January 2016 Moms

FTM question (forgive me if its ridiculous)

Do you usually start dialating a while before the baby comes? I've heard people saying that they are dilated to a 1 or so. The reason I am asking is because I have my first check next week and was wondering if I am not dialated at all does that mean it's safe to bet that I have a while to go yet? Or could you go from a 0-10 in the same day?

Again, forgive me if this is a stupid question. I've just never been through it before and was wondering if that would be a pretty good indicator?

Re: FTM question (forgive me if its ridiculous)

  • I'm a FTM as well so i probably can't answer as well as a STM ...
    It can go either way I think.

    Last week at 36wks I was dilated to a 1cm - I asked my doctor if that means I will have my baby soon. She said, it's up to the baby when he wants to come out. It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be January 4th (his due date) when I go into labor.

    Funnily (to me) enough, is that the only time I've had contractions was Wednesday (when I went to my appointment) so i wonder if I dilated on my way to my appointment?

    I hope all goes well with your appointment :)
  • Loading the player...
  • With DD1 I was at 2cm for three weeks before going in to labor on my due date. You absolutely can go from not dilated to 10cm in a day. Your body can do amazing things.
  • With DS I was not dilated or effaced at all on my due date. I only had cervadil in for about an hour before it fell out and I was in full on labor--my doctor said he probably would've come on his own that day anyway, so I went from 0-10 in a matter of hours.

    I've known some women to be dilated to a 3 for weeks before going into labor.

    For the most part, I'd take it as a blessing. The more dilated you are before labor the less dilating you'll have to do during.

    I'm interested to see how it will go this time.



  • I'm a FTM just left my weekly appt and I'm 3 cm dilated 70% effaced!! My due date is 12/31!!! She said it could be at anytime now it's up to him :smiley: she told me just to watch for period like bleeding, water breaking and contractions that fall into a pattern and become more painful.....I'm playing the waiting game now!! Good luck at your appt!!
  • I was dilated at a 1 for 6 days before my son came. Doctor told me she would see me next week. She never did. :)
  • I was dialated 1cm and 0% for two+ weeks before my water broke. It says your body is prepping but doesn't really say how much longer you have. I'm hoping to dilate a good amount before labor this time. Like PP said, it'd be nice not to have so far to go when you actually go into labor.
  • FTM, but I've known women to be dilated a couple cm for weeks before baby comes as well as someone pretty much going from 0-10 in 24 hours. 

    I have my first check tomorrow (I'll be 3623d) and am excited to see where I'm at. I haven't felt any BH in probably over 5 weeks...wondering what's going on in/down there!
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Lilypie - FiGB
    Married DH 11/15/08
    Formerly MissMheMhe
  • I was 3 cm for 5 weeks and 3 of those weeks I was 50% effaced. Baby came at 41 weeks . But I was only in labor for 12 hours from water break to delivery
  • I was 0 dilated and 0% effaced at my 40 week appointment, my water broke the next day and baby came within 12 hours. I'm avoiding any unnecessary checks this time around as I don't see the point. It really has no influence on when baby will come!
  • With my first, I was dilated to 1 at my 37 week appt and my doctor told me to hang in there, we have a few more weeks, let's not even think about inducing or anything until I was 40 weeks...well, 8 hours later I was in active labor, admitted to the hospital, and had a baby. So your body will basically do whatever it wants and there is absolutely no way to predict what will happen!
  • Really means nothing, just gets your hopes/anxiety up. Every cervical check left me with irregular contractions for the next 8-12 hours and hopeful that d-day was near. With my first pregnancy, I was 1 cm and 80% effaced at 35 weeks. Progressed about a cm each week, was 4 cm at 38 week check and Dr was all okay you've been going slow and steady so I bet we see you at next appt in 5 days. I delivered about 6 hours later. I'm excited/anxious to see how things go second time around!
  • It just depends.
    I'm at 1cm or so I think since I had to go get checked because my belly dropped. Unless you are having contractions, my OB won't even check. I see my OB tomorrow and he will be checking since I am having contractions.

    Everyone is different so just because you are dilated doesn't really mean much. It depends upon hospital policy where you are at. If I was at a 5 cm, they would admit me. It just depends. It takes some women forever and a day to dilate more, but it can progress super fast. My good friend that just had her baby went from a 4 to an 8 in 20 minutes. It just varies.
  • No question is stupid :) That's why we are all on the site....to ask other mammas FTM and STM questions. with my daughter I was 3cm dilated at 36wks lost my mucus plug at 38wks and delivered via C section at 41wks 5 days :/ what I hear from most is that it really is a cap shoot.
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"