Should I call my doctor if I lose my mucous plug?

A pregnant woman does not need to call her doctor when she loses her mucous plug after reaching full term, states the Diamond Women's Center. An early loss of a mucous plug may signal complications, however, so a woman who loses her plug at 36 weeks or earlier should call.

The loss of a mucous plug may occur all at once, or it can take place gradually over time. It does not always signal that labor is emergent. A woman may lose her plug weeks before the birth. Some women have a history of pre-term labor, which makes it especially important to call if the plug is lost, reports Diamond Women's Center.