mucus plug.
last revised · reviewed 2026-07-05
The mucus plug is a thick seal of jelly-like mucus that blocks the cervix throughout pregnancy, and losing it — the 'show' — means the cervix is beginning to soften and open. It can happen hours, days, or even a couple of weeks before labour starts, so on its own it is a sign of progress, not an alarm.
what it feels like
You may notice a glob of thick, jelly-like mucus on the toilet paper or in your underwear — clear, cloudy, pinkish, or streaked with a little blood (hence 'bloody show'). It can come away in one piece or in stages over several days; some women never notice it at all.
why it happens
Early in pregnancy, mucus thickens in the cervical canal into a plug that seals the womb off from bacteria. As the cervix ripens, softens, and starts to open in late pregnancy, the plug loses its anchor and comes away — a visible sign that the body is preparing for labour, on its own unhurried schedule.
what helps
- Nothing needs doing — losing the plug at term is a normal sign of preparation
- Note the date and appearance; your midwife will ask
- Use a pad if needed and keep an eye on what follows — colour and amount matter more than the plug itself
- Carry on as normal: walking, resting, eating well; labour may still be days away
- Avoid putting anything in the vagina once you think the plug has gone — no tampons
- Use the lull to finish the hospital bag and rest while you can
when to call your midwife or doctor
- Losing the plug before 37 weeks — call your midwife or maternity unit to be checked
- Fresh, bright red bleeding — more than streaks in mucus — call your maternity unit straight away
- A gush or trickle of watery fluid — your waters may have broken; call your maternity unit
- Reduced baby movements, or contractions becoming regular and strong — call your maternity unit
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call — no midwife has ever minded a careful question.
common questions
How long after losing the mucus plug does labour start?
Anywhere from hours to around two weeks — there is no fixed timetable. Losing the plug means the cervix is ripening, but it regenerates mucus and labour follows its own schedule. Regular contractions or waters breaking are the signals that things are truly under way.
What does the mucus plug look like?
A thick, jelly-like or stringy glob of mucus — clear, off-white, or tinged pink or brown, sometimes streaked with blood. It is usually one to two tablespoons in total, lost in one piece or gradually. Bright red, free-flowing blood is not the plug and needs a same-day call to your maternity unit.
Can you lose your mucus plug and not go into labour?
Yes — the plug can come away weeks before labour and even regenerate if it goes early. At term this is simply a sign of a ripening cervix. Before 37 weeks, though, losing it warrants a call to your midwife or maternity unit to be checked.
read it in context
Mucus plug tends to show up around these weeks of pregnancy:
related symptoms
- Back pain
Lower back pain affects up to two thirds of pregnant women, usually from mid-pregnancy onwards, as the growing bump shifts your centre of gravity and the hormone relaxin loosens supporting ligaments.
- Bleeding gums
Swollen, tender gums that bleed when brushing affect the majority of pregnant women — pregnancy hormones increase blood flow to the gums and amplify their reaction to plaque.
- Leg cramps
Sudden, painful calf cramps — usually at night — affect around half of pregnant women, most often in the second and third trimesters.
know what's normal, week by week
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