So then whats the point of being excited about being dilated and effaced....

karagirly

......if half the people sit around waiting until full term. I mean how much does it really mean?

BabyFrancis

BUBKASS... I've been 80% effaced since 38 weeks.. only 1cm since then too.

inlovewow

I just look at it as being 1 step closer to D-Day...that's all you can do!

lizbi0407

For me it means at least the end is near. I wish dilation actually meant something but oh well I still get excited telling people I'm dilated lol.

homebird

The childbirth class instructor told us there is really no point to knowing that you're dilated 1 cm. I mean, you could be like that for weeks. Same with loosing your mp.

homebird

lizbi0407:

For me it means at least the end is near. I wish dilation actually meant something but oh well I still get excited telling people I'm dilated lol.

you tell people you're dilated? please tell me you don't post this in your facebook status or something, lol.

karagirly

Right but apparently it means nothing to half the people. There are people fully closed that go into labor that night and people walking around at 4cm for 4 weeks. I guess its just wishful thinking and false hope then. there has to be better stats on this. Of course the people waiting around will most likely post their "waiting"stories cause they are anxious. its just a thought.

madhatter2003

It means nothing until you are 10 cm and 100% 

Although in theory if you go into 'real' labor at 4 cm you have less to go than someone starting at 1 cm...but even then every woman is different.

EMWindy

I accidentally clicked on 3rd tri instead of 2nd (and was wondering why they were talking about dialation already).   Haha - anyways, my first time, I was 4 cm dialated and 75% effaced at 36 weeks and did not go into labor on my own.  I was induced for high blood pressure at 38.5 weeks.  

My co-worker was 1cm dialated at 37w and went into labor the next day.   Everyone's experience is different.

But I have read that being dialated/effaced makes a successful induction more favorable (which I know it'd be better to go into labor on your own, etc).   My induction was great/easy - labor lasted 8 hrs total.

lpstl

It means nothing, but as a society we are impatient people, I guess seeing progress gives women hope that they won't be pregnant forever? I don't know.

Side note: I was getting lunch in my office cafeteria the other day. A woman who I don't know says this to me:

"Oh! We have a pregnant woman in our department too, she's 3 cm dialated!"

My reaction: "Well, she certainly keeps you all in the loop, doesn't she... "

lizbi0407

homebird:

lizbi0407:

For me it means at least the end is near. I wish dilation actually meant something but oh well I still get excited telling people I'm dilated lol.

you tell people you're dilated? please tell me you don't post this in your facebook status or something, lol.

No more like my Mom (she's an L&D nurse so she eats it up) MIL, family, and my other pregnant friends. lol

shell0607

I told my mom I was 1-2 cm, she in turn told my Dad, who in turn told my grandma.  I got a call last night from my grandma because she thought because I was having BH and was 1 cm dilated that I was in labor.  And then informed me that the Dr. wouldn't break my water until 4cm.  I told her I was not in labor and could walk around like this for weeks. 

I still get excited when there is a change though.

soonerqt

It means nothing. That's why internals are optional with my midwife. It can just give you false hope... or disappointment at that.

karagirly

soonerqt:

It means nothing. That's why internals are optional with my midwife. It can just give you false hope... or disappointment at that.

 

THANK YOU!!! Ive learned that through all this! Dr's should not say you are going into the labor in the next week if its just a hoax!

Summer20

EMWindy:

But I have read that being dialated/effaced makes a successful induction more favorable (which I know it'd be better to go into labor on your own, etc).   My induction was great/easy - labor lasted 8 hrs total.

My doctor said this too, she says that if I was like 3-4 cm on my due date she'd induce.  If I had no progress she'd wait up to a week after to see if things start on their own - it makes for a waaay better induction.  So, it may not tell you when you'll go into labor, but at least you're making progress - that's something!

AmandaToo

I think it can just mess with your head.  However, it is true if you think about it that getting dilated without noticing in the weeks before labor kind of gives you a head start.  But you could still have a long labor at the same time.  I just assumed from day one this pregnancy would last 41 weeks.  It's a trick I'm playing on my mind

Ciconrad

The only thing to be excited about is that it's less dilation you have to do while dealing wih contrax.  I dilated from 1 cm to 4 cm between 36 and 40 weeks without a single contraction and had to be induced.  My L&D was 4 hours though so the progress helped things go quicker.

Ciconrad

Be excited that it's less dilation you have to do while dealing with contrax.  I dilated from 1 cm to 4cm between 36 and 40 weeks without a single painful contraction, but had to be induced.  My L&D was only 4 hours though so there was some benefit to all that progress.

Worcbride

karagirly:

soonerqt:

It means nothing. That's why internals are optional with my midwife. It can just give you false hope... or disappointment at that.

 

THANK YOU!!! Ive learned that through all this! Dr's should not say you are going into the labor in the next week if its just a hoax!

my OB is the same--there is no point in getting all excited