Blood-tinged Mucus?!

13459 Views 21 Replies 12 Participants Last post by The4OfUs, Apr 6, 2006

sehbub

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2006

I need some help, ladies.

This morning, doing the AM bathroom run, I noticed a large amount of mucus (much more than normal) that was streaked with dark red. I haven't had any cramps or BH this morning, and can feel the wee one rolling around and kicking as usual, but wasn't sure if I should be alarmed.

Have any of you other mamas experienced this?

I called my midwife. She's been at a birth since 4pm yesterday and the baby was crowning when I called, so she'll call me back when she gets done.

Again, no pain, no cramping, no BH this morning, just a lot of mucus with a bloody streak. I had some BH last night, and they lasted about 45-60 seconds and were coming about every 6-7 minutes, but I only had about 5 of them and then they stopped and I fell asleep. Wee one is normally active this morning.

Any ideas?!

ETA: I am 27 weeks pregnant.

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bri276

· #2 · Mar 27, 2006

I don't belong here as I'm not pg anymore, but while I don't think you should be "alarmed", I think it calls for a moderate amount of concern. it could be your mucus plug, which could mean nothing, or could mean things are starting up a little earlier than they should. a trip to the m/w is a good idea. the fact that you have no cramping or contrax is comforting, but dark red blood at this stage is something to be looked into. good luck, it's probably nothing!

seekermage

· #3 · Mar 27, 2006

Were you and DH "active" at all last night or anything? I had that happen the following morning after DH and I were. For us alteast it was nothing to worry about and totally normal. If the blood was dark that means its old dried blood and mucus doesnt really mean much especailly since you tend to be really wet and mucusy throughout pregnancy. If you continue to have the blood throughout the day then I would be concerned. Either way I would try and get an appointment just for peice of mind. If baby is active and acting normal then relax...its probably just normal spotting etc. Some people spot throught their pregnancys and its totally normal. Hang in there mama...I know how scarry it can be!

sehbub

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 27, 2006

DH and I were "active" Saturday night, but not last night.

The blood tinge was dark (read

ld) this morning, but is now pink. I've been to the bathroom 3 times since being at work, and have seen light pink streaks every time.

BH have increased, and baby all of a sudden stopped moving around. She went from rolling around one minute, to nothing the next. At the peak BH were lasting around 45 seconds each, and coming every 5 minutes or so. Still no real pain, or menstrual-type cramps, but starting to worry a little bit, especially now that my baby seems to be lying dormant.

Still waiting to hear back from my MW.

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Caroline248

· #5 · Mar 28, 2006

Not that it is definatly a bad thing, but I would want to be seen immediatly. Pink streaks and cntrxs are not a GOOD thing, and I would get in as soon as possible, just to be on the safe side.

I lost my mucus plug at 32 weeks with my daughter, and she was born right on time with no problems, so again, don't panic, but be cautious...

Let us know what the midwife says...

~C~

Amys1st

· #6 · Mar 28, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by sehbub
I need some help, ladies.

This morning, doing the AM bathroom run, I noticed a large amount of mucus (much more than normal) that was streaked with dark red. I haven't had any cramps or BH this morning, and can feel the wee one rolling around and kicking as usual, but wasn't sure if I should be alarmed.

Have any of you other mamas experienced this?
Any ideas?!

ETA: I am 27 weeks pregnant.

Yes I have experience with it and leave it at that.

Call and talk to your m/w for piece of mind, it could be something and it could be nothing.

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Lousli

· #7 · Mar 28, 2006

Also popping in to say that yes, it could be a sign of something more, and definitely lay down and rest while you wait for your midwife to call. You might, at this point, ask about having a fetal fibronectin test done, which is a cervical swab like a pap smear (only accurate if you haven't had intercourse or a manual exam in 48 hours). It can give you more information about whether you are likely to go into PTL.

I hope everything is fine and you keep your babe cooking a while longer!

Amys1st

· #8 · Mar 28, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lousli
Also popping in to say that yes, it could be a sign of something more, and definitely lay down and rest while you wait for your midwife to call. You might, at this point, ask about having a fetal fibronectin test done, which is a cervical swab like a pap smear (only accurate if you haven't had intercourse or a manual exam in 48 hours). It can give you more information about whether you are likely to go into PTL.

I hope everything is fine and you keep your babe cooking a while longer!

I had that test at 29 weeks w DD1. It came back positive and I was on bedrest for 7 weeks. If its negative its neg, but there could be a false positve but normally its taken pretty seriously if its positive.
BTW- I had intercourse about 7 hours before the test was done and the ob did not seem to think that was an issue 4 years ago.

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sehbub

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 28, 2006

I went home yesterday afternoon and rested for the remainder of the day (even though my nesting self wanted to get things done!) because every time i stood up to go to the restroom, get a drink, what-have-you, I would have another contraction. The mucus stopped (well, the pink streaks anyway) and the contractions stopped completely around 8pm, and haven't come back since. Baby is fine and normally active today, so we seem to be in the clear for now.

Thank you all! It turned out to be nothing, but my mw does want to keep an eye on things, just to be sure. My poor DH kept calling every 45 minutes yesterday afternoon to check on us. He was, understandable, concerned, and very protective, which was adorable. He got home and lectured our baby about the fact that she's just gonna have to stick it out for another 13 weeks, 'cause that's just the way it is! It was hilarious to watch him very sternly lecture my belly, and shake his finger at it, and when he got done, she gave a might kick and rolled over. So there, daddy.

Everything seems fine. She's back to being her hyper-active self.

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Amys1st

· #10 · Mar 28, 2006

Sarah- glad everything is ok now! Take it easy by the way!

It sounds like the baby took its lecture real well. You're lucky, my girls do not listen half as good as your kids.

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KnittingKara

· #11 · Mar 28, 2006

Oh, Sarah, how scary!

What an ordeal to go through ... and I'm SO glad that things have slowed down, contractions stopped, and all appears to be well

please, take care of yourself and that little one ... hopefully she'll listen to her Daddy

Best Wishes!

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Caroline248

· #12 · Mar 29, 2006

Glad to hear that, I was thinking about you today. Just keep taking it easy!

~C~

sehbub

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 3, 2006

We're at it again. This time the mucus has lasted 4 days, almost continuously, but the contractions have been milder. However, her movements have decreased as well, and the contractions I am having feel more like menstrual cramps.

My MW still insists everything is fine, and that baby girl is just fine. She's checked me and re-checked me, and said again that since I'm not seeing blood alone (just bloody mucus) or clots, that things are fine.

I'm 28 weeks tomorrow, and I know that baby's chances are great at this stage should I (God forbid) deliver this early, but I'm scared.

Naturally, I'm only have the bulk of the contractions when I'm at the office. I rarely get them at home.

I just want the end of this pregnancy to be as easy as the beginning was, and I hate dreading every trip to the bathroom to see how much more mucus has passed.

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Lousli

· #14 · Apr 3, 2006

My best friend had a preemie born at 34 weeks. 2-3 weeks earlier she lost her mucous plug, and told her midwife. Her midwife sort of shrugged it off with an "it will regrow, no big deal." You might want to consider finding a different midwife that will take your concerns more seriously, or possibly finding an OB. I realize that having a pregnancy with a lot of interventions stinks, but at this point, if I were in your shoes I would look into:

A vaginal ultrasound to see if your cervix is shortening/funneling (funneling cannot be determined by manual exam)
A fetal fibronectin test to see if your cervix is showing signs of PTL

I strongly suuggest staying well hydrated and off your feet as much as possible.

sehbub

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 3, 2006

I am planning to give my OB's office a call (participating in shadow care to soothe DH's mind) this afternoon to see what they think.

So scared.

Lousli

· #16 · Apr 3, 2006

I'm sorry it is scary mama. I hope I didn't freak you out, but I do think a second opinion is a good idea. Hopefully they will agree with your midwife that it is no big deal. Keep us updated!

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Caroline248

· #17 · Apr 3, 2006

Yes, please get a second opinion. It sounds scary, and the stress isn't doing you any good either. Has the midwife checked you? Not that I would really want vaginal checks, but maybe just to make sure you are not dialating??

~C~

AugustineM

· #18 · Apr 3, 2006

An ultrasound to check your cervix quickly might be a good idea. It only takes a quick peek. I hope all is well.... try to relax!

PancakeGoddess

· #19 · Apr 4, 2006

Sarah, keep us posted. I'm thinking about you and understand why it's so scary. I hope you get some good reassurance.

loudmama

· #20 · Apr 5, 2006

Interesting this just came up. I'm just about 29 weeks & spent 4 hours in triage on early saturday morning & over 24 hours in the hospital on monday morning until today. Friday night around Midnight I noticed red spotting. Called my Dr, she asked if I was cramping & feeling the baby move. Hadn't noticed either, but I was at a birth (I'm a doula) so I wasn't paying much attention. Said things are probably fine, but that it was up to me to go in if baby wasn't moving. I layed down & felt baby moving. Clients said for me to go take care of myself though, so I left. I decided to go the other hospital just to make me feel better & because my belly seemed really hard & went to triage to be checked out. Not only was I spotting, but I was also having contractions. Did all kinds of tests & a speculum exam & after about 4 hours things seemed to be fine. Tests came back negative & IV fluids slowed down the contractions. Assumed I was dehydrated & had over done it.Took it very easy on saturday & sunday.

Woke up about 3:30 am Monday morning for a bathroom break & noticed more red bleeding & small clots. Things had diminshed over the last two days. Called triage & they said to come in. No contractions really, but there was bleeding & they hard a time again seeing my cervix because blood was pooling & everytime they swabbed it away, more would come out. Felt that bleeding was coming from my uterus vs my cervix. More of the same tests. FP Dr on call who isn't my normal Dr didn't feel comfortable handling this, so refered me to an OB. Turned out to be the good OB too. (His wife is a homebirth MW) Decided to admit me for observation, though all my tests kept coming out negative & the baby was its normal active self. I think that me having a prior c-section was factor.

Everything kept being fine, the bleeding stopped & the ultrasound showed everything to be fine with baby, my uterus & baby's growth. In the end, they think that it could either be a small abruption that will heal itself or maybe my c-section scar. I'm not on bedrest, but I can't lift anything, exercise or have sex. I'm to use common sense & give myself TLC. If anymore bleeding appears, I feel less fetal movement or contractions, I need to go in again. They'll monitor me more closely as well. I may also need to switch my care to an OB as well. The OB did seem to think VBAC was still an option too.

From what I understand through all of this is that brown blood & clots are old blood. Red is more current & something to have checked out. Abruption is nothing to take likely, even my doula who is a homebirth CNM says this.

Go with your gut. Don't be afraid to have a second opinion.

Hugs,
L

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