancy. It’s possible to lose your mucus plug earlier, but that should prompt a call to your doctor.

“At or after 37 weeks—losing the mucus plug is a normal sign of cervical preparation for labor and typically requires no immediate action,” explains Dr. Mariam Wanees, MD, an ob-gyn at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital and Women’s Primary and Specialty Care at Astoria in New York City. “You can continue normal activities and await further signs of labor.”

Some women may lose their mucus plug gradually, noticing small amounts of mucus-plug discharge over the course of a few days or even weeks, notes Dr. Rachel Gerber, MD, a board certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at RMA of New York-Westchester.

Losing your mucus plug doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll go into labor right away. “The mucus plug can be lost weeks, days or hours before labor begins, and may even regenerate if lost early,” says Denise Castellanos, CNM, lead midwife at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center’s Women’s Health Pavilion in Laguna Hills, California.

What Is a Mucus Plug and Why Do You Have One?

Again, the mucus plug is—much like you’d expect—a thick plug of mucus and cells from the cervix that covers the opening of the uterus during pregnancy, explains Dr. Charles Ascher-Walsh, MD, an ob-gyn and system senior vice chair of the division of gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Below, we dive deeper into the important function of the mucus plug throughout pregnancy leading up to labor.

The mucus plug’s role in pregnancy

The mucus plug plays an important part in preventing bacteria from entering the uterus during pregnancy, explains Dr. Maureen Whelihan, MD, an ob-gyn at Elite GYN Care of the Palm Beaches in Greenacres, Florida.

It starts to form when you become pregnant and the glands in your cervix secrete mucus, Dr. Ascher-Walsh says. But it doesn’t reach its full size until you’re about 12 weeks along. It should stay in place throughout your pregnancy until your cervix begins to dilate.

How to Tell if You’ve Lost Your Mucus Plug

While some women will spot the plug as soon as it comes out, it’s quite possible you might not realize you’ve lost your mucus plug at all. Many moms-to-be (like me) don’t even notice it, Dr. Whelihan says.

Common signs and symptoms

There are a few signs you may have lost your mucus plug. According to Dr. Wanees, these include:

• About a tablespoon of thick, gel-like mucus discharge from the vagina, either in your underwear or when you use the bathroom
• A thick “plug” that comes out at once or a gradual, increased mucus discharge over several days
• Mild pelvic pressure, period-like cramps and a backache

What Does a Mucus Plug Look Like?

As you can imagine, it’s mucus-y! It’s also thick and may be slightly bloody, says Dr. Michael Cackovic, MD, an ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine physician at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut. Bleeding can occur as the cervix starts to dilate (widen) and efface (thin out) ahead of labor, Dr. Gerber explains. For this reason, you may also hear the loss of your mucus plug referred to in tandem with the “bloody show.” (More on this shortly.)

Mucus plug texture and size

As for how big the mucus plug is, it’s meant to “plug” your cervix, so it’s approximately 4 centimeters long. It has a volume of about 2 tablespoons (in case you’re really curious). Losing a mucus plug can be a bit startling if it comes out all at once, but knowing what to expect when it comes to mucus-plug discharge can help.

Don’t be alarmed at the color or texture of your mucus plug—Dr. Whelihan likens it to a “thick ball of snot.”

It’s likely to make its appearance when you use the bathroom—so toward the end of your pregnancy, be on the lookout.

Mucus plug color chart

Wondering when to expect labor? Here’s an idea, based on what your mucus plug looks like. Of course, make sure to contact your provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Mucus plug vs. bloody show

There’s overlap between the mucus plug and the bloody show, although they’re different—and may signal different things. “The mucus plug is a thick, gel-like structure that fills the cervical canal during pregnancy, serving as a protective barrier,” Dr. Wanees explains. “It serves critical ‘gate-keeper’ functions.”

The mucus plug is in place during your entire pregnancy, but the bloody show is blood-tinged cervical mucus that’s only there when your cervix dilates and effaces. That usually means labor is close or already happening, Dr. Wanees notes.

“As the cervix starts to change, its small capillaries rupture, causing the blood-tinged appearance of the mucus,” she says.

Mucus plug vs. discharge

While they may look the same, a mucus plug is distinctly different from “regular” pregnancy discharge—it’s thicker and there’s more of it, Dr. Cackovic says.

Normal vaginal discharge varies with the change in hormone levels during your regular cycle, but hormone levels during pregnancy are different and more constant, which creates a new type of mucus that turns into the mucus plug.

Additionally, while typical discharge helps to keep vaginal tissue healthy and lubricated and protect against both bacterial infections and irritation, the mucus plug is intended purely to block the cervix and protect the uterus and baby from bacteria.

What to Do After Losing Your Mucus Plug

You don’t really need to do anything special after losing your mucus plug. “Wait and watch,” Dr. Wanees says. Losing the mucus plug is a normal part of your body preparing for labor. “You can continue normal activities and await further signs of labor, which may begin hours to weeks later,” she adds.

How to speed up labor after losing the mucus plug

For the most part, labor will happen when it happens. But there are a few natural methods that are said to help encourage labor. These include:

• Staying active. “Walking at least 30 minutes a day three times a week starting at 38 weeks has been shown to promote labor onset,” Dr. Wanees says. Curb walking—walking with one foot on the curb and one on the street—can also help.
• Nipple stimulation. Stimulating your nipples for 15 to 20 minutes, three times a day starting at 38 weeks may also help. It’s important to note that nipple stimulation is only recommended if your pregnancy’s low-risk and you’re past your due date—excessive nipple stimulation can induce overly strong contractions, so make sure to stop if you’re uncomfortable.
• Eating dates. “Some research shows eating dates daily starting at 37 weeks helps soften the cervix,” Castellanos says.

Your healthcare provider can also intervene to speed up labor in the following ways:

• Membrane sweeps. Also referred to as stripping the membranes, this in-office procedure promotes "the release of prostaglandins that promote cervical ripening and effacement,” explains Dr. Wanees.
• Pitocin. This medication replicates the hormone oxytocin and helps jumpstart labor.

While all of these elements can help encourage labor, you should never try to pull out your mucus plug yourself. Your mucus plug is there for a reason—to protect you and baby. It’ll come out when it’s time.

Things to Avoid After Losing the Mucus Plug

Your mucus plug is what protects baby and the uterus against infection during pregnancy, so once you’ve lost it there are some things you’ll want to avoid to reduce your risk of infection, Dr. Gerber notes. These include:

• Tampon use. “Use sanitary pads instead to monitor discharge and to prevent infection,” advises Castellanos.
• Sex. While sex during pregnancy is usually safe, providers worry about the risk of infection after your mucus plug is out, Dr. Wanees says. If your mucus plug has come out and your water has broken, your provider may recommend avoiding sex.
• Swimming. It’s best not to go to the pool after you’ve lost your mucus plug to lower the risk of infection, Dr. Wanees advises.

When to Call the Doctor

It’s important to call your provider right away if you notice you’ve lost your mucus plug earlier than 37 weeks, as it could be a sign of preterm labor. Aside from that, Dr. Gerber notes it’s also a good idea to reach out if:

• The mucus plug is accompanied by heavy bleeding
• You have regular contractions, your water broke or you experience other signs of labor
• You have any unusual symptoms or other concerns

Real Moms on Losing Their Mucus Plug

There’s a variety of experiences when it comes to losing your mucus plug. According to our poll asking readers when they lost theirs, 58 percent of moms said they never even saw it. “I noticed a jelly-like substance when I wiped. Only a little bit,” says one The Bump community member. “I asked my doc if it was my mucus plug and she said it could be.”

Another 34 percent said they lost their mucus plug after 37 weeks, and 9 percent said they noticed it had come out earlier.

Real moms answer: How long after losing your mucus plug did labor start for you?

Our readers and community members share how long after losing their mucus plug labor started:

• “Labor had already started.” — Amelia, mom of one in California
• “Never, I had to be induced three days later.” — Sam D., mom of one in Massachusetts
• “Three days.” — Casey M., mom of one in North Carolina
• “38 weeks and five days…still waiting.” — Nicole W., mom-to-be in New York
• “With the third baby, I had been losing mucus for weeks. Even my OB thought I wouldn’t make it to my due date. Still had to force her out by induction.” — Wishilivedinflorida, The Bump community member
• “Mine fell out during labor… It’s a crapshoot, unfortunately.” — MrsCaliRN, The Bump community member

To Sum It Up

As you near the end of your pregnancy, you’re likely eager to move on to the next chapter and meet baby. Losing your mucus plug is just one small part of the bigger picture. For now, remember that it’s in there for a reason: to keep you and baby happy, healthy and safe.

“Every pregnancy is different, and the experience of losing the mucus plug can vary widely among women,” says Dr. Gerber. The best thing to do for now? Keep your provider informed about changes and unusual symptoms as you near your due date, and don’t hesitate to reach out to them with any questions or concerns.

How We Developed This Article

At The Bump, we know there’s a lot of new information to absorb when you’re pregnant. The term “mucus plug” probably belongs in this camp. To help explain and illustrate the mucus plug, we consulted with five ob-gyns and one midwife. We also shared experiences on losing the mucus plug from real parents in our community. After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Despite having four kids, Korin Miller isn’t sure if she’s ever seen her mucus plug. As a health and commerce writer with more than a decade of experience, she uses her real-life experience to help inform her pregnancy and parenting articles for publications like Women’s Health and The Washington Post.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.