Very strange

kryshy123

I am finding it very strange that so many posters are saying that their doctors at 35, 36, 37 weeks are telling them just because they are dilated at all that they won't make it to their due date? From everything I've talked about with the doctors, what I've read, family friends who are OB's, dilation means nothing until you are in active labor and having timeable contractions. Am I the only one who finds this strange to be reading post after post saying the total opposite. You have a due date...wait for it....you could be not dilated at all and have your baby tomorrow. It means NOTHING to be dilated unless you are in labor. The End

marsh1113

agreed. I am 37 weeks and they haven't even checked me yet because I have no signs of labor so what is the point?

gradmommy13

THANK YOU!

ZeeSunflowery1

SparksEm:

Agreed. No need to be concerned about dialation until labor. After all, I want to be pregnant forever...

I just did a google search for this 'dialation' word, but the only thing that came up was 'dilation'.

Shoecrazysarah

Originally my doc said I prob wouldn't make it to my due date after performing an internal exam at 36 weeks. But I think that was based on dilation, effacement and station.

pearlsonthebeach

Maybe I'm just a skeptical b!tch but I always assume it's a creative embellishment plus wishful thinking on the poster's part when they claim their doc has said that.

kryshy123

pearlsonthebeach:

Maybe I'm just a skeptical b!tch but I always assume it's a creative embellishment plus wishful thinking on the poster's part when they claim their doc has said that.

You put into words perfectly what I was thinking. Thank you!

kryshy123

Shoecrazysarah:

Originally my doc said I prob wouldn't make it to my due date after performing an internal exam at 36 weeks. But I think that was based on dilation, effacement and station.

What were your numbers at 36 weeks?

kryshy123

KateRN08:

kryshy123:

Shoecrazysarah:

Originally my doc said I prob wouldn't make it to my due date after performing an internal exam at 36 weeks. But I think that was based on dilation, effacement and station.

What were your numbers at 36 weeks?

My guess is... 2cm, 50 percent and minus 2 haha

That was going to be my guess too. I was at 1.5 30 and minus 2 at 36 weeks and my doctor laughed and said there is no magic 8 ball and me checking you means nothing unless I put my fingers in there and you're like a 5 and I'm pulling on the baby's ears.

ordinary1

I don't understand this either! I know people that walked around at a 2 or 3 for weeks and had to be induced. On the flip side I know someone that wasn't dilated at all and was holding her baby not even a day later.

Pumpkin_Princess

SparksEm:

Agreed. No need to be concerned about dialation until labor. After all, I want to be pregnant forever...

This doesn't make any sense. You can be 4cm dilated for weeks and still go into labor late, or as PP said, you can be completely closed and go into labor tomorrow. The numbers don't tell you anything about when you will go into labor, so no, you don't need to worry about it now. The baby will come out eventually.  

botanicalbliss

Thank you!  Unless you are have had complications or are high risk, being dilated/effaced/whatever that early is not a big deal.  I don't know why doctors are saying this stuff.  It's normal for your body to start getting ready for labor between 36 and 40 weeks, but just because you're at 2 cm means absolutely nothing. 

blush64

I know many people who walked around for weeks dilated and at least one went past her due date.

I think doctors can say what they want but most of the time no one knows what's going to happen.

Edit Personally, I would have no idea what's going on there. My doctor doesn't really do those exams yet.

JCRSMD17

pearlsonthebeach:

Maybe I'm just a skeptical b!tch but I always assume it's a creative embellishment plus wishful thinking on the poster's part when they claim their doc has said that.

this exactly. No OBs I know but any stock in dilation unless you are 4+ cm 

SparksEm

ZeeSunflowery1:

SparksEm:

Agreed. No need to be concerned about dialation until labor. After all, I want to be pregnant forever...

I just did a google search for this 'dialation' word, but the only thing that came up was 'dilation'.

You are correct. Edit: Dilation....and Google is capitalized...semantics

ZeeSunflowery1

SparksEm:

ZeeSunflowery1:

SparksEm:

Agreed. No need to be concerned about dialation until labor. After all, I want to be pregnant forever...

I just did a google search for this 'dialation' word, but the only thing that came up was 'dilation'.

You are correct. Edit: Dilation....and Google is capitalized...semantics

Meh...I care more about spelling skills...not a silly thing like capital letters.

Eleventy11

I totally agree...it means nothing. I don't get why everyone thinks being early is such a great thing. I wish people would realize that they have signed on for 40 plus weeks, and not count on being so over it at 37.

BettyKnits

I get checked all the time, and have been told I won't make it to my due date. But I've had a lot of complications and am on bed rest for the second time.

megpeg

My midwife won't even check me until 39 weeks. She said she would sweep my membrane then. I have GD and they won't let me go much over 40 weeks. I was never checked when I was pregnant with DS.

BeesMomma00

The only benefit I see in knowing my "numbers" is that I only have 7cm to go instead of 10. I'm still guessing I will go a few days early but that is based on my first delivery. I do know that even that is not an indication of what will happen.

Shoecrazysarah

kryshy123:

Shoecrazysarah:

Originally my doc said I prob wouldn't make it to my due date after performing an internal exam at 36 weeks. But I think that was based on dilation, effacement and station.

What were your numbers at 36 weeks?

At 36 weeks I was 2cm, 65 percent effaced and minus 2 station. By week 38 the only thing that changed was I had progressed to 3 cm. I am 39 weeks today and no action yet. My guy is head down and facing sideways which is preventing him from engaging, so we will see!

ColeyHouse

I agree. i find it strange, especially with 2nd time moms. this is my 2nd, I'd love to have this baby any day, but I'm not expecting her until my due date or later even though i have been dilated. im waiting for those contractions

Schell2013

If only they knew that most of the people I know have walked around dilated 2 or 3 cm and then ended up being induced at 41 weeks maybe there would be less of this.

kmcd23

courtnif:

I totally agree...it means nothing. I don't get why everyone thinks being early is such a great thing. I wish people would realize that they have signed on for 40 plus weeks, and not count on being so over it at 37.

I realize I signed on for 40 weeks, but since I have to be induced at 40 weeks on the dot and prefer not to be, I'm very hopeful LO makes his debut in the 39th week on his own.

For me, being a little early really would be a great thing. I'd rather be in a situation where I could wait until he appears on his own, even if that meant 42 weeks, but I'm not that lucky.

And I've said it before, but I'll reiterate. I think it's strange how much people get annoyed by others questioning or not trusting their OB, because doctors are so educated, etc., until their OB says something that goes against the popular beliefs on this board, and suddenly we're all smarter than their OB. That cracks me up.

LaxMOM44

I don't think people are saying don't trust your OB. I think they are saying that the women who come on here and claim their OB told them that they are going to go early BECAUSE they are Dilated, or dialated if you hate English, might just be hearing what they want to hear. Or their OB made a comment that it COULD mean early labour and they jumped all over and have been camping out in the hospital parking lot waiting for contractions. It just seems a little strange that so many posters have been told that they are a unique unicorn that will go early because they are dilated and that perhaps they are putting too much stock into it.

Though I feel the same way about the posts about mucous plugs.

kmcd23

laxminavkar:

I don't think people are saying don't trust your OB. I think they are saying that the women who come on here and claim their OB told them that they are going to go early BECAUSE they are Dilated, or dialated if you hate English, might just be hearing what they want to hear. Or their OB made a comment that it COULD mean early labour and they jumped all over and have been camping out in the hospital parking lot waiting for contractions. It just seems a little strange that so many posters have been told that they are a unique unicorn that will go early because they are dilated and that perhaps they are putting too much stock into it.

Though I feel the same way about the posts about mucous plugs.

I get that. It's just ironic to me. I feel like you could sum up the last 9 months on here like this:

What does this mean?
Ask your OB.
What does this mean?
Ask your OB, not Internet strangers.
What does this mean?
Ask your OB, or Google, for the love!
I'm excited, my OB said...
WTF does your OB know?

And it's funny to me. Insert mobile smiley of some sort here.

Shoecrazysarah

I know that so many gals on here say you can walk around dilated and effaced for weeks without going in labor, and everyone seems to know someone who has. I just figured that these doctors have seen a lot of pregnancies and labors and therefore might have a better educated guess. Plus, they know all the paticulars of the individuals pregnancy so their opinion could be based on a lot more info then we are aware of.

With that said, my doc never said "you are deffinitely going into labor early", she just said probably. Just like our due dates, I figured it was an estimate, not a guarantee.

I certainly wasn't hopeful for a preterm baby and I really was hoping for at least 39 weeks, I just think for a lot of us it is exciting to hear that we will see our babies soon!

kryshy123

laxminavkar:

I don't think people are saying don't trust your OB. I think they are saying that the women who come on here and claim their OB told them that they are going to go early BECAUSE they are Dilated, or dialated if you hate English, might just be hearing what they want to hear. Or their OB made a comment that it COULD mean early labour and they jumped all over and have been camping out in the hospital parking lot waiting for contractions. It just seems a little strange that so many posters have been told that they are a unique unicorn that will go early because they are dilated and that perhaps they are putting too much stock into it.

Though I feel the same way about the posts about mucous plugs.

This exactly. Obviously all of our pregnancies are personal and different. And never ever would I say don't trust your OB, however, I think it's more women are taking what their OB says and twisting it to what they want to hear. It is very exciting to hear that your body is working towards labor, I was excited to hear how I was progressing as well. But I never for a second thought that labor was around the corner.