Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucus or discharge. It can be clear, pink or blood tinged and can appear minutes, hours or even days before signs of labor begins. Not all women notice this sign.
When you’re at or near your due date, your practitioner may do a vaginal exam during your prenatal visit to see whether your cervix has started to change.
Occasionally the doctor may use an instrument to rupture the membranes, but this is not always necessary. Studies have shown that rupture of the membranes does not speed labor, but neither does it impede it.