Tell me about dilation and effacement

KGsky · March 2010

Had my first internal today...so not fun. Didn't have them last time b/c G was breech from 20 some odd weeks on. I think I remember some posts on here chiding the new 3rd Tri board for people huffing and puffing about not being dilated or anything at 36 weeks. Which would be me--cervix is sold as a rock, no spontaneous labor for me! Which is fine, because little man needs to wait until after DD's party on Saturday, and my birthday on Sunday. LOL How quickly does this change? Anyone care to share stories on how soon you went from 0 to labor? I really hope this little guy comes before the scheduled c-section so we can try for the VBAC, but right now he's just chillin'.

mrs.mickulz · March 2010

The week before I delivered, I was 1.5 cm dialated and 80% effaced. I had another exam the day before I went into labor and was 2 cm dialated and still 80% effaced. The following day, I lost my MP and started having contractions at 8 AM, water broke at 11:15 on its own, and delivered DD at 1:06 PM.

auslyn804 · March 2010

Mine was slow. I was dialated at 34wks(was checked due to frequent contractions). I was checked again at 35 and 36wks but not 37. I was slowly dialating until my water broke at 38wks.

SammyluvsJ · March 2010

I didn't have anything happen until I was in full on labor. It took him 26 hours from start to finish. He was also 10 days late.

seawatch06 · March 2010

I am curious about this too, although my dr won't check me until 37 weeks because it's been known to get things started and I had dd at 36 weeks.

djandkellen · March 2010

It can happen quickly or slowly - no two women are alike. I know, cliche, but it's definitely true with this aspect! Typically the quicker (not sooner) you dilate and/or efface, the more intense contractions can be, but not always.

I hope you get to have your VBAC!!

KGsky · March 2010

seawatch06:
I am curious about this too, although my dr won't check me until 37 weeks because it's been known to get things started and I had dd at 36 weeks.

Oh my, didn't realize this...well, maybe it can get things started, well, started in terms of starting to start things! I really want DD to have a good bday (and not spend mine in L&D) LOL. He's not due for another month, so he should definitely stay put for a while!

Ladybugs879 · March 2010

When my water broke I was only a 1/2cm dilated.

Crazycrustacean · March 2010

I was only 1cm for weeks. I was still 1cm when my water broke & progressed from there with the help of pit. I probably would've progressed more quickly without the epi. But I had back labor & didn't wanna feel the pain.

IMO it will happen when it happens.

I hope your lo waits & that you get your vbac.

momtoRaegan041008 · March 2010

2 days before my due date, I was dialated 1 cm, my daughter was born 1 day early. Things can happen fast! I have no idea about enfacement, my midwife never said anything about that to me.

djandkellen · March 2010

KGsky:
seawatch06:
I am curious about this too, although my dr won't check me until 37 weeks because it's been known to get things started and I had dd at 36 weeks.
Oh my, didn't realize this...well, maybe it can get things started, well, started in terms of starting to start things! I really want DD to have a good bday (and not spend mine in L&D) LOL. He's not due for another month, so he should definitely stay put for a while!

Sometimes an internal can be enough stimulation to "get things going," but it typically would need a little more stimulation to really get it going.

Also,I was going to ask (and, truly, not trying to insult your intelligence) did you want to know what they're actually checking for (what it means) to dilate/efface?

star173 · March 2010

Can you schedlue the section later so you can have a chance at the VBAC?

If it helps- I was closed up tight at 36w6d. She was born two days later.

Start walking and trying all the "tricks" to induce labor. Good luck!

Lucky_Dragonfly · March 2010

I was 1cm for about 3wks. The day I had DS when I checked in I was already at 5cm after only a littel over an hour of labor. 1.5 hrs later I was fully dialated.

NicholeeK · March 2010

I was 0cm dilated and 0% effaced and my water broke 5 days early.

KGsky · March 2010

djandkellen:
KGsky:

seawatch06:
I am curious about this too, although my dr won't check me until 37 weeks because it's been known to get things started and I had dd at 36 weeks.

Oh my, didn't realize this...well, maybe it can get things started, well, started in terms of starting to start things! I really want DD to have a good bday (and not spend mine in L&D) LOL. He's not due for another month, so he should definitely stay put for a while!

Sometimes an internal can be enough stimulation to "get things going," but it typically would need a little more stimulation to really get it going.

Also,I was going to ask (and, truly, not trying to insult your intelligence) did you want to know what they're actually checking for (what it means) to dilate/efface?

LOL. No, I know what it means, just wondering what people's experiences have been since I had none with my first pregnancy. My doc explained it today, and explained that I wasn't either. I'm getting from this post that there's no amount you "should" be dilated or effaced at a particular time, so I was kind of wondering about that. Sounds like it's all over the spectrum. So...I'll just wait...It's weird though, I knew when she checked me there was nothing going on there, I just did. Guess I'm very in touch with the condition of my cervix. Big Smile

SweetSweetHam · March 2010

With DS I was 1 cm at 36 weeks and was still 1 cm at 40w5d, but something like 70% effaced. Went into labor on my own that night, was 3 cm when I got to the hospital at like 3 AM (progressed pretty quickly after that).

In my experience, effacement was a better indicator of how close I was than dilation (don't remember how effaced I was at earlier visits - either not at all or very little).

djandkellen · March 2010

KGsky:
djandkellen:
KGsky:

seawatch06:
I am curious about this too, although my dr won't check me until 37 weeks because it's been known to get things started and I had dd at 36 weeks.
Oh my, didn't realize this...well, maybe it can get things started, well, started in terms of starting to start things! I really want DD to have a good bday (and not spend mine in L&D) LOL. He's not due for another month, so he should definitely stay put for a while!
Sometimes an internal can be enough stimulation to "get things going," but it typically would need a little more stimulation to really get it going.
Also,I was going to ask (and, truly, not trying to insult your intelligence) did you want to know what they're actually checking for (what it means) to dilate/efface?
LOL. No, I know what it means, just wondering what people's experiences have been since I had none with my first pregnancy. My doc explained it today, and explained that I wasn't either. I'm getting from this post that there's no amount you "should" be dilated or effaced at a particular time, so I was kind of wondering about that. Sounds like it's all over the spectrum. So...I'll just wait...It's weird though, I knew when she checked me there was nothing going on there, I just did. Guess I'm very in touch with the condition of my cervix.

Okay, good. Just checking. Once you get a little further along, you can try having sex b/c there's a chemical/hormone (not sure what it is) in semen that can help relax the cervix/cause you to dilate/efface, etc. Good luck!

destea1 · March 2010

I think it's a good thing, personally. If this puts it into the opposite perspective - I walked around at 4cm/80% for *4 weeks* with this dude. And all that did was serve me a 2 hour labor that forced me to go med-free >: I'd rather be closed up tight with a laboring time that gave me magical-epidural time

Honestly though, you could go from zero to labor in a few hours - I wouldn't stress too much!

KGsky · March 2010

djandkellen:
Okay, good. Just checking. Once you get a little further along, you can try having sex b/c there's a chemical/hormone (not sure what it is) in semen that can help relax the cervix/cause you to dilate/efface, etc. Good luck!

Woo hoo! Bring it on! LOL. "but honey, it's for the BABY..." LOL My poor DH is so confused because the last time we absolutely did not want me to go into labor, so the last few weeks I was off my feet, no sex, no nothing, because we didn't want the baby to come before my mom got here! (I know, these things make no logical sense). But, sure enough, the night my mom got off the plane, I ended up going into--a very slow--labor. I was already scheduled for a c-section, so I just got it early. Now I can tell DH "It's party time!" OH, but only after my birthday Stick out tongue

racegirl723 · March 2010

My 37 week exam was on a Tuesday. I was not dilated or effaced at all. I started losing my MP on Friday. Had a labor check on Sunday b/c I was afraid I was leaking fluid (which I wasn't). On Sunday at the labor check I was 2cm dilated and I don't remember the effacement (I think around 50%). I had my DS on Tuesday, so exactly 7 days after the appt where I had no progress at all.

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