36wks dilation questions

sixres

My midwife started checking me last week because DH has been out of town a lot and I've been nervous. I'm also in a wedding (bridesmaid) next weekend and it's a little over an hour away. I was soft but 0 dilation and she couldn't feel him. Today she could feel him and said I'm a fingertip and she also old me I'm 2-3 at the opening. Is that what's known as funneling? I was a fingertip dilated 4 days before going into labor with Aiden (at exactly 40wks). I'm getting checked one more time before the wedding. What would you do if you were 3cm and a wedding the next day and 1.5 hrs from the hospital you're supposed to deliver at? Does being 3cm mean anything to you? You can walk around at 3cm for weeks. I don't want to tell the bride I can't go cause I might go into labor. But DH doesn't want to go if I'm 3 (theoretically speaking). I could go into labor at 1cm though. If you remember from earlier posts, I got to the hospital at 8cm and Aiden was born 4 hours later....

marcuej

Ooh, tough call!  I have to say I'd be pretty nervous about going to that wedding.  If your first delivery went that quickly I can only imagine how fast #2 will come. 

Did you not feel contractions with Aiden for very long or did you just progress really fast?  

Have you been having any sort of contractions at all?  

In my opinion, the baby could come at any time.  But the fact you are only 36 weeks leads me to believe you still have a little time.  When do you get checked next?

Mouseygail

some people walk around for weeks at 6 cm (I was horrified to read that while pg!)  Are you feeling any other signs of labor?  How quick was your first labor (ie, did you labor at home for a while or did you head to the hosptial quickly and you were already at 8?)  I'd keep these things in mind...I'd also check into where the closest hospitals are to the wedding if you choose to go!

CMM05

Eh. I'd still go to the wedding. The reality is that if you go into labor and/or your water breaks you can just get in the car and head to the hospital.

FWIW: I was 3cm and 50% effaced with DS2 at 36 weeks and he wasn't born until 37w5d.......so almost 2 whole weeks later.

GL!

ETA: Also, I personally would NOT get checked again before the wedding because another internal could potentially irritate things more. I would just go to the wedding and enjoy myself Try to sit when you can and keep hydrated!

 

AtlJuneBride

I'm not trying to make you even more nervous, but I was at a 2 at 36 weeks, a 3 at 37 weeks, and went into labor at 37w5d and had a super-fast labor like you, less than 4 hours from the time I got to the hospital.  You could walk around for weeks like that, but I think there's a very real chance you could go sooner...

itsmevkb

This is one of those you just never know situations.  I don't think you can just sit at home and wait for something to happen once you're at 3cm.  For me, I was 3cm at my 37 week appointment and I went into labor a week later.  With my first though I went into labor when I was only a fingertip dilated so yea, you just never know.

I will say this though, my second came VERY quickly so I would be wary of being too far away from the hospital.  Sorry, that doesn't really answer your question.

browneyedgrl4282

That is a really tough call! I assume your husband is going to the wedding with you? If he is I would probably go unless you get checked again right before the wedding and you dilated a lot more. I probably would call the bride and give her heads up just so she knows. I mean she has to know that you are in the home stretch and this could happen! 

 

Wow you are 36 weeks already it seems like yesterday we were talking about how long you had to go the pool! BY the way I forgot to tell you my husband asked me after you left if you were pregnant because you were so tiny! 

mrsolsenk12

I sgree with the other ladies, hard to say. At my 36 week appintment I was 1-2cm and 90% effaced. My water broke 9 hours later and ds was born 4 hours later...so 13 hours after appointment. I agree to let the bride know just in case something happens.

LisaMarisa

You can certainly walk around at 3 for a while, and 4 and 5! 

With DS I was 2cm at 32 weeks and gradually increased until I was induced at 38w because I was 5cm and my OB was worried that my water would break and I wouldnt make it to the hospital.  And honestly, he was right.  Once I got to the hospital and they broke my water, it was about an hour and a half until I was 10. 

With DD the same thing happened (I didnt start dilating until later though) and I was 4cm at my 40w appt.  Every week they said that I would probably go that weekend and then I was always back at the next appt.  So they ended up inducing me again (breaking my water) and again I went to 10 quickly.  Honestly, I think he was so sure that I would go on my own the weekend before my induction that he just scheduled it to make me feel better. 

Anyway, my point is that you can walk around for a LONG time being wide open!  An hour and a half isnt that bad and I'm sure if it was an emergency you could go to a hospital there.