4cm dilated can feel head but no labour!!!

[slinkstah]

i was examined on friday and the midwife said i was 4cm dilated and she could feel the head. still no labour though! i have had contractions here and there and they have become regular at times too but they are not painful at all therefore not really labour.
i am 39+3 how long is it ok to be dilated with no labour? will they try to intervene? has anyone else been walking around dilated for days/weeks?
I am paranoid i will be walking down the street and baby will fall out

well i was 10 days late with ds2 and when i went in for a check up they told me i was 3cm dilated and i had had no idea.i'd been getiing contrax on and off for a few days but nothing else.
if you are 4cm then you are in labour and i can't believe the midwife didn't offer you a sweep.that's what they did with me and i was in full blown labour within minutes.
that was about 11am and he was born at 6pm!

No idea Slinkstah but love the idea of baby falling out (if only it was that easy...). Tell you what, though, I'd be bloody careful when I went to the loo if I were you...

I think, IIRC, that you are officially 'in labour' when the contractions are regular and don't stop. Although you aren't supposed to go to hospital until they are can't remember how far apart and lasting for can't remember how long. Maybe you will be one of the very lucky few who say 'it didn't hurt that bad, don't know what you are all making such a big fuss about'?

you jammy nowt

My past births have been agonizing, so i don't think ill get away with a painless birth.

thinking back to my dd's birth i went to hospital because i was having a few contractions and they monitored me and said i wasn't in labour but then examined me and said i was 6cm[shocked]
i was still 6cm a good few hours later though so they broke my waters and then the real pain began!
im hoping labour will happen more naturally this time because i have a home waterbirth planned

maybe ill ask midwife to do a sweep, can they do a sweep with the head so low down?

no idea but it does sound like things are moving!

My contractions were very regular with DS2 - every 2 mins - but were not at all painful. On the way to hospital I joked to DH that it would be fantastic if they told me I was 8 - 9cm's dilated when we got there, turns out I was ready to push!! Was only in the delivery room 6 mins when he was born!!!

Think I was one of those lucky few Edam

Good luck Slinkstah, will look out for your announcement

paranpoid that the baby will fall out?! Sounds like a bit of a bonus, no pushing and all that

Does anyone remember that Heinikan advert with the mum coughing and then picking up a newborn?