How long can one hang out at 5cm, 75% effaced, and waters bulging?

[welldone]

I'm wondering if you can share your experience with women who are 5 cm dilated, 75% effaced, and a bulging bag of waters. Because that was me on Monday, and here we are on Wednesday--and NO BABY.

I'm just looking for general experience/opinions here--obviously, there's no way you could give me an accurate prediction for my own situation. But I'm curious as to how many women you've seen last more than a couple of days with these stats?

I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow, and I didn't expect this baby until closer to 40. I'm having tightening contractions regularly every day; regular enough to time them and write them down (4-6 minutes apart, 45-60 seconds long). Sometimes, they get crampy. My last two labors began with my water breaking and then intense contractions, so I have no idea what early labor is like.

Thanks for any anecdotal advice you can give. I need to talk myself down from the labor ledge and get on with life.

[BendMidwife]

General opinion~ It happens

It's why I suggest not checking. It just doesn't tell you anything concrete about when labor will really pick up. And then you've got a mama in an anxious state unable to do anything but focus on when labor is going to start. I know the end of pregnancy tends to be like this anyway.

Try to relax, you could still go 2 weeks (probably not) but you could.

It may be difficult waiting, but look at this way, when you do finally go, it'll probably be quick quick!

[Peppamint]

Yes, you could be that way for awhile. I was 4cm, 90% and bulging bag of waters for three weeks with my second baby so I chose to forego cervical checks during my third pregnancy until I was overdue and we chose to strip my membranes for other reasons.

I've seen some multips and grand multips who are ~5cm (and sometimes more) for days or weeks before active labor kicks in.

Hang in there!

[memiles]

I have a friend who hung out at 5cm for 2+ weeks with her second and third kids. With the fourth, she declined vaginal exams.

[amyro]

I agree with previous posters. I have definitely seen women walk around at 4 or 5 or more centimeters for weeks. My good friend was 4cm/80 at her 36 week visit and had her baby at 41 weeks. So you never know. But the one thing that seems to be universal, in my experience, is that when labor finally happens (esp if it starts with water breaking) things move quite fast. Don't wait to call if you think things are starting!

Have a wonderful birth!

-Amy

[1stimestar]

I was 100% effaced and at 6 cm for a week before being induced due to post dates.

[homewithtwinsmama]

Once worked with a TWIN mama who did this for a week. Midwife finally castor oiled her because one was footling breech and dad was afraid he might end up having to deal with it alone if things flew. Good birth that lasted about four hours in total. Footling breech sure is cool to watch if you ever get the chance!

[momto4kids]

I'm not sure what I was at 38 wks, but at 35 wks I was 2 cm and 50% effaced already (my 5th baby). I declined all exams after that, but I did have a quick labor once it kicked in (under 3 hours of active labor).

Dana

[Noelia430]

I had a FTM walk around at 5cm with a bulging bag for about 4 weeks. She simply waited it out and baby came fairly quickly once things got going.

[Girlprof]

I was 3-4 cm by 37 weeks and didn't go into labor until 41.5 weeks. Luckily, my SIL had just done the same thing a few months earlier so I didn't let it freak me out. We both had pretty easy labors - after all, half the work was done already!

Sarah

[welldone]

Thanks for all your experiences. It really does help, and it's what I knew I needed to hear.

My husband will be gone to a four-day conference starting this afternoon! It's only 30 minutes away, but my last labor was 1.5 hours, so that has me worried about a car birth, or a birth at home assisted only by my little girls. Just wish there was some way of getting him out of the conference, but I'm not in active labor.

I'm fully aware that cervical exams can mean nothing, but I'm wondering if I could get him a "stay home" ticket if I was up to 6 cm or something?

[cfiddlinmama]

I had preterm labor with my second. Started dilating at 20 weeks. I walked around at a 7 for quite a while. He wasn't born until 40 weeks. It totally freaked the hospital staff out! Best wishes for a beautiful peaceful birth. (oh and my labor was quite fast!)

[sweetpeasmom]

I was 5 cm for 5 weeks with my first, don't think my water bag was bulging though. I know I was about 80% effaced. Second I had bulging waters and 4 cm for about a week before she was born.

[whoziwhatsit]

I made it to 7 cms at 38 weeks as a first timer. I refused further exams and birthed him on his due date. 3-hour labor. I began dilating at 32 weeks which is why I was being checked (actually I was just really curious and also really foolish). So every night for about a month my partner would say "good night, honey, tonight's the night!" It was crazy making and I never would have imagined I would make it that far. It seems some people do not believe this but there were two midwives I was seeing and they agreed with each other. Final chart note says "7-8 cms, 100%, bulging bag".

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I'd trust my 3 year old as a birth attendant over most OBs

[TurboClaudia]

a friend, first time mom, started laboring, cervix dilated to 5cms, don't know effacement, then labor stalled because babe was not in the right position (possibly asynclitic). she went home from the birth center to rest and take care of some stuff, and the midwives fully expected her to be back by that evening. she went back 5 evenings later after babe repositioned himself, she heard a pop, her waters released, and then she labored for about 2 hours before her pushing him out.

[welldone]

Still here. Still pregnant. It's been five days since that blasted cervical check.

Thanks for all your advice and experiences. I still feel like I'm under house arrest, but the time that has gone by has mellowed my anxiety about giving birth any second.

All my friends and family are placing bets on when I'll pop and push this baby out. I'm making everyone lose!

[cfiddlinmama]

Hang in there mama! Sending you good vibes for a beautiful birth!

[Veritaserum]

Weeks.

It'll happen when it happens.