3cm and 80 effaced

nicoleschafer

I'm 36w 3d and yesterday was my first internal exam. Much to my surprise, I was 3cm and 80 effaced! I recently have become really swollen and had some protein in my urine. My BP is still good so I'm not considered preeclamptic. I'm a nurse and was told to stop working and just "take it easy." I am currently doing a 24hr urine sample and depending on those results amount of protein will determine if I need to be induced. I'm hoping my urine is ok as I would like to "cook" this baby a little longer. I'm due 2/10 but was told there is "no way" I will make it to February. We has a sono last night to evaluate the babe and all is well and measuring at 6.5lbs. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this or exeoericing it now??

dande2129

I didn't have my first internal with DS until I was almost 40 weeks, and I was just 1 cm dilated and 70 effaced. My water broke only a few days later, but my body never actually dilated on it's own. I arrived at the hospital 14 hours after my water had broken, and I was still at 1 cm and 70 effaced. So, really, I think it depends on the person. You'll get a lot of different stories.

I hope your urine comes back okay!  

ebp913

Not to burst your bubble but my OB also said I wouldn't make it to my due date based on my internal at 37 weeks (I can't remember what it was now).  My DD was born 3 days before 40 weeks. Those assessments don't mean much.

shibby00

An internal exam is just a snap shot if where you are at that moment in time. It has zero ability to predict when you will go into labor. That being said, it sounds like if you need to be induced then you are a great candidate. 

samibandy

I had an appointment Tuesday and at 36 weeks I am 3 cm and 70% effaced. However I have been 3 cm since 33 w 4 d when I went in for preterm labor. I just stopped taking procardia to stop contractions and have had 2 nights of horrible contractions but they don't last more than an hour or two. My doctor told me she was 4 cm at 36 weeks and had to be induced at 39 weeks so I am not getting my hopes up too much that LO will be out soon even though he is already 6lb 11oz.  It seems like every baby has his or her own little agenda and could care less when we want them to come out lol. 

ggatlanta

It may be that you won't make 40 weeks because of the potential pre-e, but as far as dilation goes...

My sister was "closed tight as a steel drum" according to her doc, but eighteen hours later, she checked into the hospital at 4cm, 80%.

My best friend was at 2cm, 70% by 37w. Five weeks later, at 42w1d, she ended up with a c-section following two days of labor that never progressed past 6cm.

The more stories I hear, the more it seems that dilation/effacement doesn't mean much until you're 5-1-1.

sthomas1222

As of Tuesday I am 5cm and 80% effaced, -3 station. Previous week I was 3-4cm and 50% effaced. Still no baby... Gonna seduce DH this weekend and see if anything happens lol.

nicoleschafer

Update:

My 24 hr urine came back with elevated protein. All of my bloodwork was good. Yesterday in the office my BP was elevated I was emotional and stressed so I was sent to the hospital for a NST and BP monitoring. Both were great so I got to go home! The new plan is to check baby and my BP every 2 days and as long as both remain good, I will be induced on 1/28/13! At that point babe will be 38 weeks! I was told to remain on the couch until then! This is not how I envisioned my last week before motherhood but I will do what I need to in order to "cook" this one a little longer!

Thanks for all the responses and well wishes!