37w and I went from a 0 to a 1. I'm happy with the progress. I'm nervous about my ability to dilate because I had a LEEP procedure last year and that can cause some scar tissue that makes it more difficult to dilate.
Re: pain/discomfort of cervical checks... I did not feel a thing with my regular OB. Today she was delivering a baby, so I had a mid-level provider and I felt the check much more with her. It still didn't hurt, but she was alllll up in there. I think it was her mission to feel baby's head. She succeeded.
38 +5 and I haven't had any changes. I'm still at 2 cm and 50%. I know I still have time but I'm frustrated by today's news. I've been hoping LO would arrive before Mother's Day and now I'm not so sure.
@hellogoodbye2 The cervix is like a funnel apparently. It starts to "funnel" from the outside (towards your vagina) and then the upper part (towards the uterus) as you dilate. That's how I perceive it anyway!
I was 1 cm dilated on Monday. My mucus plug dropped today before lunch... I had a mini nervous attack kept thinking I would go into labor on the drive home . I am leaving work now wish me luck on my traffic packed hour commute home.
Well i went into L&D on Sunday for some new symptoms that were concerning like high blood pressure, bright spotty vision, headache, etc, and ended up being sent home. I was 1-2cm and 75% effaced. Had an appointment today, 4 days later, and I'm now 100% effaced and 3cm. 39 weeks and 3 days.
No change from last week. I know it doesn't mean much, but it was a little disappointing...
same with me. I was hoping for something more but dr said I'm basically the same. Oh well. I have a week until I'm induced but was just hoping she'd come before that on her own
Going stir crazy! I have been dilated at 3cm since 36 weeks and was put on partial bed rest. I went from 60% effaced to 80% between 36 and 38 weeks. I was told this baby would come soon and fast and I'm starting to think I'm going to make it the full 40! I told my work I couldn't come back at 37 weeks after my doctor made it sound like baby would be here any day and in under two hours (work is an hour from the hospital). I feel like I let my work down because I know they need me right now and the baby didn't come, which I know is a good thing but makes things difficult.
I had DD #1 at 37.5 weeks with a quick labor and my dr told me I would probably have this one earlier. Guess not! I'm embarrassed to face my boss. My dr starting every appointment for the last month with "I'm surprised you haven't had this baby yet" isn't helping my frazzled mind right now!
38 weeks and "fingertip" dilation. Last week I was told 1cm, and the week before that I was told "fingertip." All this to say that last week I thought I had progressed from "fingertip" to 1cm. I mentioned this to the doc and he said "fingertip" = 1cm. Womp-womp. No changes from 36 to 38 weeks. Baby is still high. Looks like I'm going at least 40.
@Par13 Are you active/walking around or on bed rest? I'm 35w and 3cm and have lots of things to do/walking around but i've been told to rest. Since you've managed to stay at 3cm i'm curious if you still just go about your day or if you do relax/bed rest?
@linabparis I'm still active. I've been working out (incline walking and doing some weight machines) about 4-5 days/week throughout pregnancy and although my pace has slowed down a lot, I'm still moving!
With my son, I dilated to 3cm/70% at 36 weeks and then didn't move from there until 41 weeks when I was induced. I was hoping for something different this time around, but I'm starting to think that my body must have some sort of setting where I can get to 3cm on my own, but then need pitocin to get any further.
38+5 and barely dilated 1/2 cm... 70% effaced. but my dr reiterated that you can go from 0 to labor or walk around 4cm dilated for weeks so trying not to get down about it.
At my appointment yesterday I was told I'm 80% effaced, and a little more than 1 cm dilated. She said" You're not quite 2 cm dilated, but I can get a finger in there with room to wiggle around." Um. Gross. She offered to sweep my membranes, but since I am just 38 weeks as of yesterday I declined.
38+5 and barely dilated 1/2 cm... 70% effaced. but my dr reiterated that you can go from 0 to labor or walk around 4cm dilated for weeks so trying not to get down about it.
Yeeep. I am currently living proof of this. Don't get down!
38 1/2 weeks- baby is so low that he's barely still in there. 3 cm dialated, fully effaced. OB had me schedule an extra 40 1/2 week appointment to be on the safe side, but says labor could definitely start at any time now.
I don't know because my doctor doesn't have a medical need to check at this stage. I will be having baby in in a tiny bit over a week (C-section). Doctor didn't check at the GBS swab either.
38 weeks. 90% effaced. 2-3 cm dialated. -1 station. Doctor said most babies don't get to 0 until you're in active labor so he's right where he needs to be. "It could be tomorrow or it could be at 40 weeks."
Update: I'm now 2 cm dialated, 50% effaced and super "soft"? Lmao she seems convinced that I look like I'm ready to go at any moment, but it sounds to me like some of you ladies sound more "there" than I am.
I know I haven't had much in the way of contractions, so who even knows.
What have we learned from this thread?? I feel like it proves that everything means either something or nothing and that the end of pregnancy is designed to make us all insane with anticipation.
What have we learned from this thread?? I feel like it proves that everything means either something or nothing and that the end of pregnancy is designed to make us all insane with anticipation.
....and that's why my OB didn't check my cervix when she did a quick gbs swab yesterday. I'm a c-section anyway. I haven't lost my mucus plug and my BHs are the same as usual. No thank you. but tempting
Mama to Three Girls: Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
Was checked once more due to having irregular contractions and what I thought was bloody show...no idea if it was or wasn't. "Almost" 4 cm, 90% effaced, baby at -2 station (38 w, 1 d today). Apparently I have an "irritable uterus" which explains the constant cramping I was feeling that I was counting as contractions--on the NST they time at about every 30 seconds, but don't have any impact on my dilation. I had no idea this was a thing... a bit worried because her heart rate goes up slightly with each one so I don't know how much stress they are putting on her. Anyone else ever experience this?
I have my first check on Wednesday as I declined at 36 and 37 weeks. I can tell my doctor really wants to check progress as I'm a candidate for induction a little early so I will go with it. Preparing for zeros across the board but hoping for more!
I can FINALLY join in!! First, I was very pleased with the fact that it still hurt but no where near as bad as with my first. Second, I am 36+3 and am dilated 2cm and 40-50% effaced. So excited! Even though I know that it can stay that way for a while, with my first I was not dilated at all until week 38 or 39.
38wk appt today. Up to 3 cm and thin but didn't get a % effaced number since baby isn't head down and it's hard to put a number to it now. Was 2 cm last week.
I just had my first check to day at 36 weeks and five days. Doc said I'm "quite a bit effaced" with zero dilation and baby's head at station 0, which I guess is pretty low? Would explain the puffy feeling in my vulva perhaps.
She gave me no sense of what to expect though--- aside from predicting that the baby will be 9 pounds.
I'm jumping in with a follow-up here to possibly give those who are worried that they are at the end and not very dilated hope (or scare the crap out of you depending on what you're hoping for)-- before my water broke yesterday, I was around 2cm. Within 30min of it breaking, contractions came fast and furious and I jumped to 9cm. That's two labors now in which I began labor spontaneously with very little dilation; one with ridiculous progress. I'm casting my vote with the lot who say cervical checks mostly drive women crazy.
Re: How far along are you and how dilated?
Re: pain/discomfort of cervical checks... I did not feel a thing with my regular OB. Today she was delivering a baby, so I had a mid-level provider and I felt the check much more with her. It still didn't hurt, but she was alllll up in there. I think it was her mission to feel baby's head. She succeeded.
DD: 05/14/16
37w6d - 0 dilated, 25% effaced, head is much lower
Glad I made at least some progress!
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
I had DD #1 at 37.5 weeks with a quick labor and my dr told me I would probably have this one earlier. Guess not! I'm embarrassed to face my boss. My dr starting every appointment for the last month with "I'm surprised you haven't had this baby yet" isn't helping my frazzled mind right now!
DS: Born 5-17-16
With my son, I dilated to 3cm/70% at 36 weeks and then didn't move from there until 41 weeks when I was induced. I was hoping for something different this time around, but I'm starting to think that my body must have some sort of setting where I can get to 3cm on my own, but then need pitocin to get any further.
DS: 9/18/12 - 40w5d // DD: 05/17/16 - 40w
There's still hope.
With my previous pregnancies, my body shows NO SIGNS until the day of. I've learned to not get disappointed, but know it can be ANY DAY.
Little brother was born October 1, 2012.
tgortney thank you for the hope I needed that!
Doctor didn't check at the GBS swab either.
I know I haven't had much in the way of contractions, so who even knows.
38w6d today and no progress
....and that's why my OB didn't check my cervix when she did a quick gbs swab yesterday. I'm a c-section anyway. I haven't lost my mucus plug and my BHs are the same as usual. No thank you. but tempting
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
With my DD I wasn't 1/2cm dilated until 40w so I am very happy with the progress I've made. Happy for the baby steps!
38w, 1d - 2.5-3 cm dilated, 50% effaced, so a little progress from last week. Enough to give me that fickle flicker of hope. Sigh.
She gave me no sense of what to expect though--- aside from predicting that the baby will be 9 pounds.