1 cm dilated at 35 weeks. Will I go to term?

[Dophus]

Two days ago I had intense pains in my back and lower abdomen with contracions. We went to hospital and I had to spend the night there (X-mas night . I was very surprised to hear that I was 1 cm dilated with bulging membranes. Everything had calmed down by morning and I was sent home without a clear answer on whether this meant labour was likley to be soon or could still be a month away (EDD). The internal also dislodged the plug.

Since then I have had regular Braxton Hicks as usual and also had 24hours of vomiting (DP was also sick therfore was probably a bad prawn).

I am therefore still in the dark as to how long prelabour can last. Any advice / experience would be welcome as we had planned to go away for New Year but I do't want to be too far form home is labour could be imminent. thanks

[Dophus]

3 weeks whilst 3sm dilated!!! There's me thinking 3 cm was established labour!

[Gobbledigoose]

Is this your first baby or not? My mw told me that with second, third etc babies it's very common to be 1 or 2cm dilated for a long time .

With ds1 I was 3cm at an antenatal check-up on a Friday and by the following Tuesday nothing further had happened and I had to be induced.

With ds3 I was 4cm on the Friday and didn't give birth until the Sunday.

I also had quite intense pains and thought I was in labour a lot with ds3 in the weeks running up to the birth. I didn't have an internal so don't know if I was dilating though.

The reason the hospital can't tell you is because they don't know. I guess you could stay at 1 or 2cm till your due date now or it could be early - noone can tell. I have read that you can have a show and still not go into labour for 2 weeks.

If I were in your shoes, I'd not be worried but at the same time probably wouldn't go away anywhere just in case.

Good luck with everything and just try to rest as much as you possibly can.

xx

[Dophus]

This is the first. I swing between hoping to reach term and hoping that it will come early as I am very uncomforatble now!

I definitely feel an increase in the regularity and intensity of the braxton hicks and they are becoming quite painful.

I have also read that it can be up to 2 weeks after the show. That would still give me a good excuse not to go back to work next week!

[LIZS]

Friend was dilated about 6 weeks before her dd was born (quick labour in the end) but as her ds had been born 3 weeks early anyway she was expecting to have her much sooner.

As Gobbledigoose said it is quite common in subsequent pregnancies but perhaps first ones just are n't monitored so closely in terms of internals. Make sure you are as ready as possible just in case - if you feel up to going away, take bag and notes with you and the name/number of a good local maternity unit - but still plan things to do in the potentially long weeks to come or you'll go mad monitoring every twinge!

Hope all goes well for you.

[Gobbledigoose]

Dophus - fantastic excuse to stay off work! I'd put my feet up if I were you!

[AMerryScot]

I was 4cm dilated for at least a week with #4. I did feel a bit nervous about it, and never ventured further than Sainsbury's (hey, hoping for some free groceries). The midwives tried to be reassuring ("it's a multip os"), but it's hard not to imagine things.

It was a very fast labour in the end.

[singsong]

Dophus if you are getting regular pains with increasing intensity you could phone your midwife and ask if you could have a repeat examination. As it has been a few days since the last examination this could give you some idea as to whether things are changing and moving along towards labour or whether you are exactly the same as xmas night.

[tassis]

I was 2cm at 32 weeks and went to term. Like you I had contractions at this point and was in and out of hospital from then on. The contractions continued. I became very good friends with my TENS machine!

Got to 4cm on the day ds was born and was concinved I wasn't yet in labour. Labour was pretty short so hopefully it'll be the same for you!

I was eventually told I had an irritable uterus. I was told to drink plenty and not have sex.

Personally I wouldn't venture very far from home, but you have to make that decision for yourself. I was very relieved to live a stone's throw from the maternity hospital.

Good luck!!!

[Christmassbee]

Message withdrawn

[Colinsawmommykissingsantaclaus]

Dophus, at 37 weeks I was 3 cm dilated. Was told by my doctor to go lie down, because I would be having the baby soon.(My first pregnancy)At 38 weeks I was 4, and at 39 and 40 week checkups I was 5 cm. I finally had the baby at 40+5, where I got to the hospital at 8 cm, and had a 3 hour labor. Although the dr. said she'd never seen anything like it in a 1st pregnancy, but it just goes to show that it is possible to hang on for a long time.

[Dophus]

Bugger - sounds as if it may go on for ever! I was hoping the baby would hatch soon! I have an appointment tomorrow and will see then if things have progressed.

[singsong]

Good luck Dophus, let us know how you get on.