[open] Mucous plug fell out?!

Or it could be tonight....it's really random. I would recommend trying to get a really good night sleep- going to bed nice and early.

Remember DO NOT go to the hospital too soon-- and do not be surprised if your cotrations slow down and space out a little when you go---that's normal!

I wish I could be there to doula for you!

I had that for 2-3 weeks before I actually went into active labor. When it's bloody it'll probably happen shortly after.

my sil had a baby last month..5 days after the mucoous plug fell out. Sometimes its longer or shorter though.

I agree with Rose.... don't go to the hospital too soon. Then you just get poked and prodded longer. Best to stay at home longer, through hours of contractions. I went way too soon last time.

I lost my mucus plug last time in the shower at about 35 weeks (it was yucky!), and didn't go into labor until past 38 weeks... but it could be soon since you're due soon.

If the mucus plug comes out too early, it reforms, so don't worry about infection or anything.

I agree with everyone else~ don't go to the hospital too soon or it'll slow everything down.

You're doing good though! It'll be soon!

Don't go to the hospital 12+ hours of those monitors on...wanting to do a pelvic every 2 hours. Stay home until they are painful and close together.

Usually for first time mommies with no complications or risks- I would say to stay home until your contractions are 3 minutes apart lasting 60+ seconds. It is really important not to go until your contractions are lasting consistently 60 seconds or longer. That is a more important key to where you are in your labor than how far apart they are.

Also try to ignore your contractions as long as you can--do stuff you like doing- baking, walking, playing cards- whatever...you can't will yourself into labor. You'll know when the contractions are getting bigger--they will demand all of your attention- you won't be able to talk through them.

And Rose, this always confuses me, when you say 60 seconds do you mean 60 seconds start to end.... or 60 seconds it builds.... and then starts to let down, to where we are talking more about almost 2 minutes long?

I thought mine might have fallen out a couple of nights ago...really slimy...but I am not real sure about that. I was bleeding after the pelvic the other day but then it stopped. DIdn't worry me, though, because I think it is to be expected when she does that...

From beginning to end. So from when your uterus first begins to tighten to when it comletely releases.

Lots of times women will be having contractions that are five minutes apart (from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of another)--but they are only lasting about 40 seconds or so. Most likely when they get to the hospital the will still be in early (less than 5 cm dilated) labor.

I think length of contractions is a better signal for how far along a labor is- because if the baby's head is asynclitic or if there is some slight deviation from optimal presentation- contractions might not find a "regular" pattern. In fact the lack of a regular pattern --or where contractions alternate between length is a good indicator that a mom might want to try to do somethings to try to improve the presentation (lunging or having one foot on a step stool or stair, etc through a contraction while swiveling her hips kind of things).

The longer the contractions are lasting- the closer a woman will be to transition. Transition contractions most usually last about 90 seconds or so- with a more intense peak- and the contractions are coming about every 90 seconds to 2 minutes. (Of course this is without pitocin)- and so the contractions are really coming back to back---however there is still an ebb and flow to those contractions.

It's one of the mind games I use in labor-- I think "I can endure anything for 90 seconds...I just need to relax through this and make it through this one contraction...it will be over in just a bit" and then do that for each and every transition contraction. I just try to take each and every 90 second block one at a time. And while I am in transition I just keep trying to tell myself that it means I will be meeting baby very soon

My last labor was really funny- because as I was in transition they were becoming concerned about my blood pressure--but I think it was because they couldn't really tell I was in transition. There was a friend of mine there who had 6 children at the time...and she knew...but to everyone else I looked so calm (I was working my butt off and it was hard). I really had to convince the nurses that it was time to get the doc in....but I knew because of the intensity and the frequency of the contractions--baby was a-coming!

I also think it is a good indicator when your contractions are demanding all of your attention-- when you can no longer talk or continue on with whatever you were doing trhough your contractions.