Question I am fairly certain that I have not ruptured my membranes but I have scheduled an extra appt tomorrow to make sure. This discharge is VERY thick and only present when I use the restroom or take a bath. It's my understanding that amniotic fluid is much thinner and "water" like. Am I wrong? I'm sorry to be such a pest, first baby as you probably guessed and one thing I have learned is nothing is standard in pregnancy. What is the usual procedure for testing to see if you bag of waters has broken? Thank you so much for taking the time.
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Followup To
Question -
I know that around this time some women loose their mucus plug but for the past 2 days I have been having a lot of very mucusy (not sure that's a word) discharge but it's neither clear nor blood tinged. It's a yellow green, much like someone is blowing their nose in my tolietpaper everytime I use the restroom. Is this still ok? Is this normal discharge for this far in my pregnancy or do I have a possible infection. At my last check up (monday) I was 2cm dialated and 70% effaced so I know things are starting to slowly happen. Any information would be great. Thanks.
Answer -
A yellow-green discharge is fine, as long as you have not ruptured your membranes. If you have any doubt of this, have it checked out. It is easy to determine if your membranes have ruptured. If they have, greenish-yello fluid can be a sign that the baby defecated in-utero (meconium) and you should be monitored and, possibly, be delivered. You can remain 2cm and 100% effaced for several weeks. Once you start having contractions every 3-5 minutes, at the level of your belly button, with each contraction lasting for at least 45 seconds, you should be checked again.
AnswerYou are correct. Amniotic fluid is thin and will run down your leg. A thick discharge is normal as you get closer and closer to term. It is easy to tell if your water is broken. The doctor will do a speculum exam and touch your cervix with a piece of Nitrazine paper (pH paper). Amniotic fluid is alkaline and the vagina is acidic. Therefore, if you did, indeed, break your water, the paper will turn blue-black. If there is any discharge, the doctor can place some of this discharge (or fluid) on a microscope, allow it to dry, and look under a microscope. If it is amniotic fluid, one will see "ferning" on low power of the microscope. (This looks like an actual fern). From your description, it does not sound like your amniotic fluid. Don't worry.
