Cervical dilation

Nurse27 · March 2012

At how many weeks would you not be allowed a vbac if there wasn't any cervical dilation. My dr is saying 40 weeks. I hope I progress so I can have a vbac! Right now I am only 50% effaced. : (

lostaspen · March 2012

My midwife doesn't do internals (which is fine by me), and will let me go as long as me, baby, and placenta continue to be in good health. I find it a bit suspicious that your doctor requires some cervical dilation by 40 weeks--I've read repeatedly that second time moms may not have any dilation before going into labor. I guess if I were in your position I'd try to find some actual data/studies to show my doctor and push for 41+ weeks.

holly321 · March 2012

I never discussed this with my OB, but I agree with PP. I would think you should be allowed to not be anything up until the day you are required to schedule the csection (not that I agree with that either) To clarify, if you have to schedule by 41 weeks, you should be allowed to go until then, even if nothing is going on.

annabelle.27 · March 2012

I didn't get any internals. There was never any discussion of what would have to happen to make a vbac possible or a deadline to meet- it was always assumed that it would happen.

MAprincess · March 2012

I agree- with pps. The hospital I delivered in had a deadline for me of 41 weeks. I wasn't dilated at all that day but was having light, regular contractions. I was induced and baby came the next day.

iris427 · March 2012

annabelle.27:
I didn't get any internals. There was never any discussion of what would have to happen to make a vbac possible or a deadline to meet- it was always assumed that it would happen.

Same here. I never had my cervix checked for my VBAC and I never had a specific deadline. If I went to 42 weeks, the plan was to assess things from there.

It sounds like your doctor is setting you up for another c/s. There is no reason to deny you a VBAC for that reason.

cchill01 · March 2012

Can you find out if 40 weeks is a hospital restriction or the Doctor's preference? If it's the later, I would start pushing for more time right now. See what he/she says.

My 41 week restriction is the hospital's, so unfortunately there's no one that I can convince.

nosoup4u · March 2012

I didn't have any cervical checks with my MW, and it was never a requirement or issue for me. I also didn't go into labor until at least 41 weeks (I wasn't certain of my due date).

38 weeks is sort of early to get really worried about it, and some women show *no* labor signs until they actually go into full-blown labor.

It's also totally reasonable on your part to refuse a RCS if you aren't showing "enough" dilation at 40 weeks - if you're healthy, and the baby is healthy, then there isn't more risk with waiting just because you're a VBAC. hth and good luck!!

selockar · March 2012

My ob will give me until 42 weeks. At my 42 week appointment I will have to schedule a c-section. 40 weeks sounds a little suspicious to me. I agree with pp. check and see if it's a hospital policy, if not push back.

angelina477 · March 2012

My ob said I needed to be more than 2 at 41 weeks. I was 1-2 and after they did a foley catheter i went to 4-5. I had a successful induction with pitocin.

hopecounts · March 2012

40 weeks is really early to require dilation, and dilation is a poor sign of what's going to happen.

My new OB/Gyn is fine with going to 42 weeks as long as I have NST and AFI to monitor the baby.

And at 42 weeks we'll asses and make a plan from there (foley induction or RCS depending on the specifics)

Dilation really doesn't tell you anything until you're actually in labor. You can be 2 cms for 2 weeks and go into labor and deliver in 6 hrs at 40.1 weeks or be 5 cm for 6 weeks and be 40.2 days and still not in labor like friends of mine.

Jessimurph · March 2012

Can you decline internals and start pushing for 42 weeks to go into labor naturally? Seems like a stupid nonsensical rule to me since dilation tells you nothing.

Jessimurph · March 2012

Can you decline internals and start pushing for 42 weeks to go into labor naturally? Seems like a stupid nonsensical rule to me since dilation tells you nothing.

bobbs420 · March 2012

One of the midwives at my practice told me that if I wasn't dilated or effaced by 41 weeks, then they will do a gentle induction.

babyike · March 2012

If I were you, I would really try to get your doc to back off a bit regarding cervical checks/dilation requirements. See if your doc will consider giving you until 41 weeks. From your wording, your OB does not seem supportive of VBAC IMO. GL!

With DS, I was allowed to go to 42 weeks before a gentle induction would be scheduled. There was never any mention of cervical dilation requirements at my appointments with my hospital midwife group in CO. Labor started naturally the morning after my membrane sweep at 41w1d.

With this LO, I have also not been informed of cervical dilation requirements with my new OB group in TX (we moved last year). I was told that we would discuss gentle induction if nothing by 41w6d, but my OB also said she would be shocked if I didn't go into labor on my own before then this time as well. She said several times that she's very confident this VBAC will go as smoothly as my previous one.

Saltina11 · March 2012

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