Q&A: I am 34 weeks pregnant with twins and I saw something gross in the toilet. Did I lose my mucus plug? Does that mean I'll be in labor soon?

Congratulations on your babies-to-be! Your life is about to get really exciting!

What you saw may well have been what is referred to as the mucus plug—a glob of mucus that sits in the cervix until shortly before labor starts. Often when this mucus comes out, it is mixed with blood, which is why passing the mucous plug is sometimes called "bloody show." It may look like something that would come out of your nose during a cold (yes, kind of gross).

Before 34 weeks, we normally recommend immediate evaluation for any bleeding or signs of the mucus plug, because if the babies are trying to come early they may benefit from efforts to stop labor and medications to mature their lungs and brains. But after 34 to 36 weeks we don't normally take major steps to prevent preterm birth, so you don't need to be so vigilant about early signs of labor.

Unfortunately you can't really use the passage of the mucus plug to predict when birth will occur. I know moms who never really passed anything, and those that had globs coming out on and off for a few weeks before the baby was born. That said, keep a bag packed and talk to your doctor about guidelines for when to call. Best wishes to you and the babies!