Contracting but not Dilating

blaberge · March 2015

Let me preface by saying I'm not asking for medical advice, I'm just asking you to share your experience if this has happened to you.

I'm 35+3. I've been contracting since Friday, consistently every 6-7 minutes. I had my OB check up today and my contractions were the same and registering on the NST monitor. She checked me and I was NOT dilated at all. About a hour after I left, my contractions grew much stronger and have now been consistent at every 5 minutes. They're pretty intense and I can feel them in my rectum. I'm skeptical because with my DD, I contracted consistently but never dilated past 4 cm, labored actively for nearly 33 hours and ended up being emergency c-sectioned due to "failed labor."

Again, not asking what I should do medically at this point, just asking for others' experience with failed labor and/or contractions without dilation. So, if you can relate, please share your story!

a316b · March 2015

With my second, I was contracting like that for about 2 weeks, but only dialated to 2cm. (The number of times I was sent to l&d, then home was frustrating...) Magically the morning he was born, I went from 2cm to 5 cm and happened to have a doc apt that day. She sent me to labor and delivery, started pit, broke my water, and I had him vaginally 6 hours later.

My SIL was recently stuck at 7 cm for 24 hours, and got in these crazy positions while in labor to turn baby from "sunny side up" and when he turned she went from 7-10 cm in an hour.

It depends on position of baby as well as contractions.

From my experience and understanding, every labor is different. Keep monitoring and keep your doc updated. Good luck!

rivers714 · March 2015

I'm contracting any time I move for more then 5 minutes. My cervix is nice and long and closed. My midwife assures me that even contracting on and off for a week I shouldn't worry about preterm labor and it can continue like this for a month with no dilation. it's just more pronounced with subsequent pregnancies because your uterus is more irritable.

Personally this just sounds miserable to me!

afergerson15 · March 2015

That's exactly what's happening with me. This is my first, so I have no idea when to know it's the real thing or not.

My doctor had me come in immediately yesterday morning and she hooked me up to the monitor and she said yes i was definitely having contractions, but when she checked my cervix she told me I wasn't thinned out at all. This has also been happening to me consistently since Friday and it would come on and off again even before that. She just told me I needed to take it a lot easier, sex was off the table and that if it continues throughout this week then I need to go ahead to the OB floor at the hospital.

The only thing that worries me is I'm only 33 weeks, so now I'm stressed about her coming too early!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one this is happening to, makes me feel a lot better! Good luck with everything!!

blairdavis99 · March 2015

Been contracting for over a week and it's shown up on the NST monitors twice. However, no one has checked my cervix yet! (Or seems remotely concerned). Do they have to be at a certain level/intensity/interval before they check? I'm a FTM at 31w/6d with twins. ER doc told me I could potentially continue contracting at this level through the end of my pregnancy.

soontobecapek · March 2015

I've been contracting on and off for a couple weeks, mostly Braxton hicks with some real good ones sprinkled in. I'm 35 weeks 3 days and since they won't stop labor at this point they don't intend to check me until closer to 37/38 weeks.

This is baby #4 and I can assure you that it's completely possible to not be dilating and then boom. With #2 I had her at 40 weeks 2 days, at my appt 3 days earlier I was 0 and 25% no contractions all weekend (which I thought meant I was doomed not to go into labor) then at 1 pm Monday I started contracting again and was ready to push by 4pm.

emi619 · March 2015

I've been contracting without dilating the last couple of weeks. I went in yesterday because of contractions and they had me do the NST and then sent me over to Triage at the hospital. My cervix is short and thinning, but still closed. I'm contracting every 7-9 minutes or so. They also gave me two doses of turbutaline. It's so frustrating and scary. I'm 34 weeks today so I'm hoping baby stays but for a few more weeks.