Peek-Mucous plug ? at 23 weeks

Hi I'm waiting impatiently for my clinic to call me back, I've been having moderate back pain and some cramps but just chalked it up to 4th pregnancy pains. However, I all of a sudden felt something in my underwear and thought maybe I was bleeding. So I went into the bathroom and there was a quarter sized amount of blood tinged mucous, I know you can loose parts of it and not go into labor for a long time, but at 23 weeks for it to start clumping out? (tmi sorry). I've never heard of this before...

[amberd5191]

Wow sorry guys I don't know why this showed up 3x I only pushed the button once.

[ImmortalOne]

I lost mine partially early, and was checked at L&D and sent home after being told that it can and will regenerate.  However, bloody mucus can be a problem and I hope your clinic sent you in to be checked out.

[tmv]

You re-create the mucous throughout the pregnancy. But, what I'm concerned about is the back pain and cramps. Could be pre-term labor or uti. I'd call the doc.

[peekawho]

They beat me to it.  Yes, absolutely cal your doctor and get it checked out.  Taken together, the pain, cramping, and bloody mucus is concerning.

[tmv]

Sorry peek, I didn't know if you were still on the computer. Sounded urgent.

[amberd5191]

Thanks for respoding last night, I really appreciate it! My doc called back at 10pm and wanted me to drive an hour down there, we decided to wait until this morning to go in since my kids were in bed. My cervix is closed but he said its really short and asked if I had a LEEP done, but then when he looked back at my chart saw that my cervix is usually really long. So now I'm waiting for the U/S place to call he wants to measure my cervix and says we'll go from there. This is a bit strange to me, I've never heard of someone going from having a long cervix to it being short. The doc said he can feel the baby which isn't a good thing, that this means it will take less time for my cervix to dialate. Anyone else have a "short" cervix and make it full term?

[peekawho]

You will likely be put on bedrest sometime soon, if the ultrasound shows it's really shortened.  What this means is that your cervix is effacing, and you are at risk for preterm labor and delivery.  You may have been having contractions that you weren't aware of, or the cramping you felt could have actually been premature contractions.

Let us know what happens, if the U/S confirms your cervix is shortened or not.  

[amberd5191]

Thanks for responding as freaked out as I am hearing the truth makes it way easier to deal with then waiting it out.

[peekawho]

Sometimes it doesn't seem as short on ultrasound as it felt, so you'll really have to take it easy until you get the results.

Don't freak out yet.  But do take it easy, and if you have anymore cramping, pain, or bloody mucus call your doctor right away.  

[amberd5191]

Well the ultrasound place called I go in tonight at 4:45.

[amberd5191]

Well I'm home and the test looked good, my cervical length was 3cm tech said normal is 4 and they don't tend to worry too much until its around 2. She said the doc may want to keep checking if I'm still cramping. Other than that I was happy to see the baby again, she looks cramped in there!

[peekawho]

3cm is not too bad.  I'm sure they'll follow things closely.  Let him know right away if you having cramping and discharge again.  

[amberd5191]

I will, don't want to have a baby this early. Thanks again for the support and answering all of my questions!

[loremex]

I was 26 weeks when I had my first child and like you I started with bloody mucus and no pain.  I went into the hospital and the doctor said I was in labor.  You need bed rest for the rest of your pregnancy I wish I would of heard that advice back then.  My child was born at 26 weeks weighing 2 pounds 2 ounces he survived and is doing well
good luck

[amberd5191]

Thanks its good to hear that your son is doing well! Takes some of my worries away! Hopefully the doctor will call me in the morning telling me what the u/s tech already said and gives some good advise!

[have 2 kids]

Happy to hear things weren't too bad.  Has the cramping and bloody mucous stopped?

[amberd5191]

Yes it did, which makes me feel all the more relieved!

[amberd5191]

Peek certainly does give the best advice! (Thanks Peek), my doctor called said that they wont worry too much about the cervix but I do need to get in right away if I start having anymore cramping or discharge (hmm sounds like something I read already) ;)

I've been high risk since 6 weeks pregnant due to various complications, and they said in the start with an internal bleed I may go early. I'm ready to place bets that this baby is just playing games with us and she'll be late! :)