A good sign? Could labor be close?

[melissalaurel]

I had my 36wk (1 day) appt yesterday and was told my cervix is low, anterier, 80% effaced (almost completely thinned out the nurse said), and 1cm dilated.

This is my fifth pregnancy to make it this far....and my first time showing any signs of change this early so it completely caught me off guard. The nurse was very nice and said she can't predict when the baby will come but that it could be days...or weeks and went over when I'm supposed to come to the hospital (pretty much first contraction...but we both know that isn't going to happen).

I am having contractions...but they are not regular. They are anywhere from a few minutes apart to over 15 mins apart but each lasts a minute. I have had no spotting and no plug loss so my guess is they aren't doing anything more but really...as proven by yesterday's check...I am clueless.

I had my heart set on a January baby...but am trying to wrap my head around the idea that this sweet one might have other plans (although I'm still praying he holds out until January 1st at very least).

My c-section was completely unnecessary (big baby...that was't all that big...) so I'm a little excited my body seems to want to VBAC too.

I'd love some insight or any information about cervix changes this early...and if the c-section might have anything to do with me making progress this early.

TIA

[3tammuz]

Congrats on the cervical changes. I think they are a good sing, but it could be weeks for ya. I had similar changes with #1 and #2 and walked around for a good few weeks that way. Everyone and every baby, as you well know, are different though.

[MNHall]

Changes are good...it's a sign that you're body is preparing...but, like you know, it isn't exactly a very good way to predict when things will happen. I've known people personally who were 3-4 cm dilated for WEEKS, then other people who were maybe finger tip dilated, then holding their baby 24 hours later.

For me, at 36 weeks, I was 60% and 2cm, at 37 weeks I was 70% AND 2.5-3cm...DD was born at 37w4d!

[courtenay_e]

I have two clients (and both happened to be friends as well) whose stories I use to teach.

the first one was put on bed rest at 32 weeks because she was 6cm and 90% effaced. She got up out of bed two weeks later, carried to 38 weeks (and had a really fast labor).

the second one had the worst case of PUPPS that anybody in her hospital had ever seen (and it was just PUPPS, they checked liver function), so wanted to be induced, and had a BISHOPS score done...she rated the lowest score it was possible to get. The doc couldn't even edge a finger in to strip membranes...they sent her home with well wishes. 14 hours later she was holding her vaginally birthed baby in her arms.

Here's the moral of the story:

The results of the vaginal exam mean absolutely nothing as pertains to when you will have the baby. It could be six hours from now, and it could be six weeks. What you do know is that your body is doing a great job of cooking that baby to the perfect done-ness for YOUR BABY, and between the two (your body and your baby), you'll birth the baby when it's time.

It is very common to make cervical change before you go into active labor. It is also just as common to make NO cervical change before you go into active labor. Both are within the range of normal. AND before we started putting our hands up inside of women before they were in labor, we just waited till she started labor and then said she had to push before we put our hands anywhere NEAR women's cervices!...and we didn't know either way!!

[melissalaurel]

Thank you for the insight and repsonses!

This is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'd love to hold out until after the holidays and have another January baby!

Since I posted I've only have a bit of pink spotting and the contractions disappeared until today. I woke up contracting but they've since petered out. Hopefully my body is just remember what to do and getting ready for the big day (hopefully in January! lol).

[SalmonBayDoula]

Originally Posted by courtenay_e

Here's the moral of the story:

The results of the vaginal exam mean absolutely nothing as pertains to when you will have the baby. It could be six hours from now, and it could be six weeks. What you do know is that your body is doing a great job of cooking that baby to the perfect done-ness for YOUR BABY, and between the two (your body and your baby), you'll birth the baby when it's time.

It is very common to make cervical change before you go into active labor. It is also just as common to make NO cervical change before you go into active labor. Both are within the range of normal. AND before we started putting our hands up inside of women before they were in labor, we just waited till she started labor and then said she had to push before we put our hands anywhere NEAR women's cervices!...and we didn't know either way!!

Well said!!

The only useful information that comes from a vaginal exam, in my opinion, is to determine your bishop's score for assessment for medical induction! The state of your cervix at any one moment in time, when you are NOT in labor predicts nothing!

One of my favorite things I tell students and clients...

You could be 4 or more cm and walk around for weeks, and you could be closed and tight, and baby tonight!

I have a blog post on my website (siggy below) called "Keep Your Pants On" that speaks to vaginal exams prior to labor.

Good luck to you!

Sharon