...I am 1.5 cm dilated??

Question

I just got back from my 36 week exam and she said I'm already dilated 1.5 cm and my cervix has started thinning. I was surprised. Doesn't this mean I'm in Early Labor?? I haven't had any contractions yet. She said it doesn't mean I'll give birth next week or anything either. So, what should I expect at this point? A long wait, or will things start progressing rapidly from here?

Answer 1

It's quite normal to be 1-2cm dilated at this stage. It's not early labour.

Listen to your midwife, she deals with that every day so she knows what she's talking about.

Just relax, Good luck with your last few weeks.  :-)

Answer 2

No your not in early labor or anything, I was 100% effaced and dilated to a 3 for a month my daughter had to be induced 3 days past her due date. So it means nothing just your body is preparing but it could stay at a stand still for weeks.

Answer 3

Cervical Dilation and Effacement

What causes your cervix to start opening and thinning — at just the right time in your pregnancy.

What it is: Dilation, the opening of the cervix (measured in centimeters), and effacement, the thinning of the cervix (measured in percentage), occur in a pregnant woman as labor and delivery get closer. The timing is different in every woman: For some, dilation and effacement is a gradual process that takes weeks, or even a month; others can dilate and efface overnight. (Sorry, but wishing won't make it so.)

  

What causes it: During dilation and effacement, your cervix is preparing for delivery by providing an opening from the uterus to the birth canal — unblocking the path to your baby's exit route.

  

What you need to know about it:

Your practitioner may give you an internal exam to check how far you've dilated, and based on that he or she may make an educated guess as to when you'll deliver. But don't go racing to the delivery room just yet if that guess is "soon." For every practitioner who's been right on the money, there are a hundred women who were still pregnant — and impatient — a week later.

  

The cervix continues to dilate throughout early and active labor. Full cervical dilation (10 centimeters) occurs at the end of the transitional phase. Once the cervix is completely open, it will be time to start pushing your baby out.

What you can do about cervical dilation and effacement: Not a thing. Your body is in charge here. But if your practitioner determines there's a reason that labor should be induced, there are steps he or she can take to move the process along.

Answer 4

If the doctor isn't too concerned, I wouldn't be either.  If your water hasn't broken and you haven't lost your mucous plug, you're fine.  You may not make it to 40 weeks, but 37 weeks isn't even really considered preterm, so you and the baby should do great.

Good luck!

Answer 5

No, you are not in early labor. I'm in the same boat, though I'm 38 weeks. The tell-tale sign of labor is regular and consistent contractions, and I haven't had any.

It is normal for pregnant women to begin dilating late in the third trimester. It simply means that our bodies are getting ready for the labor process. There is no way to say whether the beginning of dilation will in fact lead to rapid progression, or whether your cervix will continue to prepare over the next couple of weeks.

Answer 6

You usually dilate weeks before giving birth your body is just getting ready. Don't worry about it doesn't mean your giving birth in a couple of days.