I don't really think this is normal....

So, today I've had cramps. Nothing too bad....way less painful than (my) usual menstral cramps. Enough to make me want to lay down all day. Then, about 4 this afternoon I had a lot of mucus from my nether region. It was, what seemed to be, a lot of mucus. It wasn't real runny....it all sort of come out together....like a blob. (It was pretty gross....). Part of it had a TINY bit of pinkish....blood, I'm guessing....in it.
I didn't call my doctor or anything....I'm kinda nervous as to what it actually is and means....and was hoping to get some kind of information on it here.
This is the first time it's happened....and it's pretty freaky right about now.
Should I be worried?

 

well... cramps, a bloody mucus discharge or "show" and a "tightening" down there are all signs of labour. I would go to the doctor...

haven't you gone over the signs of labour with your doctor/health care provider/midwife/whatever type of person is delivering your baby?

did you ever get that whole insurance thing worked out? Maybe do an internet search or something with your symptoms?

 

How are you doing now? Did you call a doc? Are you having contractions? If you're having contractions, CALL YOUR DOC OR MIDWIFE OR WHATEVER, you are very early, and you need to let them know, they will know what to do.

 

it's way way way too early for you to be having those symptoms. Go to the ER NOW, if you haven't already gone!!! And when you get home, think about everything that is stressing you out right now. Get rid of the stress. take better care of yourself. Drink lots and lots of water, and eat only healthy foods, no sugar, no caffeine, no junk. And rest as much as you possibly can.

 

Moon flower, sweetie, what you're describing sounds like it could possibly be preterm labor, as the other ladies here have said. Please get to the ER (if you haven't done so already)

I will be thinking of you. Please let us know how you and the baby are doing whenever you get a chance.

Much love and hugs...

 

Oh it's all normal... just not at 30 weeks. Ditto everything everyone else has said.

The cramps sound like early contractions to me. And I felt them for the entire third trimester with both of my kiddies (who were born 5 & 3 weeks early respectively)

The mucous sounds like your mucous plug though - it's what helps keep your cervix sealed. And that doesn't usually come out until your cervix starts to thin/dilate. So yeah, it's definitely time to call a doctor.

((((((((((((hugs!!!))))))))))))
love,
mom

 

When I got up this morning, I was still feeling cruddy, so my mom took me to the ER. The doctor felt around and said nothing seemed to be happening. So, he sent me home. He told me that if I still felt crampy and whatnot this afternoon to come back in and he'll check me out again.
He also said it sounded like preterm labour....but he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary going on.
Right now I'm feeling alright. Since I've been home no cramps. Hopefully that's all it was....just cramping.

 

i was going to say that it sounds like your mucous plug, especially since you had the pinkish in it....that sounded exactily like what I had with Leane the day that I went into labour. BUT, when that happens, labour can still be 2 weeks away. I would really watch your body now, be very careful and yes, stay as relaxed as you can and try to forget about anything stressing you out!

 

Did they put you on a monitor? Because in a lot of cases, mamas don't feel preterm contractions they way they do full term contractions. I spent most of all my pregnancies on bedrest for Preterm labor. I did feel my contractions, lost my mucous plugs (usually, if you don't deliver early, the plug grows back) and had to be on bedresst and even medication a few times.

Did the ER doc make sure you were to see your OB or midwife that day or the next? Preterm labor can often be halted, to allow the baby to grow, but only if it is caught early enough (before 4 cm or a rupture of membranes) so see that doc or midwife today and get on bedrest (that means lying on your left side, doing nothing and drinking a LOT of water) Getting even a little dehydrated can predispose you do preterm labor. Also, the doc at the ER should have done an Ultrasound, to make sure the baby wasn't yet engaged (being engaged at this stage is too early and a positive sign of preterm labor occuring) also there is a hormone test which can be done.

Sounds like you didn't get the best care at the ER. Sadly, too many ER docs don't know enough about pregnancy, and you NEED to see your OB or Midwife right away. I almost had my babies way early, and I was lucky enough ot be able to be given the chance to halt the labor, through meds, (not always neccesary, but if they are MUCH better than a 30 week birth) water, bed rest and LOW stress levels (and in my case, was really religious about my bedrest, because even walking around would start up the contractions and continue to efface and dilate my cervix.)

Please, honey, I don't want to scare you, but your baby is much better off staying inside your body than being born too early. See your doc or midwife, as usually preterm contractions in the second trimester and early third will occur, and you may not feel them. Many womyn are even put on a home monitor, just to be safe. Keeping that baby in there until at least 37 weeks is the goal.

Take care, honey.

 

Here is an article on Preterm labor, it's treatments and diagnosis, including the Fetal Fibronectin test, which is prettty accurate (although, like many test not 100%) in diagnosing preterm labor and/or delivery. In this day and age all doctors should be using Fetal Fibronectin testing for all mothers who present with preterm contractions, even if those contractions have temporarily ceased at the time of presentation. Seeing as preterm labor is often an ongoing condition in a small number of womyn.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/593.html

 

everything Maggie said!!!!

I started having regular contractions, and lost my mucous plug (repeatedly) starting at about 26 weeks with my first child. It was no fun. I did manage to make it to 36-37 weeks with her, and was not on strict bedrest, but I did have to force myself to relax and let go of stress and rest as much as possible. I should have been eating better, I know it now, and not gaining so much weight. But the blood in Moon's mucous might mean her cervix is starting to dilate, and they need to do an ultrasound to know for sure. My second child made it to one hour short of 40 weeks, so it isn't always indicative of things to come.

that describes my labor contractions, exactly. I never was incapacitated by them, and they never did hurt worse than *my* usual menstrual cramps.

 

man, it's been a while since she last posted...I hope that everything is ok.....

 

Sorry it's been so long.
I made an appointment with my OB/GYN it's for August 1. It's the soonest I could get an appointment to have a full exam (Ultrasound and all). BUT, he told me that if I have any more problems to come in just as soon as they start.
I haven't had any cramps since my visit to the ER.
They didn't run any of those tests, Maggie. The doctor only felt around on my stomach and felt around on my uterus from the inside.
I've been staying in bed pretty much the whole day, aside from taking a shower and logging on here for a minute or two. No problems, though, so far.