Mucus plug

The mucus plug consists of thick, tough mucus, sometimes mixed with some red/brown blood. During pregnancy, it sits in your cervix and provides extra protection for the baby against external infections. You usually lose the mucus plug at the end of pregnancy, but this varies from person to person. One loses it without noticing it and the other notices a thick long string of mucus in the underpants or when wiping. It is also possible that you lose it all at once as a plug of mucus of a few centimeters in size, but it can also go in parts.

Losing the mucus plug is not a clear indication that labor has started. You may start having contractions shortly afterwards, but it may also take days or weeks. You are more susceptible to infection after losing your mucus plug.