does leukorrhea increase leading up to labor??? « Back to Group Discussions

[storygirlcindy]

OK, I have a question today that Dr Google seems not really able to answer, LOL! This is my first pregnancy and throughout it my doctor has said to watch for "increased discharge" as a sign of cervical opening. I'd always assumed this was because as your cervix opened it started to expel the mucus plug... right? Well, over the last week I have noticed a HUGE increase in the leukorrhea (creamy white discharge) that I have been experiencing since the beginning of the pregnancy. It's a very noticeable increase and leaves me feeling "wet" most of the time right now. It definitely isn't a mucus plug or part of a mucus plug, though - after years of TTC and fertility charting, along with having a disease (cystic fibrosis) that heavily involves mucus, I am way more familiar with cervical mucus than I'd like to be, LOL. This is definitely creamy, white, "lotion-like" leukorrhea... but suddenly so much more than before. I'm curious - can this be a sign of a body prepping for labor? I've had timeable contractions every few minutes for at least 2 months now, along with other "pre-labor" symptoms in the last two weeks (increasing intensity of contractions, stomach upset, constant menstrual cramp-y feeling), so I don't think I'm going to go into labor today or anything, since my body obviously likes to take the sloooooow way of doing things. ;) But I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this!

[buko]

All I can say is that my MWs told us to expect this in the last month or so of pregnancy.  I'm not sure it's a sign of anything imminent, per se, but it's common at the end of pregnancy.  Hope that helps!

[scruffy too]

Originally Posted by buko 

All I can say is that my MWs told us to expect this in the last month or so of pregnancy.  I'm not sure it's a sign of anything imminent, per se, but it's common at the end of pregnancy.  Hope that helps!

This is exactly what my MW told me, too.  Just that the wetness increases a lot.  And that I can add a TBSP of flaxseed to my diet to increase it even more, if so inclined.

[wildmansmom]

I've noticed an increase also - it started about 36 weeks - so uncomfortable for me that I started wearing a liner. 

I think the same thing happened with DS - I try not to put too much emphasis on these "early labor signs"  After all, I'm at 37 weeks, so I know labor will start sometime soon lol!

Even dilation doesn't indicate labor - second time moms especially can be dilated up to 3 cm for weeks before labor.  (The OB looked at me funny when I quoted that as my reason to decline a pelvic exam at 37 weeks).

[LightForest]

Originally Posted by scruffy too 

Originally Posted by buko 

All I can say is that my MWs told us to expect this in the last month or so of pregnancy.  I'm not sure it's a sign of anything imminent, per se, but it's common at the end of pregnancy.  Hope that helps!

This is exactly what my MW told me, too.  Just that the wetness increases a lot.  And that I can add a TBSP of flaxseed to my diet to increase it even more, if so inclined.

What's the benefit of taking something to increase it??

[storygirlcindy]

Yeah I was curious about why you'd want to increase it as well. Also, as far as flax seeds go - I've always eaten lots of flax seeds and at the beginning of my pregnancy was cooking with them a ton, figuring that the omega-3s would be good for baby, right? However, in my Hypnobabies class (to my surprise) flax seeds were on the "not okay for pregnancy" list of foods & supplements they gave us. I did some more research into it and learned that they're actually really controversial in pregnancy because they contain phytoestrogens (like soy) that can throw off the natural hormonal balance. Just thought I'd pass that on since it was a TOTAL shock to me!

[storygirlcindy]

Oh, and also - I had my 36 week checkup today (I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow) and the doctor checked and I'm 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. So for me, at least, it looks like the dramatic upswing in leukorrhea discharge definitely has correlated some to the beginning of dilation.

[scruffy too]

Light Forest - I assume the benefit would be to lube things up if they were dry.  I really didn't ask as I feel moist enough and am not rushing out to soak through denim...

[storygirlcindy]

That's kind of what I was thinking, too. I feel plenty wet already! ;)