What should you do if your mucus plug comes out?!

[nurselpn11]

I recently started nursing school and after a few weeks in school we started talking about childbirth and delivery. I myself have a 6 year old so I could relate to the topic. The instructor informed us that after your mucus plug comes out you should give birth within 24 hours or you could develop an infection that can spread to the baby thru the birth canal. After hearing this I was mortified! After my mucus plug came out my mid wife informed me that I should wait up to a week for my baby who at the time was not wanting to leave my womb. But what should have happened was after noticing that I didn't begin labor after 24 hours I should have been given a c-section. A week later I was induced and vaginally gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. After the birth of my son during my gyn check up about a week or 2 later I was told that I had strep in my vagina. I couldn't understand why or even how I developed that infection after such a healthy pregnancy nor could it be explained to me. Not until 6 years later after beginning my studies as a nurse. The truth is that every woman should research and know her own body. Because as with many professions some are just in it for the money. My instructor told me that it is a miricle my son came out alive!!! Can you believe that???!!! My heart fell!!! I thank GOD for his blessings!!! But know the facts about every aspect of your pregnancy. Not that you need another thing to worry about but this is my heads up to you! Sometimes we want a vaginal birth so bad we don't care how we get it so please don't read this and say "Oh well her son came out fine."  Sharing this story with you all is to prevent the worst from possibly happening. Hope I have well informed you. Good luck and I'm sure all will work out for you.

[Raerae336]

I agree with the other two with my first child i lost my mucus plug for days weeks even. My second daughter i barely lost anything and my daughter and i both had a terrible infection with fevers of 103 but they figured i had a slow leak from my water bag not my mucus.... Thank you for your good intentions but this information is completely false.

[ammanda]

This is entiraly not true.. read on the internet.. i started losin my mucus plug 3 weeks ago, and im still pregnant.  i dont understnad what kind of idiot would fill your heasd with that, and more then 90% of the girls i know, lost there mucus plug weeks prior to giveing birth and never had viruses or infections, that thing with the 34 hour infection is for your water breaking, if u dont give birth 24 hours after ur water breaks then you can get an infection and harm the baby.. something else gave u an infection not the fact that u lost ur plug weeks prior to delievery.  

[mom2ariana]

i appreciate you tryin to inform everyone and i am so glad that your son is okay...i wouldn't wish that on anyone...but im going to have to disagree with you. your mucous plug is only your FIRST line of defense against infection. if you lose it, it is not necessary to deliver AT ALL. you only need to deliver within 24 hours if your water has broken. not your mucous plug. if you are sure your water bag is intact then you will be fine!
chances are your water was broken and you had a very slow leak and did not know it. either that or the reason for your infection is unknown. it was not due to losing your mucous plug.
i know this because my childbirth instructor talked to us about this...she was a l&d nurse for 11 years at a reputable hospital and i trust she knows what she is talking about.
not only have i heard it from her but i have heard from numerous other sources as well.