Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

35 weeks. Have I lost my mucus plug or am I having a show? Warning: possibly TMI!

14 replies

cremedelacreme · 03/05/2011 19:17

Hi
On Sunday night I lost a lot of dark brown mucous, some really dark, some with red streaks in. I've been losing mucous ever since, but more recently it's been clear/tinged with pink. Except for just now when a clot-like, dark brown/black lump appeared which, when pressed between the tissue, showed bright red.

Is this my mucous plug or am I having a show? I think the former, which I think means that labour could still be weeks away but I'm keen to get others' views because I'm away from home, not particularly close to a hospital, without DH - who is also meant to be going to Scotland on Thursday, until Monday - and currently in the process of trying to decide whether to have an ELCS or try for a VBAC (I know I may not have the choice!)

It's not been happening today but, for the last week I've been having 'period' pains and pain in the small of my back. And when baby's heart was monitored last week, I had five strong Braxton Hicks contractions in 32 minutes. Oh, and baby is on big side and I have too much fluid (but they're not worried it's anything serious). Just thought I'd mention these things in case they might be relevant!

Tx in advance for any thoughts!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Flisspaps · 03/05/2011 19:22

The mucous plug is the show (isn't it?) .

Ring your MW and see what they say. Better to ring and be reassured than sitting there worrying :)

RancerDoo · 03/05/2011 19:22

Losing your mucus plug and having a show are both names for the same thing I believe. It's just a sign that changes are starting to happen to your cervix. Labour could be weeks away, but it might not be so is there someone you can go stay with when your DH is away?

magicmelons · 03/05/2011 19:59

I had a show a month before dd1 was born, it sounds a bit like this but don't remember clots. Is your baby moving plenty? I'd phone your mw and just let her know won't do any harm

pinkytheshrinky · 03/05/2011 20:02

Phone someone and ask please - will put your mind at rest and will do no harm eh?

ilovesprouts · 03/05/2011 20:04

as above

MorningCoffee · 03/05/2011 20:06

I would phone the mw to be safe, i had a show with my ds and my labour started straight away.

Original poster

cremedelacreme · 03/05/2011 20:07

bump!

OP posts:

Original poster

cremedelacreme · 03/05/2011 20:33

Tx everyone and sorry for 'bump' - your messages only came through after I'd done the bumping. Strange! Well, phoned maternity unit and they said to call back if I had any contractions or if waters broke (it's a negative for both so far!)

OP posts:

Original poster

cremedelacreme · 03/05/2011 20:38

@magicmelons - baby not moving as much, but I do get days like that, especially when I'm a bit stressed with work (hence the monitoring last week - all was well).

I guess I was a bit worried at the bright red bit at the end - other brown mucous, I'd read about.
I think I'm also unsure about what to tell DH about going away this weekend (he says he thinks he shouldn't go but I'd hate him to cancel and then find that baby doesn't arrive early and he could have gone after all!). I will be with family and could get to another hospital, but DH doesn't want to miss the birth. It's a difficult one, but I think the only way of ensuring he's around for the birth is to not go, just in case. Tx for advice.

OP posts:

Original poster

cremedelacreme · 04/05/2011 12:51

BTW, I thought plug and show were one and the same but I came across some info online that said this was not the case, hence the confusion!

OP posts:

WowOoo · 04/05/2011 12:59

My baby came four days after losing my plug at 36 weeks. Not trying to panic you - just take it easy. (I did heavy stuff foolishly - I lugged around and put up a heavy wooden bunkbed. MW said that could have brought labour on)

I'd let your dh hang around if he wants to. Good luck - I had a VBAC.

Original poster

cremedelacreme · 05/05/2011 11:05

@wowoo thanks for sharing your experience! I'm in the middle of a work project at the moment, so DM looking after DD and I'm rather sedentry at a laptop (shouldn't be on MN really)!

Well, DH is going away this weekend. Let's just hope things stay as they are! Pains have gone away so ...

Re plug and show. Does anyone know for sure that they are one and the same? I'd read that a show usually occurs as labour begins whereas the plug 'go' in advance (although the time lag between losing plug and labour beginning is evidently different for every woman!)

OP posts:

dyerlou · 05/05/2011 13:24

Hi I am 31wks and had a show (mucus plug) yesterday mine was clear though! I phoned midwife as so early and she asked about movement which is fine and also about my previous births which were both late! she said its comon to loose it early on second or subsequent pregnancy's and that baby will be engaging and un-engaging and that has broken off some of the mucus plug (which she says can reform) she says no need to worry at all unless contractions start! but am still feeling on tender hooks! will let you know if anything does occur!

Original poster

cremedelacreme · 06/05/2011 23:55

Thanks for sharing dyerlou. Thinking of you!

OP posts:

Flip