Can I book to see my community midwife if I think something's wrong?

[SadPander]

I'm 22 weeks and had bloody mucus when I wiped a couple of hours ago. I've been really paranoid about incompitent cervix since early on (after stupidly checking my cervix and finding it a bit open). I called antenatal assesment unit as my notes say to if I have concerns, and they just said to wear a pad and call back in an hour if there is more blood. There wasn't more blood but I'm still really worried incase this is mucus plug or something wrong. I felt my cervix again (I know I shouldn't) and it seemed really soft and about a finger open, I've also been having a lot of braxton hix this week. I told the antenatal clicic about the braxton hix but they said it wasn't concerning.

I've got an anterior placenta so can't feel baby move yet for reasurance which is making it worse. Do you think it would be okay to book an appointment with my midwife at antenatal clinic on Thursday to speak to her? I think the clinic is generally just supposed to be for the sceduled appointments at 25 weeks etc so don't know if I can book to see her inbetween? I don't have contact details for her, just the GP surgery who make the booking, so can't phone and ask.

Sorry for the long ramble, just feeling stressed!

Don't know about the community midwife thing but I would insist on being seen. Please call back and ask to be checked out.

My midwife told me if I have any concerns to just book in at the clinic any week i want so I don't see why not it's what they are there for after all not just the scheduled appointments x

If you are worried or concerned then call and make an appt.

Please STOP self examining.

Thanks all. They seemed so unconcerned at the assesment unit, I was expecting them to say to come in and get checked in the morning at least. I'm quite a paranoid person so doubt my own judgement, especially as they said it sounds normal - I was expecting them to be as panicked as I was!

The antenatal clinics are on Thursdays so I don't think the midwife is there other days, but I could call GP tomorrow and see if I would be able to see someone sooner. Or call assesment unit again tomorrow if anyhting seems wrong (I work in the hospital grounds so easy to pop over). But would I even have any further symptoms if soomething was wrong? I'm struggling to put things into perspective at the mo and weigh up if there is something to worry about here, or if I should trust the assesement units oppinion.

There could be something to worry about. Probably not, but better safe than sorry.

I wont examine it again, thank you for the advice. Although its killing me as I just want to check if its getting any worse. But in reality I don't really know what I'm checking for and could make things worse so will resist.

I will call GP tomorrow and see how soon I can see community website. I'm just not very assertive with this sort of thing, I know that sounds a bit pathetic, but I'm always worried I'm making a fuss about nothing. I've worried about so many things which haven't turned out to be true in this pregnancy so far that I now have no confidence in my insincts or in pushing for something to be done.

I actually had a worrying cervix and after 21wks was told to call delivery triage if i was concerned/thought i might be in labour and asked to talk it through with the midwife on duty. Without fail the advice was have a couple of paracetamol, a warm bath and a rest, and call back in an hour or two if I was still worried.

Not sure of your local arrangements but worth a call if you have something similar and would like some advice. Agree with the posters to stop self examining. My cervix was monitored with internal scans and they were very careful with the wand.

Agree with fuckwittery

Thanks everyone for your advice, it is always so amazing how supportive people are when you need it! I called the assessment unit back, with much encouragement from my collegue (who basically said that I am responsible for this baby, and if I don't feel happy with them not checking me out it is up to me to push for more. She said it doesn't matter if this makes me uncomfortable as I have a duty to the baby and basically to man up - in a supportive, kind way!)

They seemed pretty pissed off when I insisted on coming in to be seen, but were actually really helpful once I got there, and both midwife and Doctor gave me a thorough going over. Apparently some of the cells from the inside of my cervix are growing on the outside and it is a very odd shape right now - the doctor suggested this is why it feels open and is bleeding, but infact is long and closed. Also heard the babies heart beat for the first time too, which was great and I feel so much better now I don't have to go on worrying about this!

Thanks for pushing me to go, I've realised I need to grow up and take responsibility for this baby, even if that does piss of hospital staff and make me feel like I'm over reacting.

Thanksfuckwittery I did use anti-bac hand wash so all very clean, but after all the stress it caused me I will be trying to stay away in future!

Pleased for you that everything is ok and you got seen to.

Self examining is more likely to cause problems, I.e introduce infection, cause bleeding, and irritate your cervix which could actually put you into premature labour! Please, please be careful. Even doctors and midwives would be reluctant to examine you vaginally unless they were almost certain that you were in established labour.

And even if your hands are clean, you are still introducing bacteria from the labia, perineum and lower vagina to much further up near your cervix, where it causes more problems.

It doesn't matter if you piss them off, piece of mind is priceless as is the safety of you and your baby.