Haven't lost mucous plug, but....

[Stori]

I'm 39 weeks today and have been having irregular contractions for a few days now. In the last 45 minutes I've started having pretty painful contractions (or what I assume them to be. Lower abdominal cramps that spread to my back) every 3 minutes or so. They're lasting about 35 seconds on average. Is it possible to that I'm in labor when I haven't lost my mucous plug?

[mamayarn]

Some people never notice losing the plug, or it all comes out together (har har). It's certainly not a reliable marker of impending labor or whether or not this is the real thing.

But as to your contractions.... I certainly couldn't say for sure one way or the other if you are in labor. Maybe someone else can shed some light. They seem pretty short for 3 minutes apart but I really don't know. All I can say is that the plug doesn't really have much to do with it.

Good luck!!

[JamieCatheryn]

Ignore them as long as you can (and drink water to make sure it's not just your uterus complaining of dehydration). When you can't ignore them anymore it's safe to really call it labor. You might notice plug when some significant dilation has happened, or maybe you won't.

[Asher]

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn

Ignore them as long as you can (and drink water to make sure it's not just your uterus complaining of dehydration). When you can't ignore them anymore it's safe to really call it labor. You might notice plug when some significant dilation has happened, or maybe you won't.

I never lost my mucous plug this time that I know of. If I did, it was either during strong/active labor or before baby came out in the water, but I had no bleeding, etc. before then and nothing discharge wise other than a teeny tiny bit of snotty (tmi sorry!) stuff, not enough to be a plug.

Good luck!

[ColoradoMama]

I never had signs of losing my mucous plug with my last two.

[holyhelianthus]

DDC crashing to offer some encouragement! I also never noticed loosing my plug until baby #3. It was the first plug I'd ever seen!

[Stori]

Thanks, mamas. I ended up going in to the hospital after a few hours of this. The first hour I was there the nurse spent trying to tell me I wasn't having ANY contractions at all, until she discovered she put the monitor on wrong. Then she spent the next three ignoring me and not telling me ANYTHING until they eventually discharged me because my cervix wasn't dilating. I'm still having pretty regular contractions, but they're not getting any stronger or longer. But I'm hoping for the best.