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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!!!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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MrsRV · 14/02/2012 09:05

Keep going noodles!!! Happy Valentines xx

4madboys · 14/02/2012 09:55

just checking in! hope you had an ok night, happy valentines day xx

Original poster
Noodles81 · 14/02/2012 10:34

Morning all,

Can just about write through the pain.

Been up since 4am and i have a feeling (fingers and toes crossed) that today's the day.
Been having regular contractions since 4am very very painful - unlike the last lot i had (had one now in fact). OH tells me that some were 4mins apart, some 5 and some 6. Touch wood it's not stopped since i woke up and i hope they keep going.

Had a bit of a fright earlier, although my plug has gone and there was some blood in it, today after my wee i wiped tissues of blood and it was bright red blood and a clot too. Frantically called triage who told me to put a pad on it call back and said it sounds like the bloody show.
Turns out it was, and has been mucusy with blood since (on and off) i guess it just waited until now to literally show. Also had some proper tea with sugar and felt lil man kick and squirm around so calmed down since then.

Whar i'm now dreading is going in only to be told i'm only 3cm!

owwwwwwwwwww. gtg. x

OP posts:
StarlightDicKenzie · 14/02/2012 10:43

Noodles, it wouldn't matter if you WERE only 3cm. That information only tells you you are 3cm, not how much longer you have to go.

It is fairly typical for women, who have bodies that have done so much preperation work like yours has to suddenly go into speedy labour and deliver quickly. It's been annoying but it's incredibly efficient really.

The 'problem' with VEs imo is that you could be heading for your speedy labour, find out you are 3cm, get demoralised and miserable, lose focus, panic and increase the adrenaline which will slow things down and risk you 'giving up' and asking for induction/epidural etc which make things less smooth.

Whereas if you just relax and go with your body you'll get to 10cm from 3cm in a couple of hours or less.

StarlightDicKenzie · 14/02/2012 10:43

But it is definately time for TENS and practicsing breathing etc.

4madboys · 14/02/2012 10:47

what starlight said! having done all this prepatory work once you get going it will probably be really quick! good luck!

NotYetEverything · 14/02/2012 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Noodles81 · 14/02/2012 11:08

Thanks for the heads up. What am I facing here ladies?v is it the same type of paain or am I in for worse? Been using TENS and breathing since 4am and also been laughing each contraction away. I just hope to god gas and air will get me thru whatever is about to come. X

OP posts:
StarlightDicKenzie · 14/02/2012 11:15

Well it won't necessarily become more painful, but it is likely to get more intense and you'll not be posting here. You'll be going into yourself to concentrate and in between you'll only have a couple of minutes and you'll use it resting, perhaps sipping a bit of water, perhaps having a small joke or chat, but then it will be time for the next one.

sambrads · 14/02/2012 11:18

noodles it will get alot worse no point me lyig to you but just focus on the fact that with every bad pain u have the closer you are to seeing ur baby.
I had 2 natural births with just gas and air it defo does take the edge off pains but if u feel like you need more then go for it.
so so so excited for u :)
I would recommend walkin up and down the stairs helps opening up the pelvis and if u have a ball split ur legs like one in front and one behind and rock it doesnt make sense but try it on a ball and see lol.

Kangarobber · 14/02/2012 11:23

We can't tell you whether it will get worse. For many ladies this part is the worst bit, as the later stages feel more intense, but also somehow more purposeful, as your body just takes over.

Try to stay calm and relaxed. Your body was made to do this and is doing it beautifully. You don't need to know how many cm you are (even if the MW want to know you can ask them not to tell you). The numbers don't tell you how long it will take, and fairly soon time will cease to have meaning for you anyway -labour distorts time. People go from 3cm to pushing in less than an hour sometimes Smile.

Keep going, you're doing amazingly. Breathe or damce through it and come back to tell us when you have your beautiful baby in your arms Smile

StarlightDicKenzie · 14/02/2012 11:23

sambrads, it won't necessarily get worse. It didn't with my first and noodles body has been working very hard thus far.

And my second only got a little bit worse. I could still joke and drink tea until I was pushing. Didn't even have gas and air with that one.

It's good to be prepared for more intensity and potentially more pain, but there is no point in frightening yourself about something that might not happen, expecially as fear is likely to have you fighting and increase the pain iyswim.

Flisspaps · 14/02/2012 11:26

Tell DH to stop telling you how spaced your ctx are - remember the Hackney Doula!

I'd not ask how far you are along either - 3cm is not going to tell you if you've
got two or ten hours left, the Friedman's curve (average cervical dilation of 1cm an hr graph which has been somewhat disputed) is something a uterus doesn't bother looking at! 3cm isn't 'only 3cm' anyway, it's a third of the way there with just those pain in the arse niggles, fabulous. Imagine how effective those intense contractions are going to be if you can do 1/3 of it all going about your normal business Grin

PoohBearsHole · 14/02/2012 11:26

Exactly what starlight said - contractions for me started sunday night, monday I went to hospital where they stopped Hmm tuesday night 9pm I went back in and ds appeared early weds morning. With 1 push, mw didn't have her gloves on as she had previously looked and was 9cm. So although I was tired from being in labour I was lucky enough not to have hours and hours of pushing.

I hope its the same for you Smile

sambrads · 14/02/2012 11:30

In my opinion it did get worse before I seen my baby suppose everyone is different.
noodles im not trying to frighten you sorry if my post read like that.

Napdamnyou · 14/02/2012 12:32

noodles you can do it! He is coming!

Let your body do it's thing and keep drinking and resting when you can. Remember the Hackney Doula. Let your body do it, go not your zone.

Get off the Internet and tell us when he's here, later. Much later. When you've had tea, toast and all the cuddling and time you need.

Napdamnyou · 14/02/2012 12:34

Its. Go into your zone. Stupid phone.

Gah.

Fisharefriendsnotfood · 14/02/2012 12:50

Best of luck, how exciting Smile

Trust your body. You can do this!

liveinazoo · 14/02/2012 12:54

lots of luck and love noodles!
like the other posters have said.YOU made this baby grow and YOu can do it

hope labour goes smoothly and your darling waited for baby shows up soon.x

ILoveGreggsSausageRolls · 14/02/2012 14:03

Good luck Noodles, hopefully your on your way to holding your squishy baby

MooncupandPizza · 14/02/2012 14:44

Oooh, good luck! Looking forward to a birth announcement soon!

Focus on the moment and that each moment is leading you closer to your baby but try not to predict and second guess what may or may not happen!

Original poster
Noodles81 · 14/02/2012 17:06

It was going so well....

It's now down to every half an hour. Don't know what to say :(

OP posts:
Kangarobber · 14/02/2012 17:10

Your body's giving you a rest. Can you take advantage and lie down on your left side or something? What feels comfortable?

You will get there and you are making lots of progress. Try not to get disheartened xx

SpottyTeacakes · 14/02/2012 17:11

Oh noodles Sad I know it's hard but try not to get disheartened. Have an early night and keep getting as much rest as you can whilst doing some waking in the day. I'm sure someone will have some better advice for you in a minute

Flisspaps · 14/02/2012 17:21

Say nothing. Your body is working bloody hard. Let it have a break.

Stop counting. Some women never get the pattern of one minute long, every three minute contractions. Some do.

Don't be disheartened. Don't think you have to come on here and update us - thinking about what people are thinking or expecting can hold things up.

Remember, every contraction is one less to go until the end :)