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Original poster

Help! Mucus plug just gone, pain down there - is it time?!

292 replies

Noodles81 · 10/02/2012 21:02

Hi guys,

I was due yesterday and had a sweep yesterday. Woke up this morning from pains in my lower back which then transferred to pain in the front, they were coming every half hr.

Just went to the loo now and my mucus plug has gone - it was flegm like and browny/redy in colour. The pains have also come back they happen every so often maybe half an hr.

Does this mean labour is imminent? What shall i do? Friend said now is the time to have sex to get it all going - isn't it dangerous to have sex if the plug has gone?

I'm so nervous!!!!

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Chubfuddler · 11/02/2012 11:43

I'm still going with early hours of Monday. If you are wanting some reassurance ring the delivery suite. They may be glad of the heads up (and if they are rammed full they may tell you to go to another hospital when things pick up, better to prepare for that in advance than be turned away at the door).

morethemerrier · 11/02/2012 12:32

Happy Birthday! Grin

Being described as 2cm would suggest that your were dilated to that which for a 1st baby is very good! And with all the other happenings I would say its the real thing!

Things can rumble on in the first stage but your body is doing all the things it needs to do in preparation for the next stage, just go with it and the best thing you can do is relax and rest. As you will have a more active role when things kick off, pacing and trying to force things along only frustrates and exhausts you!

Enjoy the whole experience together, good luck! Grin

Original poster
Noodles81 · 11/02/2012 16:10

Ladies, can i just ask a stupid question for a minute...

Everytime i get a contraction i've since started using breathing techniques i read in Hypnobirthing - basically the deep breath in and long breath out.
When i do this the pain and the contraction stops completely - is this ok? Shouldn't i be not trying to cut the contractions short as it's a good thing that it's happening? I feel like i should now stop and let it be painful and on-going!

Also, if the pain does stop does that mean it's actually not REAL contractions i'm having?
x

OP posts:
4madboys · 11/02/2012 16:14

i dont think the pain is stopping more that you dont notice it as you are concentrating on your breathing? thats what i found in early labour anyway :)

it sounds to me like you are in the latent stage of labour where things just niggle and come and go, getting your body ready for the big event, its all heading in the right direction, all those pains are helping pusht he baby down onto your cervix to help open it up, so its all good. try to rest and just potter around a bit, dont do anything to much and make sure you eat and drink etc to keep your energy levels up, oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grin

liveinazoo · 11/02/2012 16:26

breathing made mine seem to stop with numbers 2 and 3 in the early stages.its just you relaxing so its not as painfulSmile
im ridiculously excited for you!
happy birthday and lots and lots luck.x

Original poster
Noodles81 · 11/02/2012 16:34

Thank u girlies! :) x

DO you think by the sounds of it he will come himself before induction date next Friday? I was thinking if he's not here by Monday to ring in and ask for another sweep?

Btw, big 30th birthday and it's prolly the most quietest and chilled of all birthday's i've had!
x

OP posts:
MrsRV · 11/02/2012 17:13

have been nosing at this thread since last night... So very exciting! Happy Birthday...! Do make sure u keep posting, i'm 36 wks with first bab and clueless so you're helping me learn all about it!!! Can't wait to see the actual announcement when it comes :-) good luck x

morethemerrier · 11/02/2012 17:25

I would bet my house and car and eat my hat if this little boy does not make an appearance before Friday! Wink

I'll bet this is one of THE most exciting of birthdays though!

OOOhhhh do keep posting, its been a while since there was a live labour thread on a Saturday night!

Good luck! Grin

Chubfuddler · 11/02/2012 17:32

I don't know if they will do a sweep with your plug gone. If your waters go you need to ring the delivery suite straight away as they will probably want you in even if contractions are mild (or even non existent). You're in latent labour, which no one bothered to tell me about. I went into delivery suite after about twelve hours like you are, thinking this must be it, very sniffy ham fisted mw said "hadn't anyone told you about latent labour?" no they effing hadn't.

4madboys · 11/02/2012 17:35

i had a sweep once my mucus plug had gone and with my ds3 after my waters went and a ihad a few hours with not much happening they did other sweep to get things going, it worked he was born 3 hrs later.

this is laten phase labour and can last days but baby should be here before you are due to be induced i would think :)

Original poster
Noodles81 · 11/02/2012 18:01

Just had a nosey online and read some stories about women having sweeps after their plug had gone - which they seem to say will be more effective as the cervix is now gone and they can get right in there.

They've said that once they then had the sweep, it all kicked off within hours and the longer the latent labour phase the quicker the delivery and harder labour bit apparently?!

Shall i ask MW for sweep if lil man is not here by Monday?

OP posts:
Wigeon · 11/02/2012 18:11

Just checking in to see if there's a birth announcement yet Grin.

You can ring the labour ward anytime, day or night, to ask anything (eg whether you should call the MW to ask for a sweep). Or ring your MW on Monday morning (if your baby hasn't yet made an appearance).

Anything which you can do to minimise the pain (eg your breathing techniques) has got to be a good thing - there is absolutely no reason why you "should" feel pain - feeling the pain isn't going to make the baby come any quicker. I'm not a midwife, but I've never heard of anyone being told they should stop their pain management techniques in order to encourage the baby along (apart from warm water sometimes slowing down a labour - but that'd be once you are in established labour). So keep deep breathing!

In answer to another of your questions, personally, I wouldn't call the pains you are having "real" contractions, given they are irregular, not that painful (eg you are managing to get some sleep, your breathing techniques are working and so on) - as others have said, it sounds a lot like latent labour. You really will know when "real" contractions start as it will be impossible to concentrate on anything else, and you won't be able to talk or do anything apart from get through each contraction. And then you know the baby really will be here soon! Smile.

Hope you have had a good birthday and get an early night.

Chubfuddler · 11/02/2012 18:56

Tbh everyone varies with contractions, after my "you're in latent labour go home" visit to hospital my contractions remained the same and i went back into hospital 25 hours later 4cm dilated. they stayed at the same intensity until my waters were broken by mw at 7cm dilated. They ramped up then.

The most important thing is that you avoid the adrenaline getting pumping. It kills labour hormones stone dead. So you mustn't allow yourself to get frightened or worried or in too much pain than you can handle. Ring the delivery suite if any of those applies.

SpottyTeacakes · 11/02/2012 19:07

Definitely get as much rest as you can now and keep your energy levels up by eating properly, you never know when things will get ramped up.

I would ask for another sweep on Monday, but it's totally up to you :)

Chunkychicken · 11/02/2012 19:19

Hoping things are progressing for you but walking around and a bath helped me with my DD. I was lucky, it was 12hrs from show to baby.

The contractions may never get very regular, mine would do a long one every 5-6 mins then a short one a min or 2 later then a long one 5-6 mins later, and I was 9cm then. My friend's 2nd labour went on for a couple of days, with fairly regular contractions.

As for the waters, I had a really strong contraction & a sensation of pushing/pressure down there & a 'popping' feeling, so I doubt it would have escaped my notice, but I could def tell they went despite being in the bath!!

Try to relax & not worry how long it will take, just that he will be here sooner rather than later!! Good luck x

Chunkychicken · 11/02/2012 19:26

And I agree with the other posters, once your full-on 'proper' contractions get going, you'll know!! I would walk, breathe, hum & rock until the pain went, anything to get through it. Rocking in the bath for the last 30mins, before going into hospital once the waters had gone, was the only way to deal with the pain.

It's over soon enough though, & you'll prob want to do it all again in the near future, so don't panicked & try to chill while you can :)

confuzed90 · 11/02/2012 22:42

Just seen ur thread..hope all is ok and lil man comes soon!! Sending hugs.. slightly jealous...29 weeks and FED UP! good luck! X

MooncupandPizza · 12/02/2012 00:16

Will be following - I'd be v. surprised if you don't have your baby before induction date too!
Enjoy this time - lounge, have coffees, naps, read books, chat with friends....

LovesBeingWearingSkinnyJeans · 12/02/2012 02:49

Hope you are getting some rest....or having a baby Grin

Original poster
Noodles81 · 12/02/2012 09:09

Morning everyone,

Had a VERY quiet birthday. We went to our friends, ordered Carribean food and came home!

Last night at my friends the pains were coming every 6-7mins apart and i started to get a bit excited. Also i would go for a wee and wipe properly and when i went for another wee my knickers would be wet so i thought maybe that was the start of waters going - but no i think it was some plug because when i got home fresh knickers were fine.
As soon as i got home they the pains went to every half hr again. I managed to sleep the night but did get woken up a few times with pains.

This morning it's back to half hr it looks like and some more plug. I am so FED UP. It really doesn't look like he wants to come out anytime soon.
I was think i may call the hosp today and see if i can just go in to be examined so i know what the heck is going on, and ask them if i can have another sweep there and then.

Screw how painful it's gonna be now, i just want him to come out! I really don't want to be induced, but i just honestly feel like he isn't coming anytime soon. And as some websites say, some women can go through this latent phase of labour for days, even weeks - i don't have weeks!!
:(

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 12/02/2012 09:15

Well, if you don't want to be induced on Friday and baby still hasn't made an appearance (highly unlikely, but a possibility) then don't be :)

Original poster
Noodles81 · 12/02/2012 09:26

I have to be Fliss as i have GD and they won't let me go any further.

OP posts:
LovesBeingWearingSkinnyJeans · 12/02/2012 09:47

So you need to be up about about, figure of 8 with your hips and bouncing if you have a ball good luck.

Original poster
Noodles81 · 12/02/2012 09:53

Btw, reading other sites about women being in this latent phase they are having the same contraction pains as i am and infrequent at that but their plugs have not gone yet.

Has the fact that my plug has gone and i'm now experiencing the pains with it mean anything? Is labour likely to come sooner than someone who is just experiencing the pain of latent labour?

Can't help but feel a lil down about this all this morning. Just when i thought i was getting somewhere i'm not :(

OP posts:
Kangarobber · 12/02/2012 10:04

That sounds really tough Sad. I hope things start moving for you today.

Even though progress is slow, this is all progress towards your baby being born. The chances are they'll be here long before your induction date.

I know it's hard but the best thing to do is anything relaxing. Getting stressed, grumpy or too excited will only slow down the hormones.