Our editor, @chloe.r.collard shares the rollercoaster of emotions, documenting the triumphs and challenges with humor and heart, creating a virtual story for parents and tiny fighters alike.
An unlikely place for a plot twist
I found out I was expecting in the most unexpected place, turning what I thought was just a skincare appointment into the beginning of an incredible journey into motherhood. Life has a funny way of surprising us.
I went to see a dermatologist about some pesky acne, and we decided to tackle it with Accutane. Now, little did I know, a pregnancy test was part of the prescription drill due to government rules.
As I’m waiting for the results, those magical two lines appear, and I’m caught off guard. Glancing at the nurse, she gives me this subtle nod and mouths, “You’re pregnant.”
A series of events
In June, I discovered I was pregnant, sailing through the initial months with smooth seas—no morning sickness or any noticeable changes. However, come November 15th, at 28 weeks, a noticeable shift occurred in how I felt. Call it mother’s intuition.
Ben and I were out for our usual evening stroll with the pups when I noticed the baby feeling a bit lower than usual. No big deal, though—I just made a mental note of it and kept on with our walk like nothing changed.
The next day, I decided to grab an earlier slot for an appointment with my OB doctor in the valley where I live. Given my status as a type one diabetic and the tag of a high-risk pregnancy, I was naturally a bit more vigilant. Lucky for me, he had an opening that day, so I snagged the time slot casually since I was due for a checkup anyway. During the appointment, he checked my cervix, but there wasn’t anything alarming. However, he suggested a visit to the hospital’s labor and delivery department for some baby activity monitoring. They strapped me up with a belly band and monitor to keep tabs on the little one’s movements. Soon after, the nurse popped in, asking if I felt anything. I replied with a “No,” and she mentioned spotting a couple of contractions on the monitor. Deciding to keep an eye on things, she continued monitoring for a while, but fortunately, no more visible contractions showed up, and I was good to go.
The following day, I noticed additional changes that heightened my awareness even more than before. Encountering a bit of bloody discharge and experiencing mild stomach pain during a bathroom visit, I promptly messaged my OB in the valley to report the situation. Despite reassurances that it was all within the normal range, I couldn’t shake off a sense of concern.
A few hours later, during another restroom break, I took a closer look and was taken aback by what I saw. Turning to Google for some insights, I concluded that it was my mucus plug that had come out. Once again, I reached out to my OB, receiving the same “it’s normal, nothing to worry about” response as before.
The next morning brought no relief; if anything, my concerns intensified. Sensing that things were not quite right, I decided to skip reaching out to my local OB in the valley and instead sent a direct message to my high-risk doctor in Boise.
Dr H,
Hope you’re doing well. Quick thing – I’ve been talking to Dr. C about some stuff the past couple of days, but it feels like he’s not really getting how I’m feeling. Honestly, not sure I trust his take on things right now.
So, on the 15th, I saw Dr. C because I felt some low pressure, and it was time for a checkup anyway. Good news – cervix is closed, and baby’s moving fine after an hour of monitoring.
Now, on the 16th, I’m still dealing with those round ligament aches (apparently normal), but in the morning, I noticed mucus with pink streaks. They said it’s all good, probably from the cervix exam the day before. Later, I went to the bathroom, and I’m pretty sure I saw part of the mucus plug. Sent Carlson a pic, and he said it’s normal, no worries.
But this morning, the 17th, there’s more mucus with bloody streaks, and these ligament aches are getting pretty intense. I’ve attached some pics for you to check out. Getting a bit worried, so any advice you’ve got would be awesome.
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Chloe-
It is very normal to have mucusy discharge. And it *can be normal to have some discharge that is blood-streaked. Blood can be present after a cervical exam, sex, constipation, diarrhea, throwing up, etc. I do agree that it looks like part of your mucus plug in the picture. It’s not completely unusual to pass pieces of your mucus plug earlier than expected.
The triage visit you had and your cervical exam are all very reassuring.
However, if you are having any cramping, contracting, bright red bleeding, or continued blood-streaked mucusy discharge, we would recommend you call your primary OB for advice.
If at any time you are uncomfortable, L&D triage for evaluation is always an option.
Best,
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Feeling a bit uneasy about everything, I told Ben that I thought it would be a good idea to head to labor and delivery.