is it possible to be X-cm's and not go into labor?

[First-Time-Mommy]

at my last appointment i was 3cm's and 100% effaced... and my OB mentioned that if i were 5cm's i would be in the hospital. SO, it is possible to be 5cm's and NOT go into labor?

i ask this because,

i'm thinking i should decline this next check in fear i've made even more progress since last friday. i really don't want to be stressed about potentially being whisked away, sit there, still no labor, and THEN the topic of induction or something come up. my OB has yet to mention induction to me or anything of the sort, but i have a gut feeling, being at 39wks today and an app. this friday that it will be discussed. - soooo, be brutally honest if this was the the lamest question of them all... but i'm really curious if a woman can dilate to 5 and still not go into labor.

thanks guys for tolerating my lack of knowledge and lame questions for so long.

[Daisie125]

YES! I know women who have walked around dilated to a 5 for weeks. I would absolutely decline any further vaginal exams to avoid being put on their 'clock'. Not to mention that your doctor may decide to do an 'aggressive exam' (membrane stripping) to get things moving, or "accidentally" break your water. I've seen it happen before.

[sebarnes]

Yes. Absolutely yes.

[penguintattoo]

Yes, I know a lady who was 6cm for 2 weeks before she went into labor, it went really fast when she did though!

[ExuberantDaffodil]

I walked around 4+ cm dilated for 3 weeks before I had my son, and was talked into being induced because of it. Which is one of the reasons I've been declining "checks" this time around.

[First-Time-Mommy]

Originally Posted by Daisie125

YES! I know women who have walked around dilated to a 5 for weeks. I would absolutely decline any further vaginal exams to avoid being put on their 'clock'. Not to mention that your doctor may decide to do an 'aggressive exam' (membrane stripping) to get things moving, or "accidentally" break your water. I've seen it happen before.

can't they get in a lot of sh*t for doing that without your consent? - or is it one of those things where it could easily be played off as, "ya it was REALLY an accident", even if it wasn't?

[Daisie125]

Originally Posted by First-Time-Mommy

or is it one of those things where it could easily be played off as, "ya it was REALLY an accident", even if it wasn't?

This. I've heard of it happening - obviously not something they are supposed to do, or something that I think most doctors would do, but there are some that I wouldn't put it past in the least.

[mommy2two babes]

I was 3 cm for almost 3 weeks before I had DS.
This time I am 2-3 cm from my own estimation and have been for 2 weeks.

[Shell_Ell]

Absolutely. There are women who are 6, 7, even 8 cms (seriously, 8 cm-- I can claim a friend who was that far dilated) before any sort of really active labor. We work at different paces. Some of us feel every centimeter. Some of us don't.

Also, as a doula, the longest birth I've attended (was around 48 hrs, lost count) was with a client who was 4 cm and 100% going in to it.

Doesn't. Mean. Anything.

[KaliShanti]

I have a friend who was at 8CM for a WEEK before having a 2 hour labor. Yup.

[khaoskat]

I walked around for almost a week at 4 CM.

Next pregnancy I was barely 2 CM and woke up the next morning fully dilated, bloody mucus running down my legs, and no contractions for about 2 hours.

[vegasgrl]

I would decline VEs too if I were in your shoes. I have the sense that most OBs would pressure for an induction just because you're almost to your EDD; throw in the dilation and that could very easily translate into a cascade of interventions. With that said, if it were me I'd likely consent to the BPPs or NSTs, but I for sure wouldn't let anyone mess around down there. It seems to me that "accidentally" sweeping or rupturing your bag would be a really great way to force a "combative" patient into agreeing to the induction. Good luck mama!

[elisheva]

I had a friend who was at 5-6 cm for 4 weeks before spontaneously going into labour. Another thing to consider is that VEs are subjective...I would absolutely decline VEs if you are worried about pressure to induce.

[Beppie]

Just wanted to add another YES to your question I have a good friend who walks around at about 4 cm for many weeks!

[mamatolevi]

I walked around for 4cm for 3w last time. no biggie.

Just keep your pants on at your next appt and they can't say anything about it. Dr won't like it, but it's your vagina and you have a right to restrict access. Keeps him from "helping" things along w/o your consent, too.

VEs aren't predictive of ANYTHING at all as far as when your labor will start. You can be closed and tight and have a baby 6 hours later or you can walk around for weeks at xcm and then have the baby. They are only useful when determining bishop's score for a (hopefully) medically necessary induction.

the nice thing about being at 4cm already is that when you're in labor, it's less for your body to do.