38 weeks and bleeding after internal

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this question is TMI...

Has anyone else experienced heavy reddish/brown spotting after a third trimester pelvic exam? The doctor said I was 2 CM dialated and I didnt think much of it at the time (other than a bit of excitement at the progress). Then, when I got home it was like the floodgates opened (thank goodness I was wearing dark pants). Lots of tissue in the blood, and mucus too.

Could she have inadvertently knocked out my mucous plug?

Sorry if this is all TMI...it's really not heavy enough for me to be concerned about going back to the doc...but it seems like A LOT has been "happening" in the pre-labor department after the internal.

Just wondering if others went into labor a few days after an internal, and you think that was the cause!

[Anonymous]

I bled a lot after my third trimester cervix exams. The first time I bled I was so concerned that I called the doctor right away and she assured me that it was normal. My bleeding started after I arrived at home. The doctor said that was due to standing up after having been sitting in the car during the drive home. I wore a maxi pad the last several weeks of pregnancy as I experienced a lot more fluid output and wearing the pad saved me from many embarrassing moments at work and in public.

[Anonymous]

Was the exam really uncomfortable? She could have stripped your membranes. Mine did that the first time without asking or telling me. I started bleeding, but wasn't alarmed because her exact words after the exam were "Let me get you a pad, you're going to need it."

[Anonymous]

This is the PP. I forgot to add that I went into labor about 6 days later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the PP. I forgot to add that I went into labor about 6 days later.

Thanks, PP, this is the OP. The exam wasn't exactly comfortable, but wasn't overly painful either. But are they ever NOT a little painful? I am wondering if the doc tried to strip my membranes a little bit intentionally, or whether that just happened inadvertently. After my last internal I spotted very slightly for a few hours (very lightly tinged pink), but it was nothing like this. This time there has been a lot of tissue, mucus, and it has lasted for three days. That's good news about you're going into labor within 6 days, though! I just wish the doc had told me first, so I could have been prepared. Thanks so much for your response!