Mucus Plug & Labor: When to Head to the Hospital

Question
Do I have to go to the hospital when I loose my mucus plug, or is it safe to wait until my water break, to go to the hospital?

Answer
Domonique,

Your mucus plug can fall out weeks before you actually go into labor, so no, there is no need to go to the hospital when this happens.


Typically, your care provider will advise you to go to the hospital when your contractions are in a consistent pattern about 3-5 minutes apart and have been coming for an hour.  If your water breaks and contractions haven't started, you'll want to contact your provider to see when you are advised to go in.  Some will want you to come in right away and others will have you stay home if the contractions haven't started on their own.


To learn more about the loss of mucus plug, visit http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/loss-of-mucus-plug.html and for more on the signs of labor, visit http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/signs-of-labor.html


Best,
Catherine