help me process/interpret what this means

[sunnylady303]

I just got back from my midwifes office. I am 36w5d and have been measuring ahead. I was 37 inches on Tuesday, but today I was only 34. So she asked if she could check me and make sure the baby had dropped which would explain why I was measuring so much less. She is way engaged in my pelvis (shouldn't I be able to tell this?) and I am 2 cm dialated. !!!! I know that can mean nothing but with my first pregnancy I didn't start dialating til a day or so before I went into labor. What does this mean? Help me process please!

[Nature]

I would guess, that it could either mean you are on your way to having a baby really soon... or it could mean absolutly nothing. (says the girl who's 4 cm's and not having regular contractions anymore : )

I have given up on guessing what things mean. I went to the hospital because all signs said "go!" and judging from my last two pregnancies, it looked like it was it! .... but not to be. So I wouldn't always rely on your other experiences I guess.

[cathynmatt]

Second + pregnancies dilate a lot sooner than first pregnancies. Your body already knows what to do ~ they say that it's normal for first-time mommas to dilate up to 2 cm before going into active labor and for second + mommas to dilate up to 4 cm before going into labor. (These are averages)

At 35 weeks I was dilated the same amount as I was when I went into labor with my DD at 38 weeks. It's also why second + labors are usually shorter than firsts ~ a BIG plus in my book !

[cathynmatt]

WitchyMama ~~ We must have posted at the same time! Just think ~~ you are almost half way there!!!!!

[mamazig]

I was more "progressive" in dilation with my first -- 1 then 2 then 3 then 4 for the weeks before I was even in labor. With this one I've been 2-3 cm for over a month!! And I'm with WitchyMama in my regard for signs anymore . . . having lost my plug ages ago, this dilation, engaged baby -- hummpff, nothing seems to have mattered much to babe because she/he still isn't out yet! So, I guess my interpretation would be the same as my very kind mw -- sounds like "you're progressing nicely" Doesn't that make you feel better??

[danav]

With my first, I was dilated 1 cm two days before my water broke and she was born. With my second, I was 3-4 cm and almost 100% effaced at 35 weeks, and walked around like that (emotionally and physically feeling the baby was coming at any moment) for 3 more weeks.

So, yes your body is preparing for labor, and some of the work is already done , but it doesn't mean that you will have the baby any minute now...it could still be several more days or weeks before active labor begins.

Just be sure everything is ready for the birth, and then try to relax and rest as much as you can until something starts happening!

[MamaTaraX]

Truly it means nothing. You can walk around dilated to 5 for 3 weeks (I know someone who did that) and you can be 0 in the morning and have a baby before dinnertime. The measuring and dropping means a little something, it means the baby knows where to go and is getting geared up to go there. By virtue of dropping down, baby gets to press on your cervix and open you up some. You could have a baby tonight or next week. Enjoy your remaining time with your little intrauterine darling!

Namaste, Tara