How Long After Losing Mucus Plug (And Why)?

Exact Answer: After 37 Weeks Of Pregnancy

A mucus plug is a thick layer of mucus that is present in the cervix opening of a pregnant woman. The mucus plug blocks the entry of the cervix from the unborn child inside the womb. In other words, a mucus plug is located in the opening of the cervix and can be defined as the barrier between the uterus, where the unborn child is, and the vagina. The major function of the mucus plug is to prevent bacteria and germs from entering into the uterus and harming the unborn child. 

How Long After Losing Mucus Plug?

There is not much clarity about the fixed time for when the mucus plug will get detached from the cervix and reach out of the vagina. However, in most s it happens after the 37th week of pregnancy. But, it is important to consider that the time depends from pregnancy to pregnancy, body to body, and such factors.

Among these multiple factors, one factor that plays a vital role in determining the time for how long after you lose the mucus plug is if it is a normal pregnancy or it has any complications.

If it is a normal pregnancy, then the time how long after a pregnant woman will lose her mucus plug is after The reason behind that is because according to the pregnancy cycle, by the time of 37 weeks, the bong becomes ready to be birthed.

As a result, the body starts preparing for the labor, and thus consequently the cervix starts to dilate. As the cervix dilated and its size increased in diameter, the mucus plug got detached from the cervix walls and moved out of the cervix.

Secondly, if it’s a premature pregnancy or delayed pregnancy, then the time for how long after a pregnant woman loses her mucus plug is at the time of labor. In many cases, the mucus plug does not even move out of the cervix.

There could be many reasons behind that, however, the major reason is that the cervix fails to dilate in cases of premature pregnancy and delayed pregnancy. As a result, the mucus plug does not get detached from the cervix and the body does not lose the mucus plug.

Why Does It Take That Long After Losing Mucus Plug?

When the labor period begins, the cervix gradually starts dilating to prepare the pathway for the birth of the child. When the opening of the cervix is a to a particular diameter, the mucus plug present at the opening of the cervix loses its attachment from the walls of the cervix.

As a result, the mucus plug slides out of the cervix and reaches the vagina. Consequently, the mucus slides out of the vagina which is one of the signs that the child is about to be born.

In cases when the mucus plug does not get detached from the cervix, it acts as a barrier between the uterus, where the unborn child is located, and the vaginal opening. As a result, the process of parturition is unable to be processed. In other words, the child does not move out of the cervix because of the mucus plug.

In cases when the cervix does not dilate, and consequently the mucus plug does not come out, doctors either use certain injections to dilate the cervix artificially, else the doctors perform c section surgery, or also known as cesarean. While, in other cases, the cervix dilates but the mucus plug is not lost, the doctors use certain instruments to bring out the mucus plug.

Conclusion

A mucus plug is a clear, off-white in the color mass of mucus. However, sometimes the mucus plug is mixed with blood cells as well which gives it a reddish-pink or brown color. The mucus plug has a jelly-like texture which is stringy and sticky. In most cases the mucus plug has no odor, however, in certain cases, it can have an odor as that of vaginal discharge. In length, the mucus plug measures about 1 to 2 inches.

References

1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00016340902852898
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937802000947