1-2cm dilated, how long?

[watersprite]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences? I'm 38+3 and this is my second pregnancy. I got examined on Tuesday and was 1-2cm dilated, consultant decided to give me a sweep. I decided to go home but was back that evening with tightenings every 5 min, got re-examined and was still 1-2cm dilated and the tightenings slackened off. Went home and on Wednesday (sorry TMI) had a show, tightenings are on and off through out today.

Just wondering how long it took to go from 1cm to 10cm dilated, I know everyone is different just hopeing I'm not like this for much longer and did anyone still go over there due date even though they were slightly dilated at this stage? Thanks :)

I think if you are having regular strong contractions then it's roughly 1cm per hour.
By strong contractions I mean every 5mins lasting for 30 seconds.

This is what I think I remember should have happened to me. The mw explained what they expect to happen- compared to my very slow failure to progress labour that ended in emcs.

Think lots of people can be dilated a little but be no where near ready. I got to 6cm at home but after 10h in hospital, pool, g&a, epidural, hormone drip I didn't get any further than 8-9cm so never pushed.

I'm sure that won't happen to you. Just stay active but don't wear yourself out - just in case! :)

In my second pregnancy I was 3cm at 36 weeks. DD was born at 39 weeks after a 3 hour labour.

After a first pregnancy, it's normal to be dilated by a cm or even 2. It's just the way you are after having had a baby, you don't close completely. So that might just be your natural state now iyswim.

But with dd (only child), I was 2cm at 11am and fully dilated at 3pm, so 4hrs. DD was born at 10pm by em cs.

Thanks for all the replies :)

I've been having tightenings since 30 wks but these are different the only thing is that when I think this is it they slacken off :(

I was examined at 34+6 and my cervix were soft but long. Then at 38+1 they have shortened and are 1-2cm dilated so I'm hopeing something will happen soon :)