QuestionI an 37 weeks pregnant and i had an internal examination yesterday, when i got home i started bleeding it was bright red and quite thick and gooey, i started to get period like pains. the bleeding stopped after about 6 hours but i still have lower back pain and period pains, am i in labour?
AnswerYou are not generally in active labor until your contractions are intense and require all of your attention and concentration. In active labor, you generally will not be able to pay attention to anything, operate a computer, carry on a coherent conversation, or smile for a picture.
Internal examinations at term can cause contractions and bleeding, especially if your doctor chose to strip or sweep your membranes in an attempt to encourage labor. Some doctors will perform this procedure without getting explicit consent from you first, so you may want to check with your doctor and see if this was done. As long as the bleeding does not return before labor begins, you can probably assume that the exam was the cause.
You may continue to experience cramping and irregular contractions for several weeks, or until you go into active labor. This is normal and is your body's way of preparing for labor. Until you show the emotional signposts of active labor that I listed above, you can probably assume that you are not yet in labor.
