Legit (I think) question @ dilation/cervical checks

TAGSL710 · August 2012

I plan on not getting them because I know they mean nothing. However, I plan to go med-free and labor at home as long as possible. What if in 5 weeks and 6cm and go into labor and stay home for a while thinking I have a long way to go-I don't want to deliver in a car. Or since I'm 6cm will timing contractions show me that I need to get to the hospital soon because they'll be on top of each other from the get go? Just curious on advice.

Manx4 · August 2012

Try to remember the 5-1-1 rule. Contractions that are 5 minutes apart, lasting one minute for one hour. That's a good sign you should probably head into the hospital.

mrsjenni · August 2012

This is the exact reason I wanted to be checked. With DD, I was 4cm dilated at 33 weeks and 6cm dilated at 36 weeks. I work an hour from the hospital, so I'm glad I knew how dilated I was at all times.

Obviously it didn't matter anyway (I was induced at 39w0d due to pre-e) but I had a convo with my doc about exactly when I should go to a different hospital, etc. (FYI- She told me if my water broke AND I was in active labor, since it was my second baby... but if it was just one or the other, that I'd make it to the hospital in time to deliver.)

Are you 6cm dilated right now?

LauraJB313 · August 2012

I don't know that I've ever heard of someone "walking around for weeks" at 6 cm. FTM here but I'm thinking we will know we are in labor by the time a 6 rolls around. All the advice that I have encountered (MW, Bradley classes, random old ladies at Walmart...) seems to focus on contraction timing and emotional state as being more informative about when to head to the hospital than dilation pre-labor. But, I literally live across the street from a fire station and 15 minutes from the hospital so I don't feel like I'm ever "too far away" from help if needed.

ETA: I stand corrected. Mrs.Jenni is a rock star.

terri_doula2010 · August 2012

This is really not something you should be worrying about. Mrs. Jenni is not the average mama. Most women are going to know they are in active labor at 6cm. And I mean without a doubt KNOW they are in labor.

I hope to get to L&D while in transition, so as soon as I get really hot, feel nauseated, feel like I can't do it anymore....that's when I'll head in. Transition is the period between 7-10 cm. I'm half an hour away, but I don't expect to go from 7-complete in half an hour. I have no reason to believe I won't follow a generally normal curve, and if I don't, then we'll deal with it one way or the other.

TAGSL710 · August 2012

terri_doula2010:
This is really not something you should be worrying about. Mrs. Jenni is not the average mama. Most women are going to know they are in active labor at 6cm. And I mean without a doubt KNOW they are in labor.
I hope to get to L&D while in transition, so as soon as I get really hot, feel nauseated, feel like I can't do it anymore....that's when I'll head in. Transition is the period between 7-10 cm. I'm half an hour away, but I don't expect to go from 7-complete in half an hour. I have no reason to believe I won't follow a generally normal curve, and if I don't, then we'll deal with it one way or the other.

I haven't been checked and don't plan to. I want to get to the hospital around the same and we have the same drive. At the end of the day MH could deliver the baby but it wouldn't be ideal, obviously. I am really not too nervous about labor and delivery except for holding myself back longer than I should.

CdnFarmGirl08 · August 2012

This all makes me nervous too! I'm not sure when I should head in. I live about 60 minutes from the hospital I'm delivering at (there is one in my town, but a smaller one with about 10 different family members working there which is why I wanted to avoid it!). As well, my DH will most likely be working about half hour from our house but at least on the way to the hospital.

I'm scared that I'll go in and then they will send me home because I'm not far enough along, drive home and then pretty much turn around and go back (which is what happened to my friend!)

Ahh...starting to get nervous here!

mrsbhk22 · August 2012

I was 3-4 cm for like 7 weeks. 10 hrs after water breaking and contrax, I was a solid 5cm. Basically, it doesn't matter where you start. Ps. Is it bad that all I could think of when I saw this subject line was singing/dancing to 2legit 2legit 2quit (hey hey) ?

terri_doula2010 · August 2012

Just to add a bit...

Yes, Mrs. Jenni was walking around for weeks at 6cm. (Not to pick on you or say you are doing anything wrong, Mrs. Jenni, it is just a fabulous example)

However...she was walking around at 6 cm for 3 weeks and still had to be induced for Pre-E. So...to follow the logic that at least some of us say in every other thread about cervical checks:

It actually did Mrs. Jenni no good to know that she was 6 cm. Even if she hadn't been induced and had gone into labor on her own, starting at 6 cm means that it is likely she wouldn't have had a 48 hour labor, but it doesn't at all mean she'd have a 48 minute later.

See what I mean?

TAGSL710 · August 2012

Yep! This helps. I, for some reason, am imagining an easy and quick labor (thanks hypnobirthing CDs and my only true worry is that he flies out of me too quickly lol.

terri_doula2010 · August 2012

fingerscrossed8:
This all makes me nervous too! I'm not sure when I should head in. I live about 60 minutes from the hospital I'm delivering at (there is one in my town, but a smaller one with about 10 different family members working there which is why I wanted to avoid it!). As well, my DH will most likely be working about half hour from our house but at least on the way to the hospital.

I'm scared that I'll go in and then they will send me home because I'm not far enough along, drive home and then pretty much turn around and go back (which is what happened to my friend!)

Ahh...starting to get nervous here!

If you get there they send you home, try going to a mall or park or 24 hour grocery store and laboring there. The good news is that far from home you are less likely to run into neighbors.

If you follow the 5-1-1 or 4-1-1 rule (different doctors have different preferences), though, you should still have plenty of time to get to the hospital and not be sent back home because you'll be in active labor.

As far as your husband working half an hour away, you'll know when you are really in labor before you get to the point of going to the hospital, so your husband can come home then.

If it helps any, getting into the car slows down contractions for some (NOT ALL) women.

mrsjenni · August 2012

terri_doula2010:
Just to add a bit...
Yes, Mrs. Jenni was walking around for weeks at 6cm. (Not to pick on you or say you are doing anything wrong, Mrs. Jenni, it is just a fabulous example)
However...she was walking around at 6 cm for 3 weeks and still had to be induced for Pre-E. So...to follow the logic that at least some of us say in every other thread about cervical checks:
It actually did Mrs. Jenni no good to know that she was 6 cm. Even if she hadn't been induced and had gone into labor on her own, starting at 6 cm means that it is likely she wouldn't have had a 48 hour labor, but it doesn't at all mean she'd have a 48 minute later.
See what I mean?

It's okay love, pick away.

OP- I am a freak of nature and just dilate really early for some reason. I'm being checked this Friday at 34w5d and I have no doubt that I'll be about 4cm at that time (my gawd, hopefully not more!) Like Terri said, I STILL had to be induced, so dilation literally means NOT A THING.

But.

Personally, I still like to know where I stand, so to speak. I have a very quick labor and had DD out in ONE PUSH. I work far from my hospital, so once active labor begins, I need to know how much time I have. If I'm sitting pretty at 2cm, then I have a hell of a lot more time than I did starting at 6cm.

So, no, it means nothing... until you're in active labor. It's a very personal decision and if you don't want to know, then don't! Me on the other hand? Dying to know.

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Legit (I think) question @ dilation/cervical checks

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