XP: Advice Please! Should I wait a bit?

HopeSprings2012 · September 2013

Hi ladies. I'm 37w 4d pregnant and just went in for a checkup with my OBGYN this morning. She said I am 4 - 5 cm dilated, 80% effaced and -1 (forgot to ask what that even means). She said I am in active labor and should go to the hospital within an hour or two. I have certainly felt some more pressure and discomfort over the last couple days but I'm not feeling any contractions to time, my water is still in tact and I've seen just a little mucusy discharge. I do not want to go to the hospital too soon... Should I wait to feel contrations? My dr. said when I go the dr. on call would probably break my water. I have read so many books, etc. and am feeling at this moment like all I learned went in one ear and out the other... But I thought I didn't want them to break my water. Any advice, experience, etc. would be forever grateful!

aylafsu88 · September 2013

I am expert but from what I read you can walk around dilated for weeks before you go into labor. I know that contractions feel different for every woman. Some may feel early labor contractions and other not so much. Some woman have horrible back labor and others don't. I am curious how she "knew" you were in active labor? Did she hook you up to a machine to monitor your contractions? I would think if you were in active labor you would be feeling something contraction wise.
The only thing that concerns me a little is the pressure you feel. Could the pressure you feel be due to LO dropping?

I say go with your gut. If you feel like it is to soon to go to the hospital then it is probably to soon. If you decide to wait I think you should have an emergency plan set up just in case something happens. I would alert a family member or friend that they may need to take care of the pets/house/kids just in case. If you decide to go to the hospital I would not let them break your water. This can lead to a cascade on interventions and issues. Your water will break when it is time.
I hope everything goes well and keep us updated!

hamiltks10 · September 2013

Another vote for "go with your gut". Let your support people know, so if things begin to progress, you will be able to leave for the hospital. But I agree...if you are not in a high risk situation, wait until you feel like you are ready to go.

Arielle27 · September 2013

Of course I'm not a doctor, but if I were you I would wait until I actually felt I was in active labor so that I didn't spend my whole labor in he hospital potentially hooked to monitors etc. it could be a loooong time yet!

HopeSprings2012 · September 2013

Thank you! I just have not felt any contractions so not sure how she knows I'm in "active" labor and I don't want my water broken. I'm 15 minutes to the hospital so I'll get things done in next 2 hours and see how I feel.

barnwife · September 2013

Ditto the pp. I'd be comfortable waiting it out.

Disclaimer: LO3 should arrive pretty soon (about 38 weeks). We are planning a homebirth. My water broke last night. I haven't had any contractions. Even if I were planning to birth somewhere else, I still would be at home, unless I saw some sign of infection or something.

spicysurro · September 2013

I agree with advice you've gotten from previous posters but keep us updated and all the best!

nicholssquared · September 2013

Another vote for wait until you feel contractions. My Dr. checked me the day before I had my son and I was at 5cm, 90% effaced and station 0. She felt perfectly comfortable sending me home. I showed up the next day with timeable contractions and had my baby within a couple hours, but had I been admitted when the doctor checked my signs, I would have been there for over 24 hours before having the baby. Not that there's anything wrong with that inherently, it's just easier to feel pressured to accept interventions when they're offered to you.

I would wait until you experience regular contractions for at least an hour, or if your your water breaks and nothing else happens for a couple hours after. It's not impossible if you go into the hospital early, but it's definitely easier to have a natural birth if you wait.

DebateThis · September 2013

Not a medical professional, but BFF walked around at 5cm and 80% effaced for 2 weeks before she went into labor.

I'd probably personally take your doc's advice with a grain of salt at this point and carry on with daily life.

AmyRI · September 2013

I've heard of dilation of 4+ cm as "active" labor. I don't agree with that, though. It sounds like you're in early labor with the cramping and mucous discharge, but I certainly wouldn't be rushing to the hospital yet. I would want a regular contraction pattern, and be prepared to decline having your water broken right away if you do go to the hospital. I'm not really sure why she's in such a rush for you to deliver.

-1 refers to the "station" of the baby - i.e. how far down the baby is (on a scale of -5 to +5). Counterintuitive, but negative means the baby is higher up. The higher the number the better. 0 station means the baby's head is engaged in your pelvis, and moving towards +5 is the baby moving down the birth canal. The baby's head not being engaged would make me hesitate to have my waters broken. The more room there is between the head and your pelvis, the easier it would be to have a prolapsed cord.

Good luck! Be sure to post once you have your baby

robyn2201 · September 2013

I would wait until you start to have contractions and then head on in soon after that. I would decline having your water broken as well. My doula walked around for several days while dilated at 5 centimeters. Just because you are 4-5 centimeters does not mean you are in active labor.

robyn2201 · September 2013

@barnwife, good luck! Can't wait to here wait to hear if LO3 is a boy or girl and what the name is!

LifesPeachy · September 2013

Agree with everyone else, stay home and go with your gut. Like others said, you can walk around that far dilated for weeks. I was 3-4cm at my 38 week appt and at my 39 week appt was 6cm. The midwives sent me home and told me to come in when I felt it was time. I was a bit nervous but it was the best thing. I woke up at 3:30am that night and knew it was time. Got to birth enter at 4am and she was born at 6am. So easy!

HopeSprings2012 · September 2013

Thank you to all who shared their thoughts and advice.

My first mom jitters got the best of me and DH and I went to the hospital with the resolve that unless there was some danger we weren't realizing, we would refuse to have my water broken or any induction methods.

The doctor on duty from my practice seemed totally confused as to why I was sent there. They put me on a monitor to check everything out just in case. Baby's heartbeat was fine. I had zero contractions in 30 minutes. He said there was no reason to break my water at 37 weeks and women can walk around for weeks as dilated and effaced as I am. He said it looks like my body is doing everything right.

This was a good reminder for me that not all doctors are created equally. I just hope the woman I saw in the office - she is new to the practice and this was my first appointment meeting her - is not on call when I do go into labor because it seems like she would very much be a proponent of interventions after this experience.

AmyRI · September 2013

HopeSprings2012 said:

Thank you to all who shared their thoughts and advice.

My first mom jitters got the best of me and DH and I went to the hospital with the resolve that unless there was some danger we weren't realizing, we would refuse to have my water broken or any induction methods.

The doctor on duty from my practice seemed totally confused as to why I was sent there. They put me on a monitor to check everything out just in case. Baby's heartbeat was fine. I had zero contractions in 30 minutes. He said there was no reason to break my water at 37 weeks and women can walk around for weeks as dilated and effaced as I am. He said it looks like my body is doing everything right.

This was a good reminder for me that not all doctors are created equally. I just hope the woman I saw in the office - she is new to the practice and this was my first appointment meeting her - is not on call when I do go into labor because it seems like she would very much be a proponent of interventions after this experience.

Glad the doc at the hospital was a good one.

Please be sure to talk to the head doc at your practice about your experience. They should be made aware of situations like that.

aylafsu88 · September 2013

I am glad that the on call doctor was knowledgeable and calm about the sitation. I really hope that he is the one on call when you go into labor!

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