Measuring Dilation?

[DocsNemesis]

This is purely info that I'd like to have, as I'm not a birth prof, just a mom who's been keeping track of her own dilation. I know I don't *have* to have a number on it, but its encouraging to think I'm xx cm's! Woo!

Anyway, I've been trying to get my cervix as open and ready as possible early (I'm 36 weeks) because of pre-e and a history of HELLP-they are monitoring me very closely and at the first sign of something, I'll be getting induced via membrane stripping or, if needed, AROM. I'm a VBAC due to my last birth and because of that, no hormonal induction is going to happen (which is fine with me!).

So, I've been using EPO, which works REALLY well for me and I've been getting checked about every other day when my fiance helps me put the caps in (I can't reach, darned belly!). But, I have no idea how far dilated I am at this point because neither of us have any idea how to measure it. I did find one chart that was sort of helpful, comparing some common foods to dilation (lol) but its only got 5 of the measurements and uh...isn't exactly scientific.

Is there any site out there with a description of how many fingers or how wide spread those fingers are or...something...to help us out? I know he can fit 3 fingers in side by side at this point, which according to the food chart is somewhere in between 6 and 7cm's?? Really?!?! Again, I know it doesn't really matter, its purely curiosity. But if I'm really that dilated...well, I can't really be more careful since I'm on full bedrest but ahhh!

[lunita1]

Originally Posted by DocsNemesis

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Is there any site out there with a description of how many fingers or how wide spread those fingers are or...something...to help us out? I know he can fit 3 fingers in side by side at this point, which according to the food chart is somewhere in between 6 and 7cm's?? Really?!?! Again, I know it doesn't really matter, its purely curiosity. But if I'm really that dilated...well, I can't really be more careful since I'm on full bedrest but ahhh!

Have you tried just using a ruler/measuring tape with cm on it to estimate how wide your finger spread is?

[DocsNemesis]

Lol, we just did that. My fiance was like well, give me a ruler and I'll figure this out. Then he started measuring random objects around the house, including several food items.

Anyway, he says I'm about 6-7cm based on the ruler and measuring how far he could spread his fingers O_o. I'm going to have a fast labor...

Just how long CAN I stay dilated and not go into labor?? I know I was at 9cm's and not in labor with my 3rd, but I got impatient and asked them to break my water after about 8 hours of no progress. Now I wonder how much longer I could've sat like that!

[Mamabeakley]

When checking myself I find it easier to figure out how much cervix is left rather than how big the opening is (I don't check clients as it's outside my doula scope of practice) - which, after all, is what really matters.

[womenswisdom]

Once you're that far dilated, I think the thing you're looking for is how much cervix is left. Then you subtract that from 10 and that's where you are. Just to clarify, that's my "book" answer, and not from any experience whatsoever.

[katelove]

When I started as a student midwife I measured my fingers I know that my index and middle fingers pressed together is about 3cm and that they can just streeeetch to 10cm if I really try.

The thing that helped me most though was a little carboard flip book which had circular cut-outs from 1 to 10cm. If you put your fingers in and close your eyes you can start to feel what each dilation is like. Maybe you guys could get some cardboard and do that. To be honest though, it is all pretty subjective and, in most cases, it's not the actual number which is important but the progress. So only do it if you want to for fun.

[DocsNemesis]

Yeah, I don't think I need to go that far. Like I said, it was just a curiosity thing.

I actually think we've decided to stay out of there all together for now since I am so dilated. I was really hoping to at least make it to 37w-though my bp seems to be getting worse so who knows if I'll make it to then anyway. But yeah, we really don't want to encourage things even MORE now.