estimated 2-3 weeks left..how accurate are doctors guesses?

[confuzed90]

Basically been to the doctor today, as been having bad pressure and pains and niggles past few days. I'm 35 weeks on wednesday. The doctor checked me internally and said I was soft, about 1-2 cm and beginning to efface but needed to do more. And said its early labour. She estimated itd be about 2-3 weeks till I have the baby and was not concerned that I'm preterm.she also said my plug is gone.I'm still having pains and niggles now especially in my back

Hiya just bumping up your thread so hopefully you get an answer. I'm due a few days after you & can't help at all,
But I hope everything is ok - not long to go now exciting

I know the baby is the only person who truly knows when they will arrive but I would have thought the doctor is fairly accurate?x

Ahem... no, not very acurate IMO and IME (I am a GP).
An experienced MW might do a bit better, but it's still a bit of a guessing game.
I think 'early labour' would require a bit more monitoring at 35 weeks, no?
When are they next planning on seeing you? If you were in early labour, you'd not go another 2-3 weeks .
FWIW, normal pregnancy length is considered from 37 to 42 weeks.
Good luck.

I was told by mw 4 weeks ago 'any day now, will not go full term. 2 weeks later saw GP who said 'labour imminent'. Now another 2 weeks have passed, I am full term and nothing. They don't have a clue....

I was told by my midwife I'd be another 4 weeks minimum... DD was born 4 days later

Sorry not for me, I experienced threatened preterm labour from 26 weeks, had hours of tightenenings over a period of many weeks, started dilating at 32 weeks and was told a few times that it was likely to happen in the next couple of weeks or even days. Then I went overdue and DS2 was born at 40+4 by which time I was more than ready for his arrival!

Ohh thank you for comments,pacificdogwood she wasn't concerned at all about my gestation. I haven't felt good all night, was having unbelieveable back pain which was intensifying every 10 minutes for a good few hours last night. Woke up throughout the night with a tight pain in my belly with period like cramps coming and going. But all seems to have settled quite a bit this morning.

I'll be 35 weeks on Friday - and I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow. Is it normal for them to do an internal at this stage? Only it'll be my GP not my midwife as she's off on holiday, and I'd like to be prepared if he is going to do an internal examination.

It's not normal at all to do an internal unless you are past 40 weeks and they are considering a sweep. Some me do it more like 41 weeks plus to see whether cervix is softening. Unless there s a specific reason I can't see why they would be doing that as at 35 weeks baby is still prem.

I suspected that things where changing, and had been having many pre-term labour symptoms so I went to the GP, she took some swabs, then took out the speculum and very carefully checked. But no its not routinely