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Externally dilated and loss of mucus plug...what does this mean?

readingbridereadingbride
in 3rd Trimester

I am 35w today with my second child. Yesterday I felt like my underwear was wet so I went to the doc to make sure it wasn't amniotic fluid. She told me I'm starting to lose my mucus plug and am "externally dilated" but not "internally dilated" and 50% effaced. I tried to get her to explain this to me like I was 7 years old, but I still don't get it.

Anyone know what this means? It's too early to have this little one!

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Re: Externally dilated and loss of mucus plug...what does this mean?

  • audreypaudreyp
    Ok, think of your cervix like a traffic cone.  It can dilate externally larger than internally.  I was 1cm at 35 weeks and stayed until last week when I was at 3cm.  Try to relax and not worry.  If your doc was concerned about it, she would have taken precautionary steps.  Hope this helps
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  • jessandbrandondjessandbrandond

    My doctor told me that everything just seems to happen faster after your first... she said it didn't necessarily mean baby was actually coming early.

    I don't really understand the difference between internally and externally dialated either... sorry I am not much help!

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  • Temp534591562502098Temp534591562502098

    It means the bottom (where his finger enters) is open but the top (where the baby's head is) is still closed.

     

    https://pregnancy.about.com/od/laborbasics/g/cervicalos.htm

     

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  • stephaniepoststephaniepost
    Think of your cervix like a cylinder.  The outside part (so the bottom of the cylinder) is enlarging but the top portion is still closed up tight.  Thus you are internally closed but externally dilated.
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  • mags2144mags2144

    imageaudreyp:
    Ok, think of your cervix like a traffic cone.  It can dilate externally larger than internally.  I was 1cm at 35 weeks and stayed until last week when I was at 3cm.  Try to relax and not worry.  If your doc was concerned about it, she would have taken precautionary steps.  Hope this helps

     I had no idea.  Thx, the traffic cone analogy is very helpful

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