i know it's rude..

tileycyrus · May 2015

Ok, let me start this snarky post off my apologizing-sorry in advance for the rude statement I'm about to make, but I just can't hold it in any longer..

I'm a FTM, 40 weeks-due tomorrow, and I want to praise all the ladies that have started wonderful threads. Threads that are informative and thoughtful-where people actually deliver some great insight and past/current experiences. I love reading all of your stories and seeing pictures of your baby's!

And then I just can't understand some of you other ladies! The resourcefulness you lack makes me sad. With Dr's, nurse hotlines, and google all at your fingertips it's pretty incredible how the same medical questions keep getting asked.

Trust your gut and stop relying on the Internet so much, women have been birthing and keeping babies alive and healthy for thousands of years. We can all do it-share your stories and experiences-not your mucus plug pictures.

Sorry again if you're offended!...but did my water just break?

danibonello · May 2015

Oh good lord. Why did you click on a thread that TOLD you there was a picture?! Ughhhhh!

trishadobel · May 2015

The question shouldn't be why would you click on a thread with a picture if you don't want to see it. The question SHOULD be, why in the world would someone take a picture of that and post it? Take that pic into your doctor or MW if you have questions, not to a board full of strangers. I agree with the OP, baby announcements, stories, crazy scenarios... Keep them coming, mucus plug pictures, and any other pictures that involve bodily function those can stay private.

And as hard to believe as it may be, I am not trying to be snarky or mean, just honest.

katiebug66 · May 2015

I will say one of my pet peeves is a general lack of resourcefulness in people. I work with college students and they will email me asking for a phone number and I am like - GOOGLE it!

blitzy23 · May 2015

Lack of education and knowledge is what scares me about some of these questions!

toddabunny · May 2015

I couldn't Even click the link, ewww so not read the post

danibonello · May 2015

Look, I'm not denying thay there are plenty of times that women are definitely asking the wrong people ("I'm bleeding a lot, what should I do?", etc.). But if someone is curious about a mucus plug, it's not out of the realm of possibility for them to think to ask other women who have experienced it. Could she have chosen to google search? Sure. That's what I did when I was curious about mine... but she shouldn't be criminalized for asking an innocent question when she gave fair warning that it was graphic. So in my opinion, this issue absolutely IS that you shouldn't "click and complain" if you've been warned. Now if she hadn't mentioned the pic in the title... then fair game, be grossed out. But that's not the case here.

In regards to resourcefulness... do you not consider these boards to be a resource? As long as it's not a life threatening situation? I know I've gained some knowledge on things I wonder about from coming here.

My point it to just take a step back and stop being so judgmental of the fellow mamas.

We should all be on the same team.

danibii · May 2015

I clicked it... I couldn't help it... It kept TAUNTING me.. Click meeeeee..

Brieb33 · May 2015

For freaking real - if one more person posts a pic of their "'mucus plug" I'm going to puke! Nobody wants to see your discharge, ok???? Btw, I do not and have not ever looked.

khaleesi123 · May 2015

Preach it sister!!

I actually thought this was going to be a post about how horrible we all are because they come quite regularly those posts.

@danibonello there is no excuse for posting something so disgusting .. Even if we don't click on it we picture it and pregnant people shouldn't have to do that. They should google it and gross themselves out not us

MrsWhiteToBe · May 2015

I'm not grossed out by much, so the actual TMI pictures don't bother me. What I find incredibly frustrating is the lack of confidence people have when it comes to their health.

I was a pharmacy technician for 4 years up until I got laid off 8 months ago. I worked in a drugstore and wore a lab coat. For whatever reason, when people see you in a lab coat, they think "Doctor!" And lose the ability to practice good judgement. I saw so many naked body parts over the course of those 4 years. People wouldn't even ask "Could I show you something on my body that I am concerned about?" They'd just drop trou and screech "DOES THIS LOOK INFECTED?" Sometimes while I was in mid sentence with a customer who was not insane. Twice we had a lady bring in a plastic Baggie with her own stool sample to show the pharmacist. She said she trusted him more than her own doctor. We said we would call the police if she did it again.

One problem was that people were so afraid of "bothering" their doctor that they wouldn't ask for help when they needed it. Not everyone knows that pharmacists are legitimate doctors and are consulted every time your doctor writes you a prescription. They work in a retail store, so people associate them with your typical minimum wage employee and feel less intimidated about asking for help. I hear a lot of that reflected in the boards; women are afraid of bothering their doctors, or that the doctor will be mean or think they are stupid.

This shows the problem with self confidence. Of course I want my doctor to like me, and I know how busy they are, so instead of "bothering" them, I'll just ask someone who isn't as busy or as important. Also, I don't trust my own awareness of my own body, I need someone else to validate my concern so I know it's real.

I went to the bathroom, and when I wiped it looked like my vagina sneezed. I'm pretty sure this is my mucus plug, but I don't feel like I'm smart enough to make that assessment. My doctor would know, but I'm sure she is very busy and I don't want to be a burden and possibly embarrass myself by appearing stupid. I'll ask some faceless strangers anonymously on the Internet. Hopefully they have asked their doctors so I don't have to bother mine. If they get mad at me it won't matter, because I don't know them in real life and it's easy to pretend they are just an autonomous computer program instead of real people with real gag reflexes. They have no right to disagree with me or be upset because that would make me feel bad.

For the people who say there is nothing wrong with asking us strangers, you're right! But there is also nothing wrong with bothering your doctor. It's called being your own advocate. And while your doctor has to uphold a certain level of ethics and professionalism, we don't! I am so tempted to flat out lie to some of these posters (you'll know it's your mucus plug if it tastes sweet- like lemonade!) Its really best for everyone involved if you save the medical inquiries to the medical professionals.

I apologize if I've ruined lemonade for anyone.

trishadobel · May 2015

With that in mind, the average salary for an OBGYN in the U.S. Is 254,072. They are getting paid very well to answer your questions, and they have probably heard it all!!!

Don't be afraid of asking them a dumb question or bothering them. At 250 k plus a year bothering is part of the job.

kristaelaine86 · May 2015

What gets me is WHAT DOES IT MATTER?! Seriously , what is the big deal about the mucus plug?!?! It means absolutely nothing!! It does not mean labour is starting tomorrow, or next week , and it grows back. Everyone should know if they've read anything on pregnancy ever that discharge is freaking normal- so what's it matter if it's discharge or mucus plug? What advantage is confirming it on this forum by taking a photo?