Hi I am 31 weeks pregnant with my 3rd little boy :) My first son was born prematurely at 35 weeks because of preeclampsia, and my second son was a healthy 9 pounder at 37 weeks. With this pregnancy, at 29 weeks I went to the labor and delivery unit because I had a stomach bug that brought on dehydration and frequent contractions(every 8-12 minutes). When the doctor checked my cervix, I was 40% effaced and 1/2 cm dilated. They gave me fluids, released me (the contractions had spaced out) and told me to stay hydrated, but said it was completely normal to be dilated and effaced that much, since it is my 3rd baby. I was a little uncertain about that. Then, one week later, I had contractions every 10 minutes all day, and decided to go back to the hospital, instead of driving myself crazy. They checked me again and did a fetal fibronectin test, which was negative. I was still diilated and effaced the same amount , but began to have contraction closer together (every 5 minutes), but once again released me. I went to see my ob/gyn the next day and my cervix was the same. She scheduled an appt for 1 week ( Wednesday 28th) and said I was fine, no bedrest. Now, for the past 2 nights I have had some contractions, but have coached myself to not overreact about them. However, now I am having a pain when I lay down at night in the same area as my appendix, which is unbearable ( can't move or breathe ) and only subsides when I walk. Also for the last 24 hours I have had a thick brownish discharge. I am wondering if I could be having preterm labor, and if these things are normal? I was dilated for 3 weeks with my second son to 2cm, so I know you can be dilated and still have weeks, but is it because of prior pregnancies that Im dilated and effaced? And could the brown discharge be my mucous plug. I don't want to keep bugging the L&D unit since I have an appt this week and they told me to come back if I was bleeding or my water broke, or had any regular contractions, but when I do, they brush it off as nothing and send me home anyway. Please help.

When in doubt, you go in and get checked. I know you don't want to bug them, but that is what they are there for. Your doctor would much rather you go in, even if several times, and have it be just your body preparing, than to have you put it off and it actually be preterm labour.

Since the pain subsides a bit when you walk, it is unlikely to be due to labour. The discharge could be your mucus plug, but it is not uncommon to have increased discharge towards the end of pregnancy. Since your cervix is effacing, the discharge is possibly due to that.

If you were to start up with contractions, then definitely go back in.