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

[Noodles81]

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!!!!

My plug with my 2nd DS was like curdly green snot (tmi)

Always best to get these things checked though, nice happy labour vibes sending your way x

Great - glad you got some positive reassurance from the midwife.

Really hope you can continue getting some rest and hope you are not going mad with impatience!

I'm feeling very emotional, teary and upset at the moment.

I don't know what's going on, i don't know if anything is happening in there, i don't know how long this is going to take or if it will be done by Friday or if i need intervention. I don't know how far along i've got i just feel so helpless.

More so i don't know if he's going to be ok with all this going on. I just wanna sob into my pillow right now :(

Oh sweetheart :( If it's any consolation, when I was on the very cusp of labour with both of mine, being emotional to the point of despair was a sure fire sign things were imminent :) With my ds, the latent phase seemed to last for weeks. Once my waters went, my contractions went straight to business and he was born within 3 hours, a really really great birth. I do think, as frustrating as it is, a long prelabour can actually make the real event far faster, as it will be making your body more efficient and able to do what it needs to do. None of which helps you now I'm sure, but every pain is doing something, it really is.

Aw - you poor thing. It must be very frustrating. Hopefully it's reassuring to know that it all seems to be completely normal, from what you've posted. That's the thing about labour - you have no idea in advance what kind of labour you'll end up having. And although there are various things you can do to help yourself, you basically have to give yourself over to a process over which you only have limited control.

It definitely sounds like things have progressed over the days you've been posting. I think you would be very unlucky not to have a baby by Friday. You might or might not need intervention (whether that's something to encourage your labour along, or additional pain relief), and if you do, it won't be because of anything you have or haven't done.

You aren't completely helpless - you've been doing loads of really good things, like the curry, the TENS, a bath, watching TV, trying to sleep and so on. That's all really positive and helping your body do its thing. Once you have your lovely baby this stage will just seem like a distant memory .

Noodles.

The peeing, like having sodding cystitis - seem desperate, get there and then a dribble comes out. Go back to bed, feel desperate again and get up and go for the same slightly burning pee. You poor thing. If it helps in anyway (and I am sure it doesn't) I was about 6cm at this point in proceedings. You will know when it kicks off big style, I promise, it doesn't seem like it right at this moment but you will, and every little contraction is getting you closer to meeting your snuggly new born.

Its normal I promise, I am convinced I told dh tha I just wanted to die right now, or that we didn't need another baby we had one at home all terrible things and all very emotional. It is emotional, you are about to become a mummy

Aw, Noodles, now I KNOW this is easier said than done but these are your last days of being just you and OH, your last days of pre-baby life. Your baby WILL come when s/he is ready and that WILL be soon - if not by Friday, you should have your baby before the weekend is out. In the meantime, relax, nap, have coffee in cafes with a book in the quiet. Go for a walk, take a long bath, chat on the 'phone (but NOT about labour/birth etc!).

Your body is definitely gearing up, it knows what to do, you just have to listen to it and go with the flow. If it's relaxing out of labour thoughts at the moment, then you should too.

I don't think it's always helpful to know how far along you are(n't!). I remember even in full labour with DD, with no concept of how long I had been in the hospital, I wondered if I should ask midwife how far along I was and then decided not to on the basis that if it was nearly here, then it was nearly here and if I still had a long way to go, knowing that could dishearten me so I'd be better off just doing what I was doing.

It's SO frustrating when you are tired and had that pain and wondering how the "real" think is going to be and just wanting to meet your lovely bundle but you are close. The pregnancy has been months, it's only a matter of days taht you have left.

Mind yourself and that bump...which will soon be replaced by a baby in your arms!

P.S. re:labour - my Mum said that just at the point when she felt "I really can't take this anymore" - that's the point when baby is really just about to come, you're nearly done! That's similar to what fuckity said too, though about a different stage in proceedings.

You're doing great and you'll be a mum soon!

You're nearly there you know. The others are right that the feeling teary is actually a positive sign. Have you got someone to give you a hug? You need to feel warm and coddled right now . You are doing so well xx

Thank you you lovely ladies for your support :)

I am thirsty but i don't want to drink because i just wee every 5 mins and i have to drag myself out of bed to go which is so hard and tiring and the pressure it puts down there is unbearable.
Not to mention the fact that i get up and think i need a number 2 only to sit on the loo and nothing happen.

I just feel like all i'm doing is waiting for those 4mins apart ones and when i have one then wait another 10-15mins i think how much longer!?!?!?!
I need to let go and just let them get on with it and just think oh there's another one, life goes on.

I think more than anything i'm worried that he's ok in there with everything being so slow, i feel him move but i just wonder if he's annoyed in there.
I wish i was one of those who had a sweep then went into labour and things rolled along as they should instead of all this stop start.

I'm sorry for the pity party and the moaning. x

feeling like you need to poo is a labour sign my dear... i think you may be feeling self-pitying because your hormones are shifting rapidly...

Glad the mw set your mind at ease re: the green show. chin up, it will all happen as it should. :)

Have you tried just sitting facing backwards on the loo with your head on your arms? Some people find that comfy (others not so much!).

If your body's thirsty you do need to drink, even if only a little bit through a straw. x

Oh love, I bet he's fine. You're the one doing all the hard work: he's probably just wondering what all the squeezy business is. You are doing all the right things.

Tearful is a perfectly normal reaction right now, let it out if it helps. It is a miserable business when it's like this and you are doing really well.

I've got to go to bed now, 25 weeks and knackered. I'll check in in the morning and see how you're doing.

And sorry about this but you have to drink! Imagine feeling like this but dehydrated, eh? Little sips and often. Can your OH get you some ice cubes to suck?

Pressure like needing to poo is good

Keep hydrated though, little and often, not swigging pints of water. And going to the loo a lot probably means baby is putting lots of pressure on your bladder on his journey

Not long to go now, he'll be here soon. The best things come to those who wait x

yes needing to wee and feeling like you need a poo are all good signs with the contractions you are having! your baby is pressing down well and its all helping get your body ready for his arrival! and baby will be fine, he is still wriggling/kicking etc? if you have any concerns over movement then get checked out.

but it all sounds very positive and how lovely would a valentines baby be!!

it is awful and exhausting but it wil be SOOO worth it i promise you xxx

oh and when you have a wee, i found it helped if i leant forward, lifting my bum up off the seat, sort of leaning over, so that the baby weight is lifted a bit and then i could empty my bladder properly! might help,

also sitting the wrong way round ont he toilet is also comfortable for some reason!

do drink and eat to keep your strength up :) xx

Pressure from the baby makes you want to go to the loo. mine was so bad i peed on the midwife! That's a great sign! As 4MadBoys said, try sitting backwards on the loo.
Good luck.

Ooh, just realised I'm half an hour late. Hopefully that's a good sign.

My midwife was dead smug. I kept telling her I needed a wee, she said I didn't, so, I just let her have it!

Tears and needing to wee and poo are great signs, honest!! If you get to the stage of finding your dp/dh excruciatingly annoying and want to rip his head off with your bare hands for breathing in a funny way, that's a good sign too. Or maybe that was just me ...

Sip water if you can, you are doing really well.

morning noodles.
hope you got some sleep

both me and my sister got very emotional in labour and declared we didnt want to do this after all and would have the baby another day

as other posters hav esaid a bit fluid down you is important to keep hydrated

sending love and relaxing vibes

Been watching. So sorry it's all so frustrating for you! Keep hydrated tho. Rest when u can. Baby will arrive soon! Thinking of you! u can do it!!

Was reading over all the posts there and agree with all the ladies that baby will be coming very soon. Hope ur ok and cant wait to hear baby news :)

Been following since Friday, good luck all the signs are you're nearly there