Expert: Catherine Beier MS CBE - 7/16/2009

Question
Ok i am 37 weeks pregnant, and i am 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced, and i think i lost my mucus plug.  I been having a lot of contractions but they are not as serve enough i think to go to the hospital, Should i go just in case? And another question, I have scoliois what are the percentages of not being able to get a pain relieving shot in your back? Thank you!

Answer
Mallory,


The typical guidelines for going to the hospital are when your contractions are 5 minutes apart in a regular pattern, not if they have not yet established a regular pattern.  Even if you're having lots of contractions, but they're not in a regular pattern, you could be experiencing prodromal labor, which is your body's way of practicing for labor. You can read more about it at http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/prodromal-labor.html


Mucus plugs can also regenerate, so even if you've lost it, it could still reform and you could have a few weeks, days or hours left to go.  More information on the signs and symptoms of labor can be found at http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/signs-of-labor.html


As for getting an epidural, this will depend upon how significant your scoliosis is, the location of your curvature, etc.   Only your doctor can answer that after having assessed your spine in relation to the baby's position.  


You also could have scheduled an appointment with an anesthesiologist to tell you whether or not it was possible so you could prepare yourself with other means of natural pain relief if epidural was not an option.  



Best,
Catherine