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Ask A Midwife

Q. I am 7 months pregnant with my third child. 2 days ago I lost some of the mucous plug.It was not bloody or pink. I had a dr.s appt. the next morning and he expressed some concern and checked me internally and said there was no dilation or effacing. I have lost mucous plug with both of my previous children but it was close to the due date so it was exciting and with both I was effaced or dilated either.. I have some concern with goiing into labor too early and I wanted to know if I should be. My books usually talk about it if its bloody ony 1 of them didnt and none of them offer much info. except it could be 24 hours to 1 or 2 weeks. Do you have any information on this? Sometimes I think the nurse and Dr. think it was just a discharge and not mucous plug though they didnt say so. I had to previous children and I'm a nurse so I know what it was for sure. Any information you have or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Kristine

A. Well, the fact that you are not dilated or effaced is a very good sign. It is entirely possible it was a large clump of discharge. There is no real way to tell if it was the actual cervical plug or not...there is just no way to know. Since there is no bleeding, effacement or dilation, I think the best thing to assume is that it was discharge and go about your normal life. Restricting activity will not change anything anyway, and it just gives you more time to worry. Of course, if you start to bleed or get regular strong contractions, you should contact the doctor immediately. If it was the actual cervical plug, you will not necessarily go into labor early, so that is something to hope for. I wish you luck and a term baby.

Vickii Gervais

Vickii Gervais is a Certified Professional Midwife who has attended over 600 births.