Always a show?

[bittapitta]

39 weeks but no show (mucus plug). Does it always come out a week before labour? Want labour to kick off soon but doesn't seem likely right now.

[UninventiveUsername]

I didn't have a show that I noticed. My dd was born at 40+5.

[raisin3cookies]

I've given birth five times and had a show twice. For me, it is an indicator that labour will start in about 24 hours. But obviously this is basically a random sign and something nobody can count on!

[jamtartandcustard]

i definately didn't have one with my first, can't remember on the second, and third and forth have had a show 24hours after sweep at 41 weeks. With dc3 I went into labour at the same time. Dc4 - show this morning, still waiting for labour to kick off

[Lj8893]

It can come at any time, you may not even notice it. Mucus plug can grow back too.

I noticed losing my mucus plug at about 37 weeks. Nothing happened.
I then had a bloody show at 40+1 and began contracting a couple of hours later.

Many women have a bloody show whilst already in labour.

[SweepTheHalls]

Neither time for me, nor did my waters go before actually delivering. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and would do just about anything to get this baby out!

[Lj8893]

My waters went whilst in labour too. Really, the only indication that you are in labour is regular contractions.

[UninventiveUsername]

Yes my waters went while I was in labour too.

[AddictedtoGreys]

I had a show about 12 hours before labour started. My waters went while pushing too.

[jamtartandcustard]

My waters have never gone on their own either. Had ARM all 3 times during labour. Strong regular contractions is the only true and reliable sign of labour (and even then it's hard to be sure if you have lots of Braxton hicks)

[lilac3033]

I had clear mucus about a week before, no blood (even pinkish) prior to birth. I assume it was the plug. However I had contractions through the night for 3 nights before labour kicked off. Those started about 2 days after I first noticed the mucus.

[bittapitta]

Thank you for replies. Also very ready for this baby!

[Watto1]

With dd I had a show roughly 10 minutes before my waters broke and she was born 18 hours later.

[SnozzberryMincePie]

Both times mine has come out when my waters broke, at the start of labour

[waitingforsomething]

My shows have only ever come once labour has started - neither time a week before

[teamrigby]

I'm 41 weeks today and had 2nd sweep this morning. Had a bloody mucas show at lunchtime... so let's see when I go into labour :)

[Runningupthathill82]

Never saw a show with DS's birth. Suppose the plug must have gone at some point, but no idea when.
The first sign of labour was strong backache, which I later figured out was in fact contractions.
Had to have my waters broken around 20hrs in, as well.

[Wolfiefan]

2 kids. Never seen a show!

[Dixiechick17]

I had a show about 14 hours before labour started. My waters started to trickle first, then they properly popped when I got to the hospital.

[elliejjtiny]

I passed a red jelly thing about 5 days before DS1 was born. DS's 2, 3 and 4 - no show. With DS5 I just passed a load of blood, like a period. I panicked, assumed I was having a placental abruption, rang DH and dashed to the hospital. When the midwife told me it was just a show I felt like a right idiot . Would have gone into labour the next day I expect as I was 2cm dilated by the evening but I also had an infection so ds was born by emcs in the middle of that night.