Mucus Plug - Need Advice! « Back to Group Discussions

[Veritas Vitae]

Up until this point I've avoided any worry about this pregnancy, just because I felt like, "I"m healthy, baby is healthy, everything will go fine."  But then last night I lost my mucus plug...I'm only 31w3d.  I've looked it up on a lot websites/books and it mostly says that losing your mucus plug is not a sign of imminent labor, and that it can be several weeks before the baby is born, however, most sources put it at just days to a couple (as in two) weeks!  That is still really early! I also read that intercourse or vaginal exams could sort of knock the mucus plug out, and after the "We're All Adults" thread, I decided to DTD the night before.  Could that cause the mucus plug to dislodge, and if that is the reason, then should I not worry about having this baby early? There was no bloody show, just mucus, so I'm hoping that is a good sign, since the bloody show seems to be a sign of the cervix thinning and effacing. 

I have a midwife appointment on Monday, so I guess I will just talk to her then, but, what is the likelihood of Q coming early at this point?  I am NOT prepared at all, I haven't freaked out about it because I knew I had plenty of time.  I have been expecting Q to come late, and her coming early would really throw off all of my planning...and I know I don't get to choose when she comes, but I just figured she would follow the standard model and come ~8 days after my EDD, which would make it September 4ish. I couldn't sleep at all last night. Even if she came in a couple of weeks, it feels like she would be much too small.  Also, we have a lot of travel planned in July, so what if she is born prematurely and we're not even at home...  I realize I'm probably worrying over something that will not even be an issue, but it is disconcerting that every reference source is telling me at most several weeks...I need two months at least! 

Please Q....don't decide to be Daddy's birthday gift....

[Lizbiz]

Hey There - You sound really worried and so I would just call your midwife so you don't go crazy with anxiety all weekend (which is what I do when I'm really worried :).  

You know, when I've lost my mucus plugs, it's ALWAYS been accompanied by a bloody show, always (well both times, it's only been twice).  And yes, labor shortly followed - BUT, not without a bloody show.  

So... I wonder if what you saw really was your mucus plug - if it was just mucus, and not really the plug.  It also could have been leftovers from DTD combined with some of your mucus, and not necessarily the plug.  My husband tends to be more 'productive' if we haven't DTD for a while - and so if you guys have been apart for a while - it could just be that.  

I think I've also read somewhere that the mucus plus can reform...

[Veritas Vitae]

I saw somewhere too, that it could reform, but it was on some random comment to an internet question.

I did consider that it might be leftover from DTD, but I checked consistency, smell, and compared it to Google image searches, and it definitely seemed to be mucus and not something else, which generally has a bleachy smell. I'm thinking because there wasn't even a tint of blood, that is a good sign.  I have a ton of work to get done this morning as the office is closing early, but I plan on calling the midwife this afternoon.

As a precaution, my sister is sending up all of the newborn stuff she set aside for me with my mom, who is moving here this weekend, instead of bringing it up with her at the end of July. My rational side is starting to win out a bit more and I'm more of the mindset that everything will be okay, but I guess it couldn't hurt to be a little prepared for any eventuality.

[sallyrae17]

Your mucus plug can definitely reform. When I lost mine, I went into labor a week later, but it also happened when I was almost 40 weeks. I think there was some blood in there as well, but I don't remember exactly. In any event, talking to your midwives will definitely help to ease your mind!

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

I had something like this happen to me a few weeks ago - it resembled the mucous plug (it was a BIG gob of mucous) but it was NOT brown or red or pink, it was translucent and creamy. It also happened the day after DH and I DTD. I mentioned it to my midwife who was apretty certain that it was NOT my mucous plug and she wasn't concerned at all.

I have also read that the mucous plug can reform, but honestly from what you describe it does NOT sound like your mucous plug. When I lost mine in my first pregnancy it was not anything like any discharge I had ever seen before and it happened all day long.

[Veritas Vitae]

This was much thicker and more viscous than any other discharge I've ever had, it had no distinct odor (as opposed to semen, which smells like bleach, or normal vaginal discharge which has a slightly yeasty smell), and it was not like anything that normally results from DTD, it really did look just like the Google image search results for MPs which did not include bloody show.  I did call my midwife and she asked me why I thought it was the mucus plug.  She said that we would just keep an eye on things for now, and if there was any bleeding or cramping to call and we would check everything out on Monday, but that as long as my water didn't break, we should be fine.  She also said that mucus can reform and that SHOULD contractions start, which she doesn't anticipate since it is too early, there are definitely ways we can try to stop it.  Also, no more DTD for a while.

Thanks, ladies, for the support. I was probably overreacting just a bit.

[sallyrae17]

I forgot to mention that mucus thickens and increases about this time in the pregnancy. I honestly had times where I had to wear a pad last pregnancy, there was so much of the stuff! 

[sarahdb]

That is good to know, sallyrae! Explains a lot!

[Thandiwe]

Veritas, can you wash your hands very, very well and check for dilation?  I posted the We're All Adults thread...and then the day later did a self check because of some nasty episodes I've had to learn I'm dilating/effacing/thinning at only 32 weeks.  So, I'm on pelvic rest now - meaning so sex. 

If you can check, that will give you a clue of how to tell if you're opening at all, or softening.  You know how to reach me off here (through FB will garner a quicker response) if you want more info on how to do that.  The last time we were able to DTD, about 2 days later I had a glob of something, but I'm nearly certain it was remaining goo from that.  Whenever I've lost my plug, it's like a plug - firmer, very very sticky, like the goop they glue fake credit cards to the apps with. 

If it makes you feel any better, beginning to dilate/efface can dislodge the plug, but beginning to dilate/efface this early is not a sign you're heading right for labor.  The key is the frequency of contractions.  If you're not contracting often, you're really okay.  I worried, even after several kids, when I discovered this myself the other day.  But I did some recon online and realized many, many women start to progress by about 32 weeks and go on to reach term.  The difference is whether or not you're contracting.  I went to about 37 weeks with my first and was about 5cm and zero station when I just entered early labor.  The next one was term but was 5 cm with a bulging bag for a week without any signs of labor.  My water broke and then I had a precipitous labor after.  Some of us do a lot of early work and get far before active labor hits.  The good news is that it means a shorter labor!  

Just to be safe, though, my midwife is encouraging me to do pelvic rest, increased fluids, watch that I'm getting 80-100 gr of protein a day, and RRL tea 1-2 times a day.  Still staying active, but watching more carefully.  I just need to make it to 36/37 weeks, though now I'll probably have jinxed myself and be late! 

((hugs))  It's scary when stuff starts happening early.  This is my 4th pg and I've never called my mw panicked, but my call the other night was quite alarmed.  I know how you feel!

ETA:  Make sure any pregnancy tea doesn't have any cohosh in it or that you're getting any evening primrose oil anywhere.  Both *can* move things along in some circumstances.  But my mw did tell me that for some women, sex can just start a spell of labor-like symptoms for a day or two afterwards.

[Veritas Vitae]

Thanks, Thandiwe.  The good news is, no contractions!  I haven't even had any BH that I know of, although my MW and the Bradley teacher have both said I probably just didn't realize I was having BH.  I have an appointment Monday morning and my MW is going to check me then.  I hope you're right about shorter labors too!

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vitae 

Thanks, Thandiwe.  The good news is, no contractions!  I haven't even had any BH that I know of, although my MW and the Bradley teacher have both said I probably just didn't realize I was having BH.  I have an appointment Monday morning and my MW is going to check me then.  I hope you're right about shorter labors too!

That's awesome to hear! 

[Thandiwe]

How did your appt go on Monday?

[Veritas Vitae]

Appointment went great, thanks for asking.  She said that it was probably just a small piece of the mucus plug and that everything should be fine. 

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vitae 

Appointment went great, thanks for asking.  She said that it was probably just a small piece of the mucus plug and that everything should be fine. 

Glad to hear it!!