Postpartum Complications: Understanding Rectal Discharge After Labor

Question
My name is monica and i'm 31 years old and this is my fourth child.  It's been 6 years since my last child. My question is at my last dr. visit, he said i was 3cm dialated and i was having contractions regularly, then at the er. the contractions went away, now its been 3 days and my rectum has a little bubble or something like a bubble come out of it on the side of it, it is not painful but uncomfortable is this something i should see the doctor for or just sit in some warm water?  thank you  

Answer
You, obviously, have not gone into labor yet. YOu can remain 3cm for several weeks. You did not mention when you due date is exactly, but for someone who has had children in the past, we say that labor starts when you start to have contractions every 6-8 minutes (from the beginning of a contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) at the level of your belly button, and each contraction lasts for, at least, 45 seconds to a minute. If this continues for a full hour, you are in labor. The bubble tht came out of your rectum may be merely a hemorrhoid and sitz baths will help.