3cm Dilated, Fully Effaced and Believe I just Lost My Mucus Plug?

Does your OB have an after-hours number? Mine gave me the number of the hospital so that if something came up I could talk to the doctor who was on call. If you have a number like that, call them and see what they say. Most likely they will tell you that until you start having contractions that you don't need to come in.

I had a prenatal appointment this past monday (38 weeks along) and the night before I had passed a large chunk of mucus. When I told my doctor the next day, he kind of chuckled and told me that there's no such thing as a mucus plug, and that passing the mucus that gathers near the cervix isn't a good way to tell if labor is coming because it can be hours, days, or weeks until labor actually starts.

Like I said, until you actually start having contractions they probably won't admit you. And since this is your first pregnancy, you *should* have several hours even after contractions start before you even come close to giving birth. Granted, not always the case, but first pregnancies are usually the longest labors.

Did your doctor notice that you began bleeding after your exam? What was said about that?

You need to go. I didn't have braxton hick at all through my pregnancy. It was friday May 8th, 2009 that I went to my dr. for a stress test and was having mild contractions. That evening at 11:30 pm they got stronger. I went to the hospital and I was only dialated 2 cm. The doc told them to watch me. By 1:30 am I was dilated to 4 cm and he was delivered via c section at 5:07 am. Don't mess with this even if they would send you home. You're mom is not going to care. Call her and go now!!! Congratulations on your new poop factory!!!

You may be dilated but you are not in labor.when you go into labor and that means serious and painful contraction ten minutes apart,call her and go to hospital.all the best.