dilation

[birthmommom]

so how dilated can you be and still be at home or not in labor, just going about your day?

I just read that flapjack was 4 cm dilated and my friend told me the yesterday that before her baby was born she was walking around 4 or 5 cm dilated.

I just keep thinking that someone is going to drop the baby while shopping or something.

[Mama2-4]

LOL, it would be nice if when you were 4-5 the baby would just sorta slip down and out!

I have know many multips to walk around at 4-5 for a week or two before going into labor. The good thing is that means there is less work to be done once labor hits! I my experience the longest part of labor is usually getting to this point, then it all just happens pretty quickly.

[Nature]

Last pregnancy I was 4-5 cm's for about two weeks before I had the baby, and dialated 1-2 for a good month. For me, I can function normally up until about 8cm's. So usually I am still in the store shopping and such around then. When I go to the hospital I'm usually there about an hour before baby is born.

[sarahn4639]

I've heard as much as 6 for a period of time without actually being in labor. It would worry me to death because I had a fast first birth and I would be a worried about being out and just squatting and having a baby in the grocery store!

[MamaBBrown2003]

With my second, I hit 4 cm on April 24 but didn't have her until May 26. Apparently, I was only 4cm when I was contracting. When I wasn't, I was more like 3. It was a pretty quick birth -- about 3 hours, but she most certainly didn't just fall out. I think I'd rather have a baby just slide out at the grocery store than have to push hard for an hour again.

[sarahn4639]

Okay, pushing for an hours does NOT sound fun. BUT my problem is who's going to have the video camera at the grocery store?!? :

Well I guess with all the camera/video phones there are now someone probably could record it for me!

[ellymay]

I was 4cm last time and I am 4cm now and have heard of being 5 and still walking around

[flapjack]

I believe justthatgirl was at 8cm and still not in active labour... though I might have got the name wrong. Certainly one of the UC mamas was. This is a first for me, though, I've always been closed up tight (1cm or thereabouts) until the day of birth before.
I'm not always walking around though: right now I'm spending about a quarter of my time drifting off to labourland and dealing with my hysterical uterus, a quarter of my time resting and a quarter of my time getting through the day.