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Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

how many cm dilated were you when you got to hospital?

101 replies

lennon80 · 16/10/2010 16:56

Hi there,

I am just wondering when women first presented at hospital (ie couldnt cope dealing with the pain at home) when you were examined how many cm dilated were you.

It seems that labour is so varied that some women present at all different stages but just curious to know so when I go in I know if it is usual to present at two cm or six cm etc

Also for anyone who had an epidural how many cm were you when you had it?

Thanks

OP posts:
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Georgimama · 16/10/2010 17:23

I agree with Wigeon. Until the last hour or so it didn't get any worse painwise (although as I got more tired it became harder to cope with) - I had just assumed that birth must be imminent as it had been going on for so long.

Marjee · 16/10/2010 17:25

I was 10cm and pushing already, in a real panic as I had just been told on the phone that I wasn't in labour and to expect to be sent home!

mamatomany · 16/10/2010 17:25

5cm and hadn't felt a thing up to that point, it all seemed to kick off when she examined me and gave me a quick sweep whilst she was at it, if they offer you one say NO.

clayre · 16/10/2010 17:27

I was induced with dd and was 0 cm dilated when i went in to hospital.

When i had ds i was pushing when i got to the hospital and he was born 6 mins after i got the car so i must have been 10cm.

No epidurals.

Original poster
lennon80 · 16/10/2010 17:46

wigeon yes I am due in November and was curious as my mother and grandmother had really long births and I am hoping I am not the same. After you get to 10cm it doesnt take long then before they are out? I am hoping I can stay at home as long as possible as being in the hospital I find really stressful and I imagine my pain threshold will be lower when I am there but at the same time I dont want to risk having him at home as I want to be in hospital when giving birth.

OP posts:
Bumbleconfusus · 16/10/2010 17:48

9.5cm, and was told I too late for an epidural. I was in some kind of labour denial at home prior to that...

DinahRod · 16/10/2010 17:51

Fully, having been told I was only 1-2cm an hour and a half earlier and sent away.

Rindercella · 16/10/2010 17:55

9cm for both DDs.

No epidurals, obviously!

undercovamutha · 16/10/2010 17:55

Same for me Dinah!

With DC2 I was sure I was quite far dilated, but hosp told me I was 3cm. I couldn't believe it!

We drove the 20mins back home, got out the car, walked into the house and I started needing to push. Rushed straight back to hospital trying not to give birth in car, and had DS approx 5 mins later!

MoonUnitAlpha · 16/10/2010 17:55

I planned a homebirth - had been having contractions for 12 hours when the midwife first came out as I felt I needed pain relief, but she found I was only 2cms so left again. A couple of hours later I really felt I couldn't cope so the midwife came out again and found I was at 5cm, so I was allowed in the birth pool, and a couple of hours later they brought me gas and air (amazing stuff!). After 24 hours I'd got stuck at 8cm, so decided at that point to transfer in to hospital for an epidural - was too exhausted to carry on at home.

I got to 10cms 2 or 3 hours after that with the help of a hormone drip, but after 2 hours of pushing the baby wasn't going anywhere and it ended up being a forceps job (30 hours in total).

notcitrus · 16/10/2010 18:25

Got to hospital after 6 hours of labour (could have coped at home but there was blood so they recommended checking it out and mentioned if I came then there was a birthing pool available)

Was 5cm apparently.
Unfortunately 8 hours later I was still 5cm, although actually with the g+a and the pool I'd quite enjoyed it until the last hour when my pelvis fell apart even further - I'd been using a wheelchair for a couple months thanks to SPD.

So the mw suggested I reconsider my fear of an epidural as I couldn't sit or lie or stand at all and kneeling was most tiring. The epi was great. :)

LoveBeingAMardyBum · 16/10/2010 18:29

I was 9cm when I got there, so no epi for me.

Angeliz · 16/10/2010 18:35

with dd1 i was 7 cm's when i got there, she was born in less than 2 hours.

with dd2 i was about 5 cm's i think when i got there but she came quick Midwife only checked me shortly after i arrived as i insisted, she didn't want to but did and then said...'oh do you need to push?' Grin

with ds, i had him at home. I called the midwife about 10.30 to say i was in labour but no panic and she came after 11 i think but we had to wait till about 3 for ds....he was in no rush!

Didn't have an epidural with any.
Hope this helps and good luck, it's the best high ever, i LOVE giving Birth!

Horton · 16/10/2010 18:39

Had been in labour for around 12 hours when I thought I should go to hospital. Think I was in transition in reception (throwing up all over the shop and was found to be fully dilated a short time later). Had DD within a couple of hours.

feedtheghoul · 16/10/2010 18:41

9.5 cm. I only insisted on going in because I'd lost a quite abit of bright red blood and wanted checking. Person on phone told me it was just a show and I wasn't in labour!

Still took another 7 hours though.

blueberryboybait · 16/10/2010 18:42

I was 5 cm when I arrived and 15 mins later DD2 was born no pain relief at all.

DD1 I was induced - epidural at 5cm DD1 born 5 hours later.

Meglet · 16/10/2010 18:42

1cm after 12 hours hefty labour.

We discovered my cervix was broken after an hour in hospital and DS was whipped out the sunroof.

Haliborange · 16/10/2010 18:43

DD1 I went in early (barely dilating) because the hospital told me to. I think I probably would have gone in at around 4cm otherwise (was stuck there for ages), although I think the reason I found it painful was because I was in the hospital stuck on a bed. She wasn't born for another 24 hours.

DD2 I was 10cm. The drive in wasn't funny, but at least I knew the end was in sight.

crumblequeen · 16/10/2010 18:44

9cm with DS after 7 hour labour at home.

Meant nothing in terms of quick birth though - in theatre for rotational forceps 8 hours later after DS failed to make an appearance!

Wallace · 16/10/2010 18:46

With dc1 and 2 I think I was around 4cm. With dc3 I was 6cm and he was born 90mins later.

Wallace · 16/10/2010 18:47

no epidurals btw :)

Original poster
lennon80 · 16/10/2010 18:56

So is it the pain that made you go to hospital or the fact you thought the baby is close to coming? I dont want to go in before I need to but dont want the baby at home either..there seems (from reading all the posts) no real consistency in terms of how dilated you are and how soon you deliver the baby..so is it really hard to know when to say right time for the hospital?

OP posts:
mamatomany · 16/10/2010 19:01

You kind of know when you can't cope at home any more.
Once you've had a warm bath, distracted yourself with crap tele, played your hypnobirthing CD's for a few hours, when none of that is "enough" any more that's the time to go in.

spookyhalloweenFluffypomkins · 16/10/2010 19:01

dd1 5cm
ds1 8cm
ds2 7cm
dd2 5cm and remaind that way for ages (back to back)

No pain relief with 1st 3,G&A with dd2.

Meglet · 16/10/2010 19:01

I went in when the contractions were lasting about a minute and only a couple of minutes apart. I think that was what the hospital recommended.

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