Sooo...36 weeks, head fully engaged, just had a brownish thing going on "down below". Opinions? Comments?

[raisingrrrl]

Just seen my dr (for ds' cough, not for anything pg related) and got him to check my bump while we were there as it felt very different to how it had felt before. He said the head is engaged, and that it was all fine. I've been feeling much less movement than before, but still feeling some, and I feel ok apart from a lot of pressure on my pubic bone and pelvis.

Just been to the loo and when I wiped, there was a brownish liquid coming away. Not mucus-y, so don't think it was a show, but might be hind waters leaking (this is what happened with ds).

So - what do you think? Phone labour ward and ask their opinion? Can't phone mw as she's useless and I hate her, and refused to see her for AN checks - I see my GP.

Just kind of wondering what other MNers would do in my situation! Don't want to hare off to labour ward like I did with ds and end up with a lot of intervention and a baby who wasn't ready to be born because I read the signs wrong!

Bumping for you.

if you have had a little bleed, then perhaps you should call the labour ward?

it might be a show or some discharge. but if it is a leak of fluid and it is brown, you should be seen urgently

bump for the OP...

Hi - thanks for your replies. I've put a pad on, will go check in a minute (sorry if TMI! )

I phoned my doula - who is a trainee - just to let her know things might be moving, and she said that her concern was that it was my hind waters leaking and that there was...not metanium, what's the stuff that newborns poo instead of poo? You know what I mean, anyway. My doula was worried that there was that in my hind waters, which would mean the baby was in distress. Anyway, she also reminded me that I'm 36.5 weeks, and that the labour ward might be more understanding about me staying at home - I've planned a home birth - given that a) it might be nothing and b) even if it is something it could still be 3 days before anything happens!

Ramble ramble, sorry...

that stuff is called meconium

am a doula too ! if your waters are leaking and they are stained with meconium, the black tarry poo that babies pass after birth, it can be a sign the baby is in distress.

if it is bleeding, then it might be a sign of dilation or if you have a cervical erosion

either way, i would be calling labour ward, i don;t thikn they would be too happy about a home birth on the cusp of term with possible mec. stained liquor and a possibly distressed baby

please do get checked

x

meconium!

I think if I were you- and I'm fairly laissez faire- I'd want to be checked out.

cervical erosion can give you a bit of bleeding spotting, especially after sex and it is not sinister

x posts

is your baby still moving and wriggling ok?

Meconium! That's it, thank you!

Just checked pad, there's a bit of brownish discharge on it, but it doesn't smell foul, and it's soaked right into the pad rather than sitting on top so it's not a show (cause a show would be slimy, wouldn't it?)

Still getting movements, and slight contractions. I dunno...I had a horrible birth experience with my ds and at least part of it was down to me panicking at the slightest thing and going down to labour ward.

Feel a bit sick as well - i think that's nerves though. I just wish I knew how i laboured naturally. Ds was induced at 38 weeks and was born on the maximum dose of syntocinon!

(Lulu - you do know me btw, am going to CAT you in a mo)

Lulu - just realised I need to register for CAT again. Have emailed you.

I think you should phone labour ward for advice.

Forgot to say I am also 36.5 weeks and would be calling them. Good luck!

got your email, please do keep us posted xx

Well, everything seems to have died down now. Still getting lots of movements though, so I'm not worried. The only thing that does worry me, though, is that every time I've tried to phone labour ward it's been engaged!

McD - I was on your AN thread for a bit, I failed to send you a fluffy penguin - are you under S.M. hospital too? Have you had any issues with getting in touch with them?

My doula thinks that my body is holding me back from going into full labour, because of my previous horrible labour experience with ds. I'm not sure that this is labour at all, but we'll have to see how we go.

i recognise your RL name, but can;t remember your previous MN name !!

i think that it would be a good idea to talk things through with your doula , and get any remaining fears and upsets out now.

it might help, and eitehr way, you need to be free of the trauma from last time before you labour

i am also a big fan of a bath, with candles and talking to your baby.

not sure if you are in pre labour, if you are having any niggles or pains, then maybe things are gearing up, but yuor body will tell you when it is time to pay attention

in the meantime, try to let go and relax and nurture yourself

but definitely still get checked out. and check you have teh right number for labour ward !!