Pre-"labor" dialation

[nmm2112]

Hi all, just a quick question. I know it's highly variable to dialate several days/weeks before delivery day, but at my Ob appt this morning I was 3cm dialated and 80% effaced! I can't help but hope this means the baby will be coming really soon.
3cm seems like a lot?!?
What's everybody's experience with dialation? How far dialated did you get without even "knowing" it?

[watermamma]

2cm for a few weeks w/my first. Born at 41+1wks.

4cm for weeks or so before 2nd baby, born at 42+2 weeks!!!!

So I would be one of the ones to say, it really doesn't mean anything, but, I would also consider it that you got "3 free". Alot of women go through many hours of labor to reach 3cm and you are allready there So that's a good thing !!!

I will not be asking for any checks if we have more, the further along I went, the more frustrated I became, as I was dialating, but no labor to be had. And my midwives don't normally even check, but I asked for membrane stripping, as I was getting anxious about post-dates.

I don't think we are really mean to "know" what is going on with our cervix. I try and remember that I know baby will be born when I feel it crowning and that dialation really means diddely squat

Good luck and happy birthing!

[lilgsmommy]

3 cm for 6 weeks with DS

[plantmommy]

3-free! I love that! :LOL

It's exciting in that your body is preparing for labor, and changes are happening.

But, yes, it could still be weeks. Although, I'd be encouraged by the effacement, since the more effaced you are, the easier you will dilate to the remaining cms.

[LittleOne03]

I was 3 cm for 4 weeks with my son, and they ended up inducing me, so I have no idea how much longer I would have gone before he would have come on his own. I had even had preterm labor with him and had been on bedrest for 2 months, so we expected him to come a lot sooner. My friend, however, found out she was 3 cm on a Monday and had her baby by Thursday afternoon. Just no predicting how long it will be. To encourage you, though, both my friend and I had easier and a lot faster labors than most people I know, so keep that in mind when if get discouraged.

[orangebird]

Sorry, I'm another "it doesn't mean anything". I have known people who were 3 or 4 cm dialated for weeks, months even. While I, both pregnancies, was never dialated at all, no changes to my cervix, no softenning, effacement, babies never dropped, the day before I went into labor. With baby number one I never had a braxton hicks contraction, was 2 weeks overdue with no changes on exam. I was supposed to go in the next morning for a non stress test and at midnight my water broke, contractions 3 minutes apart and over a minute long, I was pushing 5 hours later. With number two, I was contracting every ten minutes from around 15 or 16 weeks, when my midwife examined me a few days before I went into labor she said it was a teeny bit soft and not any more dialated than my first visit. I don't know if I was overdue or not, we never had a definate due date, my records and all the doctor, ultrasound estimations were different plus I got pregnant just as I stopped taking BCPs so I never had a regular period to help judge by. That labor was loooong. My water didn't break til I pushed. I was up all night the night before trying to figure out if I was really in labor since I was having contractions already for months anyway. Called my MW at 6am, she came over at 7am, baby was popped out by 1:20 pm. OK, I guess that isn't long, it seemed long compared to the first. I don't know why I brought my deliveries up, What I guess I'm saying is those exams mean squat. Until you are actively in labor, no one knows a damn thing. LOL! Good luck, this is the most frustrating part huh?

edited cuz I stopped taking BCP, not PCP :LOL

[Peony]

My CNM discovered at 30 weeks (while checking dd's position vaginally) that I was starting to dilate and efface. By 32 weeks I had lost my mucous plug. By 38 weeks I was 4 cm and like 80% effaced, dd was born the next day!

[Carol_momof3]

I had lots of "silent labor" so I always dialted a LOT before labor. I was 5cm with DS (#1) before they did an AROM induction (no pit). I was 7cm (yes, 7! and my doc said she could've stretched me to 9!) with DD#1 before AROM induction (again, no pit). I was 4-5cm with DD#2 2 days before I went into labor with her. When I arrived at the birth center (in relatively early labor), I was a "stretchy 6". Anyway, it doesn't mean much as a factor of when you'll go into labor, but I also think that there will be that much less work for you to do when labor does happen good luck with your upcoming birth!

[nmm2112]

Thanks for all the replies - I love hearing about other mama's experiences. Hmmmm, I guess all I can do now is wait and try to keep busy (I don't think my house has ever been this clean). I'm soooo excited about having this baby - Birth is such an amazing experience.

[thepeach80]

I was 2 cm at 38 wks, but I have no idea when I would've gone as AJ was forced out of me. They first noticed me dilating at 36 wks. I hope this is it for you, (((((labor)))))

[magemom]

I am sorry, but add me to the it means nothing list. It means so little that tomorrow is my due date and I have not been checked this pregnancy at all. Last time I was checked after my due date passed and I was 4. I did go into labor the next day, but ds1 I was 4 for the 3 weeks before the induction. I was told I was 2 weeks post dates but by appearance the midwife said he was early.
Dh is delivering this one and asked if was supposed to learn to check my cervix, LMAO! nope dear.

[darsmama]

Dialate me, baby!

Waaah! :cry I would love to hear I was 3cm dialated! Not cause I want to have Darlene now, but because I want those free dialation points. To me, its like landing on Free Parking in Monopoly & getting to collect all the money in the middle.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by KatienDwayne

Waaah! :cry I would love to hear I was 3cm dialated! Not cause I want to have Darlene now, but because I want those free dialation points. To me, its like landing on Free Parking in Monopoly & getting to collect all the money in the middle.

3cm, though? That isn't the part that hurts any way, YK? getting to 3cm before "labor" starts doesn't sound that enticing to me. Not bad, but it doesn't really save you from much pain. I mean between 1cm and 3cm you are at the stage where you are trying to figure out if it is really even labor. The pain at that point is nutin'

[LittleOne03]

That's not always the case. My poor sister had nearly 24 hours of very painful labor and never made it past 3 cm before they ended up giving her a c-section. This happened with her first and her second. So, she was very excited for me that I started at 3, since she was never able to get past it. My best friend had 12 hours of painful labor (out of 70 hours total) getting to 3 cm. So, those "free" centimeters really can be helpful!!

[NatureMama3]

I was 1 cm dilated at 36 weeks (wasn't checked before that). 3 cm by 40 weeks. Still 3cm when I went into labor at 42 weeks.

*sigh*

Worst part is, like has been said, didn't make my labor any easier! I was in labor for a good 5 hours before I made it past 3. :

The next pregnancy, we'll be forgoing ANY dilation checks (pregnancy or labor).

[lilyka]

It seems like there was someone here who was dialated to a six or so weeks and weeks before she had her baby. I remeber her being misreable. i was just theoppopsite. I go from 0-10 in a matter of an hour and it truely sucks. I would like somehting more slow and steady. You know something with a break between contractions :LOL

[JodiM]

Originally Posted by lilyka

It seems like there was someone here who was dialated to a six or so weeks and weeks before she had her baby. I remeber her being misreable. i was just theoppopsite. I go from 0-10 in a matter of an hour and it truely sucks. I would like somehting more slow and steady. You know something with a break between contractions :LOL

6cm?!?! That seems almost unfair to be dialated that much, and then have to wait weeks. kwim? LOL

I don't know, after suffering through 3 Lonnnngggggggg labors, I think I would rather have it all in a hour.
Care to send some of those 1 hr vibes my way? LOL

[2+twins]

Originally Posted by JodiM

6cm?!?! That seems almost unfair to be dialated that much, and then have to wait weeks. kwim? LOL

I don't know, after suffering through 3 Lonnnngggggggg labors, I think I would rather have it all in a hour.
Care to send some of those 1 hr vibes my way? LOL

I'll send you those vibes if ya really want them, but I'm telling you from experience, faster is NOT better! It's just over faster. My 90 minute labor was excruciating compared to my 10 hour labor (4 of those hours were spent pushing which was just horrific). I'll take that 10 hours again any day!