I should know these things, but need input

[BirthMatters]

I am preggo with my 4th- no ultrasounds. 18.3 weeks. About 4 times over the course of the pregnancy, I've spotted. Always the day after sex, it's very interesting what my body does with the semen. Many times, I'm just thick and gooey likes glue either whitish/yellowish/clearish. The times that there's been "color", it's brown or almost black. Never enough to collect in a pad, never any odor, never clots, just slimy brown/black discharge. Why is this still happening? I don'tknow where my placenta is and I don't have any pain of any kind. I want to think everything is fine and normal, but I'm not sure. What kind of bleeding can cysts cause? I don't feel any tenderness externally, but maybe because now I'm hyper- aware, I feel kind of delicate- like if I move too suddenly, something wil happen. I've had 3 totally healthy pg's, and I'm a midwife for crying out loud! I've heard heart tones, I'm measuring normally, everything else seems fine.

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by BirthMatters

I am preggo with my 4th- no ultrasounds. 18.3 weeks. About 4 times over the course of the pregnancy, I've spotted. Always the day after sex, it's very interesting what my body does with the semen. Many times, I'm just thick and gooey likes glue either whitish/yellowish/clearish. The times that there's been "color", it's brown or almost black. Never enough to collect in a pad, never any odor, never clots, just slimy brown/black discharge. Why is this still happening? I don'tknow where my placenta is and I don't have any pain of any kind. I want to think everything is fine and normal, but I'm not sure. What kind of bleeding can cysts cause? I don't feel any tenderness externally, but maybe because now I'm hyper- aware, I feel kind of delicate- like if I move too suddenly, something wil happen. I've had 3 totally healthy pg's, and I'm a midwife for crying out loud! I've heard heart tones, I'm measuring normally, everything else seems fine.

well I'm not a MW or MD but I wonder why you think it's the placenta? Can't there sometimes be bleeding just because (cervix, sinply bumping stuff around) etc? if movements are good, I don't think I'd personally think there was some big issue going on.

[April422]

What I hear you saying is that you have some concern with the possibility of placental issues, specifically placement.

Is it possible for you to use a doppler and find the placenta by listening for the sound of the placental flow?

Of course that doesn't help much if the placenta is posterior, but if it's anterior and high up that might reassure you that you're not having any issues with previa.

How opposed are you to having a anatomy scan around 20 weeks to verify placental placement and look for any obvious problems or concerns such as cysts, as you've mentioned them in your post?

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Most commonly, it's some sort of mild vaginal infection, and your irritated cervix reacting to sex with spotting. Doesn't mean not to get checked out but it's probably nothing so don't be too freaked out.

[Jane]

I wonder if you could smear it on an occult blood test (usually used for stool testing) to see if it's blood?

[homebirthing]

Sounds like a typical irritated cervix to me. Very common and normal.

[blissful_maia]

Originally Posted by DoulaSarah

Sounds like a typical irritated cervix to me. Very common and normal.

: If it's not frank, red blood I wouldn't be thinking "placenta". True previa is pretty rare, and many women spot occasionally pregnancy.

[nashvillemidwife]

I second that. Sounds like it's coming from your cervix and nothing to worry over if it's happening after sex.