The mucus plug protects your baby in pregnancy. Find out more about what it looks like, its purpose, and what having a 'show' means.
What is a mucus plug?
During pregnancy, the cervix is protected by a plug of mucus. This 'plug' acts as a barrier. It protects the good microbes in the vagina as well as preventing harmful germs from reaching the baby (Lacroix et al, 2020; NHS, 2023).
When does the mucus plug come away?
The mucus plug can loosen and pass out of the vagina any time from late pregnancy up to birth. It might appear in underwear or on toilet paper after having a wee. Sometimes, it comes out when the baby does. The pregnant woman or person can't feel it, and some people don't notice it at all (NHS, 2023).
The mucus plug coming away is known as a 'show.' The midwife might ask 'has there been a show?'
What does the mucus plug look like?
The mucus plug is a clear or white jelly and may be streaked with a small amount of blood, making it pink (NHS, 2023).
It could come away as a single blob of gel, about the size of a 50p piece. Or it could be in smaller pieces which come away over several hours or more (NHS, 2023).
This might be what the mucus plug looks like, although it may be more tinged with blood.
When the mucus plug comes away, it doesn't mean labour is about to start. Labour is likely in anything from a few hours to several days (NHS, 2023).
Does a 'show' mean the baby is no longer protected?
The mucus plug is formed in early pregnancy and is constantly replaced with fresh mucus (Lacroix et al, 2020). This means that even if the plug is noticed, new mucus will continue to protect your baby.
Having sex after a 'show'
Some people might feel more comfortable not having sex after the mucus plug has come away. But there is no evidence that suggests it may harm your baby.
When to seek help
A show is a normal part of pregnancy and nothing to worry about, but there are some things to be aware of:
- Lots of fresh blood with the show. Contact the maternity unit straight away (NHS, 2023).
- If at any point in pregnancy the vagina is itchy or sore, is painful when having a wee or the mucus discharge smells bad, it could be an infection (NICE, 2021). Let the midwife know as soon as possible so that it can be treated to protect both parent and baby.
- If there is a lot of clear fluid, it might be the waters breaking.
Further information
We offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby.
Our NCT Infant Feeding Line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.
We also offer New Baby courses which are a great way for new parents to feel more confident.
Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area and see what NCT activities are happening nearby.
This page was last reviewed in July 2024
NHS (2023) Signs that labour has begun. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/signs-that-labour-has-begun [22 Jul 24]
NICE (2021) Antenatal care [NG201] https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng201 [22 Jul 24]
Lacroix G, Gouyer V, Gottrand F, Desseyn J-L (2020) The Cervicovaginal Mucus Barrier. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21(21):8266 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21218266
