Dilation and Effacement

rlgoge01

(I used the search bar but didn't see a thread about this. Sorry if it is a duplicate).

I am 36 weeks and went in for my appointment yesterday afternoon. This was the first time I was checked and my doctor told me I was 1 cm dilated and 40% effaced. She also said she could feel the baby's head! How amazing! After my appointment I had some spotting and contractions, but she warned me and said it was normal and to be expected.

*Just curious as to where you all are in regards to dilation and effacement!?

*Experienced moms, how did you progress at the end when checked weekly?! How soon did labor start?!

It's so exciting and I keep thinking about all of you! I don't write on here often, but read daily!

RNmommy13

With DS 36wk-2cm/80%, 37wk-2cm/85%, 38wk-3cm born at 38wk
This time 35/5-3cm/75%, 36/4-3cm didn't tell me effacement

dapoint23

I'm currently 36+3 and on Thursday I was between 1-2cm dilated and not effaced and have had light period like cramps and lost my plug that night. Baby is head down and seeming impatient!

With DS I didn't dilate until 2 days before I had him. Dr. said the first go around you really work for every cm.

2015mommy2b

35 weeks 5 day appointment yesterday I was hooked up to the NST machine having contractions 5 minutes apart. 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced

Ceridwen77

36w and until yesterday's exam nothing has been happening, although they've felt baby's head down way low since 33w. Yesterday cervix was still closed but 50% effaced.

All pregnancies are difference so you can't really estimate when labor will begin based off of this. Some people walk around dilated for weeks. Others go from 0-10 in hours.

amwright33

34 weeks I was 50% effaced. But no dialation. They are trying to convince me to let them induce at 38 weeks but I want her to come naturally.

mamavbs

Ceridwen77 said:

36w and until yesterday's exam nothing has been happening, although they've felt baby's head down way low since 33w. Yesterday cervix was still closed but 50% effaced.

All pregnancies are difference so you can't really estimate when labor will begin based off of this. Some people walk around dilated for weeks. Others go from 0-10 in hours.

This. They don't really check you in the UK until you're in labour/due date/over due (unless you have issues and are being monitored), mainly because it's not a reliable way of telling you much. You can see a doctor and be 0cm and not effaced and then later in the same day it can all be kicking off! I had a slow early labour, being 1cm and 80% for a week. Then I went from 4cm to 8cm in 20 mins! I'm pretty sure they don't tell you over here so that you're not sitting there waiting and expecting to go in to labour soon! People can get quite obsessive waiting for babies. I'm going to try my hardest to just enjoy these end days *grits teeth*

doodleoodle

At 35 weeks I was 70% effaced and 1CM dilated. I had been having a lot of contractions so I was anxious for my 36 week appointment yesterday... No change. The doctor did say that it doesn't mean much anyway and that I could go into labor in 4 weeks or 24 hours. It took everything I had not to ask her why we were doing this then. :-??

CarrieOct15

FTM here. As of last week I'm 2 cm dilated & 70% effaced. Baby is also head down. I didn't expect the internal exam to be so damn uncomfortable! Ouch!

Sthines312

With my last I was 1cm dilated and 80% effaced at 36 weeks and stayed like that til I was induced at 40 weeks. This time I did not get checked at my 36 week appt.

smnewby

FTM here. I'll be 37 weeks Monday and at my appointment friday I was 0,0,-3. Little girl is "high up and happy" according to my doctor.

Cook3133

With my first 2 I walked around 1cm and effacing for 4 weeks. When I went into full labor at 40wks I was a 2 when I was checked into L&D with both and went to a 10 in less than 4 hours.

With my 3rd I was NEVER checked, not even when I got to my birthing center in full labor. I was in my third stage of labor when I arrived so they didn't feel the need to see if I dialated.

Pretty much the moral of the story is baby is going to pretty much come when they are ready and you can walk around dialated for weeks or go into labor and quickly dialate. I wouldn't put too much thought into it or it's going to feel like it's taking forever for LO to get here.

angienesss

I'm 37 weeks monday, 1cm with 75% effaced.
I keep having contractions here and there but I'm definitely ready to have this baby!!!

Kitta+1

I was excited when I was told I was 60% effaced and 1 cm dilated ... until I was told that it meant literally nothing, lmao.  Why check and get my hopes up if it doesn't tell you anything?! ARGH!

Pontot31

My midwife doesn't check until you reach 40 weeks. And even then it's optional.

ZoeH3

DD1- 1.5cm at 37 weeks, 2.5cm 38 weeks. Went into labor right after my 38 week appointment. Didn't know and was 8cm when I got to the hospital the next day.
DD2- I've been just under 2cm since 31 weeks and I am now 35w2d.

They never mention effacement.

DAnglen

I'll be 37wks Wednesday.

I went into L&D this afternoon. I was having consistent and regular contractions. They were about 3-5 mins apart. I was about 80% sure I was going in to have this baby.

She didn't tell me anything about being effaced. The only thing she said "You're only dilated to 1, honey". She was really nice and sympathetic, but I wanted to kick her in the head. That was HORRIBLE news. My OB said I should go home and take it easy. Ugghhh!!'

I'm being induced in 15 days for my personal health issues anyway, but OMG with these contractions! And only at 1cm?

*sigh*

Good luck ladies!!

oliarnmom1517

CarrieOct15 said:

FTM here. As of last week I'm 2 cm dilated & 70% effaced. Baby is also head down. I didn't expect the internal exam to be so damn uncomfortable! Ouch!

Did your stomach hurt a little while they checked?? Mine hurt for a good 5 minutes after my OB checked.. And while she was checking it make me extremely uncomfortable and my stomach started to hurt.. Not like "oh my I feel sick" but it was noticeable upset stomach feeling..

kmd91

DAnglen said:

I'll be 37wks Wednesday.

I went into L&D this afternoon. I was having consistent and regular contractions. They were about 3-5 mins apart. I was about 80% sure I was going in to have this baby.

She didn't tell me anything about being effaced. The only thing she said "You're only dilated to 1, honey". She was really nice and sympathetic, but I wanted to kick her in the head. That was HORRIBLE news. My OB said I should go home and take it easy. Ugghhh!!'

I'm being induced in 15 days for my personal health issues anyway, but OMG with these contractions! And only at 1cm?

*sigh*

Good luck ladies!!

Well, sounds like baby isn't ready to come yet. I've been dealing with a lot of contractions, and frequently regular, time able, knock the wind out of you contractions that are 3-5 minutes apart. And I'll admit I have moments where I get frustrated with them and the fact that I have to put up with that without the promise of it directly resulting in baby. But I think wanting to kick the doctor in the head and being so frustrated that baby isn't coming when he/she isn't even full term yet seems a bit drastic to me. At most you have 15 more days, let little one keep cooking as long as they're willing.

HopefulMNMom

FTM, 36 weeks and a "finger tip" dilated... Not quite 1cm. The doctor felt the baby's head and said he's low so we'll see! I would like him to stay in for a few more weeks My girlfriend recently had a baby and the day before she delivered, she was only 1cm dilated so it can go quickly!

HopefulMNMom

To be clear, he felt the head externally by pushing on my lower abdomen

Bettytteb

I was checked for the first time yesterday (at my 36w appointment) and the doc said my cervix is "tightly closed"...so no dilation here yet. She didn't mention anything about effacement. Guess LO won't be making an appearance imminently (thankfully)!

BowWowBowie

35 weeks here and I was told yesterday at my weekly appointment that unless I'm having regular contractions, I won't be getting a pelvic exam at all. (Scheduled for a c-section, possibly in a little over 2 weeks, eek!) With my DD I didn't dilate at all until I was induced and on pitocin and even then I didn't get past 4 cm. 

CarrieOct15

oorl11052015 said:

FTM here. As of last week I'm 2 cm dilated & 70% effaced. Baby is also head down. I didn't expect the internal exam to be so damn uncomfortable! Ouch!

Did your stomach hurt a little while they checked?? Mine hurt for a good 5 minutes after my OB checked.. And while she was checking it make me extremely uncomfortable and my stomach started to hurt.. Not like "oh my I feel sick" but it was noticeable upset stomach feeling..

I was a crampy for a while after my internal. It's definitely uncomfortable. 

rubirubi89

36 weeks today. I was supposed to get checked for dilation but since I mentioned having a bit of pain over the weekend. (Not sure if they were contractions) they decided not to check. [-O< Thank God, because I was not looking forward to that. So now we wait. :!!

rachswi

I can tell LO is head down and slowly getting lower. I thought about asking the doctor to check me yesterday but I know it really doesn't mean a whole lot if I'm already dilated a centimeter or something because he can still chill in my uterus for weeks. She said he's measuring right at 35 weeks as far as fundal height goes. And she did say I should get my hospital bag packed and in the car, but I know he can still come early or decide to be late to his own party regardless of how he's sitting right now.

Sometimes I really wish there was a clearer indication of just how much time is left at this point.

Cook3133

DAnglen said:

I'll be 37wks Wednesday.

I went into L&D this afternoon. I was having consistent and regular contractions. They were about 3-5 mins apart. I was about 80% sure I was going in to have this baby.

She didn't tell me anything about being effaced. The only thing she said "You're only dilated to 1, honey". She was really nice and sympathetic, but I wanted to kick her in the head. That was HORRIBLE news. My OB said I should go home and take it easy. Ugghhh!!'

I'm being induced in 15 days for my personal health issues anyway, but OMG with these contractions! And only at 1cm?

*sigh*

Good luck ladies!!

Don't get to discouraged, with my first 2 I was in full labor, contractions were a min or two apart and when the hospital checked me I was at a 2! I thought they were going to send me home! Of corse because my contractions were strong and very consistant they kept me and I dialated quickly after that. But I wanted to punch them when they said just a 2!

mamavbs

DAnglen said:

I'll be 37wks Wednesday.

I went into L&D this afternoon. I was having consistent and regular contractions. They were about 3-5 mins apart. I was about 80% sure I was going in to have this baby.

She didn't tell me anything about being effaced. The only thing she said "You're only dilated to 1, honey". She was really nice and sympathetic, but I wanted to kick her in the head. That was HORRIBLE news. My OB said I should go home and take it easy. Ugghhh!!'

I'm being induced in 15 days for my personal health issues anyway, but OMG with these contractions! And only at 1cm?

*sigh*

Good luck ladies!!

This was me with my last baby. I had sex and went on a long walk and had her two days later, unfortunately I had those contractions for two days!

apritch88

With my first I was 2cm and no effacement for 36-37 week checks. At 38 weeks I was 4 cm and 80% effaced. I walked around like that for two and a half more weeks.... she was finally born at 40+5. 

The only consequence for me was my midwife telling me not to wait too long to come to the hospital once I went into labor since I was basically already halfway done...haha. She was right. When things started rolling it went pretty fast.

Only 33 weeks right now with this one so we'll see what the 36 week appointment reveals in a few weeks  

sapick87

Had an appointment today. 36 wks 2 days, 3cm dilted and 50% effaced. I've been having very strong contractions on and off over the past week, but they don't stay consistent enough to go in to L&D. With my DS I was 3cm when I went in to have him, so it makes me a little nervous. I would like baby to stay put for another week, but God knows best!

mrssuperman918

At my 36 week apt last week I was closed but 50% effaced and baby was head down. Today at my 37 week apt, the doctor said I'm 'up high' and she couldn't find the head -___- So baby girl probably flipped around somewhere. She's making backward progress, not cool.

lulamagoo

My dr doesn't tell me because in her words "it doesn't really matter. You can walk around at a 2 and 50% for weeks." I found not knowing with my son to be pretty great. For the record, my water broke and I was only 2 cm dilated when I went to the hospital 10 hours later. All bodies are different.

rubirubi89

QUESTION: from everyone's replies it seems checking for dilation is pretty useless. Have any of you asked to NOT be checked? Im really dreading being checked next week I actually considered lying to the Dr. so he won't check me. DH says thats probably not a good idea though X_X

nmwheel1

I had my 34 week appointment today, my OB said my next appointment in 2 weeks the GBS swab will be done and only at the 38 week appointment will they check my cervix.

BowWowBowie

Why lie? If your doctor wants/needs you to be checked so be it, it's not really painful, it can be awkward, but you have peace of mind that the doctor knows where your body is at in this stage of the pregnancy. 

rubirubi89

BowWowBowie said:

Why lie? If your doctor wants/needs you to be checked so be it, it's not really painful, it can be awkward, but you have peace of mind that the doctor knows where your body is at in this stage of the pregnancy. 

I was being honest today when I told her I had some pain over the weekend and on her own she decided to hold off till next week to check me. I asked if it would hurt and she said yes, so now I want to have it done even less. Especially if it seems so unecessary.
Why would she "need" to check me?

BowWowBowie

She's probably checking because of the pain you were feeling. If you're feeling really antsy about it, be honest with her and see why she needs to check it and get her professional opinion on it. It wasn't too painful for me, just caused some cramping and spotting after, but every body is different.

HopefulMNMom

rubirubi89 said:

QUESTION: from everyone's replies it seems checking for dilation is pretty useless. Have any of you asked to NOT be checked? Im really dreading being checked next week I actually considered lying to the Dr. so he won't check me. DH says thats probably not a good idea though X_X

I was checked yesterday morning and had really bad cramping until this afternoon. I called and this is normal. Because of the cramping, I plan to ask my doctor next week if I really need to be checked at every appointment going forward. If he recommends it, I'll do it but otherwise I'll opt out. I don't want to deal with the cramping every week unless it's medically necessary to check. It seems like it doesn't really matter until it's go time unless I'm missing something.

rubirubi89

HopefulMNMom said:

rubirubi89 said:

QUESTION: from everyone's replies it seems checking for dilation is pretty useless. Have any of you asked to NOT be checked? Im really dreading being checked next week I actually considered lying to the Dr. so he won't check me. DH says thats probably not a good idea though X_X

I was checked yesterday morning and had really bad cramping until this afternoon. I called and this is normal. Because of the cramping, I plan to ask my doctor next week if I really need to be checked at every appointment going forward. If he recommends it, I'll do it but otherwise I'll opt out. I don't want to deal with the cramping every week unless it's medically necessary to check. It seems like it doesn't really matter until it's go time unless I'm missing something.

I'll probably do the same. I would understand the need to be checked if I was having regular contractions but the pain I had over the weekend went away on its own after I laid down and chugged some water. FTM so I don't know whats going on half the time.

SJFTCA

I was checked yesterday for the first time at 35-2. No one warned me that it would be that painful. I held it together, but it was definitely way more intense than I was expecting. I also had some cramping after, but no spotting or contractions. Plus, it was all for naught bc I wasn't dilated at all.

My doc gave me the option of being checked bc I had to do the strep b test, and I was thinking (naively, I suppose) that it would be like when they do my annual exam. Soooo, if I had to do it again, I would prob opt out if I were given the option! Ouch!

urby87

At my 36w appointment, the doctor said Baby was head down and cervix was still closed.  Yesterday at my 37w, I was about 1 cm, but the doctor made no mention of effacement.  She did say that she did not think Baby was head down anymore, and it turns out she was right.  Now we just have to wait and see if she flips back down...