Mucous Plus Question

[Atia_Julii]

1.  What does the mucous plug look like?
2.  How soon did labor begin after losing yours?


A little history.  I'm due in 6 days, and yesterday had my membranes stripped.  So, naturally I spotted yesterday, and the spotting seemed to have stopped today.  (I say naturally because I know a lot of women spot after having their membranes stripped)  It was brown spotting, nothing major at all, and today there was nothing.

I just went on a long walk, and afterwards when I used the bathroom, I had a large brown clot like thing on my pantyliner, and when I wiped, I had another long brownish clear clot.  (So sorry for the TMI ladies!) It had the consistency of a blood clot.  It was really rubbery and was definitely a solid substance.

What I'm wondering is, did I lose my mucous plug, or is this just some clotting from the stripping the membranes?  

[blueeyedtabbycat]

I had my membranes swept with my DD at 37 weeks. My doctor didnt want me to go past my due date and felt it was worth a try. My DD also measured almost 10lbs on u/s the day she did it. I had tons of bleeding and lost the rest of my mucus plug and had her within 48 hours. Sounds like it could be happining soon!! Good luck!

[BTS1022]

The hubbies(well fiance's) ex girlfriend whom was pregnant before he met, had hers swept at 35 weeks. She was dilated to 3cm since 22 weeks, and she had the baby the next day.

So doctors will do it before "Full Term", although I don't really agree on it unless it is medically needed. I'd rather wait until i'm considered full term.

[LauraB78]

My membranes were sweeped at week 38 and 39. I was under the impression that many Dr.'s will do so after the 38 week mark as fairly standard practice,since 38 weeks is technically "full" term. I could be wrong, but I thought it was normal. I was due 1/18/09 and had my son 1/16/09, so the 38 and 39 week membrane sweeps didn't really "do" anything for me. Again, that's just MY personal experience. I always think it is interesting to learn what various Dr.'s say. It seems like there are a plethora of different views as it pertains to pregnancy and what is considered "routine."  =D

[BTS1022]

Doctors often sweep the membranes to help start labor, they can do this as early as 38 weeks. I had mine done twice with my older son, once at 38w 4d and then again a day before my due date. I have a history for big babies, and my doctors really didn't want me going over my due date. I will probably end up having it done again with this pregnancy.

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks for all the responses. :)  My OB doesn't want me to go late due to medical issues, so we are trying to get my cervix ready in case we need to induce next week.  The more my cervix is ready (which stripping membranes can help) the quicker the entire induction process should go. :)

[faye83]

Why did they sweep your membranes so early if you weren't overdue??
My mucous plug started coming out a week before my baby did, thats like 4 days before my due date (baby was 3 days late). it was tinged with blood yes, and a lot of it!

[LauraB78]

Definitely sounds like your mucous plug to me! I can't believe it's almost time. I starting losing my plug about 2 weeks before Jaxson arrived tho, So mine wasn't super fast after! =)  Keep us posted! How exciting! I'm sooo super excited for you! I know you have wanted this for soooooo long!! Any time now! Yay!

[BTS1022]

Definitely sounds like the mucous plug! I lost mine the day the doctor stripped my membranes, which happened to be the day before my due date. I ended up having my baby less than 24 hours later!

Good luck!!!! Sounds like your getting super close.

[Atia_Julii]

I am starting to think it was definitely the mucous plug!  I know that doesn't mean labor will happen in the next day or so, but I'm still happy with the progress. :)

[alaysha]

Sounds like your mucus plug to me! I lost mine when I was in active labor but I have heard of people starting to loose theirs months before labor as well.

[ammanda]

i lost regualr clear mucus for over a month before labor began, but i started losing light red mucus the night before labor. so you never know.  I hope ur holding ur lil one soon!!

[nickieb85]

It sounds like it is definitely the beginning of you losing it! YAY! I have never had my membranes swept before but from what I understand it separates the membranes from the amniotic sac... It does have the tendency to throw some women into the early stages of labor and then some it does nothing but cause a little bit of spotting. I hope that you don't have to go overdue!