Yikes.. Early Labor Symptom?

TallMomma29 · March 2014

So.. I nearly throw up in my mouth a little bit every time I see the subject line "mucus plug" on one of these boards.... But I'm pretty sure I may have just lost a little of mine (at 26 weeks). Googling "mucus plug" is not for the faint of heart, just FYI.

I've been noticing my panty liners have been getting wetter faster the past few days, and I've had random bouts of low back pain, and then today there was a little bit of very strange discharge that I have never had before. It was pretty gross and I thought, "ahh, another glamorous part of pregnancy!" and laughed and threw the liner away. Then, a few minutes later my "favorite" pregnancy topic popped in my mind (mucus plug) and I thought, "that wasn't what it was, right?" So I consulted Dr. Google. From googling, I am pretty sure it could be part of my mucus plug. And apparently, its normal for some women to lose that gradually... but starting much later... like 35-37 weeks.

This is the first time I'm having a full on symptom freak out. My new OB is supposed to call me within 30 minutes to let me know if I should go to L&D or not. I just switched from Tricare Prime to Standard so I could see someone "on the town" and I have absolutely no idea which hospital I'm supposed to go to, and I can't reach DH to ask, so I'm hoping the OB will call back and help me out. Talk me off the cliff! Do people lose a little bit of that thing early, and keep the rest in tact for the rest of pregnancy?

Big+Lil · March 2014

It regenerates! As pregnancy goes on, the discharge gets wackier. I had a mucus plug thought this week too. Hang in there! Rest and relax the best you can.

Ylvelill · March 2014

No idea about the plug just wanted to send good vibes. And please... Take a step back from the cliff!

pantherRN · March 2014

My MW basically told me to invest in panty liners for the rest of my pregnancy. Some days there is more than others. It's probably okay, but I'll be thinking of you!

abrazz · March 2014

Mucus plugs are pretty distinct IMO. I would still see what the doctor says but hopefully it's just the increase in vaginal discharge that you are noticing.

I hope everything is okay

abundancenow · March 2014

Good to hear you're checking with OB. I don't have early experience like you've described, but when my water broke at 39 weeks, I noticed the discharged to have a different odor from what I had noticed through my pregnancy. I know some people are sensitive about mucus plug descriptions and probably noting the odor of discharge, but I think going through it and having a baby and dealing hands deep in body discharges and such, I got over a lot of my squeamish reactions. So, I write to share and possibly inform, rather than to gross out, but if you're concerned your water has broken or is leaking, the odor may be distinct from your normal discharge. I did not loose my mp until around 38 weeks after my OB stripped it to prepared for induction in a few days. I went in to labor naturally 3 days after I noticed a small piece of it. Hope this helps, and that your OB gets back to you soon and all is well!

TallMomma29 · March 2014

Thanks, ladies! This has helped calm me down a lot already! In my frantic googling I didn't realize it could regenerate itself! I sure hope that's all it is and that it will regenerate itself. It's definitely very distinct from other discharge (I've been wearing liners the whole time already), and combined with the low back pain that I haven't had until recently and the increase in discharge over all... I was starting to lose my mind a little. I still haven't heard back from the OB yet but hopefully she'll call soon and just tell me to wait until I see her on Tuesday. But it will make me feel so much better for her to just tell me it's ok to wait!

pfeilele · March 2014

It's great that you called. To ease your mind, I've had mp-like discharge as well and it's fine. Hopefully it's nothing more than normal!

RKSnyder · March 2014

Keep us posted! I don't have experience but I'm thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way!

rattlecanqueen · March 2014

Praying its just nasty snail trail. Take it easyand keep us posted!

BoraBoraBaby · March 2014

Thinking of you TallMama! I'm sure you're fine but keep us posted!

TallMomma29 · March 2014

Thanks everyone! I finally got in touch with the OB, and she said as long as I'm not leaking clear fluid or having consistent contractions that I can just wait to see her on Tuesday (for my already scheduled appt) and she can check me out. I'm pretty sure I'm only leaking pee ;-) So now I am just chugging tons of water and taking it as easy as possible.

I'm usually totally laid back about random symptoms and think that as long as I don't have severe cramping accompanied by bleeding that I'm fine, and I went into crazy lady panic mode today!

tourqeyes · March 2014

catarntina said:

It keeps coming back... sounds gross, but you'll leak mucus forever. It'll regenerate. The mucus plug itself is pretty big. And tmi ... when I lost mine, there was also blood. It's normal to see mucus when you wipe or in a liner

Same with mine. I thought it was a large blood clot and got nervous.

Marybraunger · March 2014

I had a similar scare. I actually thought I was leaking Amniotic fluid. I called to see the dr and she told me to come in the next day. She was able to check if the fluid was amnio. It wasn't. But the results came back from the LAB a week later showing I had some type of normal bacteria that's not treated nor harmful to the baby. The dr said that the vagina is like a ecosystem where all kinds of bacteria and things grow. Some women have more of a type of bacteria than others. After that scare, I've given up worrying over discharge during this pregnancy.

mrscurlygurl · March 2014

Glad you've been reassured. Don't feel like a crazy pregnant lady...we all have our moments. It's better to call and come here to all your "internet" friends, than to freak out alone. Take care of yourself chica!

eortman · March 2014

I think I may have lost a bit of mine several times this pregnancy. Weird, because I never did with my 2 kids, but like PPs said it can regenerate. I would worry if its bloody, but if not you are probably ok.

And, OP, I think I accidentally flagged you. I think I got or removed but not sure. Sorry :-(

TallMomma29 · March 2014

Hopefully future FTMs who are freaking out find this discussion instead of the ones I found! After googling pictures, I found a couple posts on some other boards where everyone was basically like "GET OFF THE INTERNET AND GO TO THE DOCTOR NOW!" So I immediately got off the internet, freaked out, and called the OB. If someone had mentioned the regeneration thing (or if I had searched a little longer to figure that out on my own), I think it would have totally saved me from an "omg I am going to have a preemie baby while my husband is gone!" freak out!

bewilderingstar · March 2014

Totally coming into this late, but I'm glad things are looking up @TallMomma29 !! It must have been a scary night. Good luck with your appointment and let us know how it went.

BTW, how weird that the MP regenerates! It definitely is a little creepy, lol.

Yikes.. Early Labor Symptom?

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