6cm dilated and still not in labour!

[MrsHuxtable]

Yes, that's right. The universe is having a laugh. This is DC2. I was 1cm dilated at 32 weeks, 2cm at 35 weeks, 4cm 2 days later, and 6 cm when I was last checked at 36+6. I'm now 37+4 and am pretty sure that things have progressed further as I still have a lot more tightenings than normal with the odd hour or so of regular contractions but nothing but pushes me over the edge into proper labour. Seriously? I mean seriously? For how long can this go on for. Oh, I'm also fully effaced, head fully engaged, mucus plug gone and baby's head is visible. He has loads of dark hair. Has anyone else experienced this? And if so what did finally bring on labour???

I have nothing much to add other than CRIKEY! You're halfway to delivery already!
I'm assuming that either someone will intervene at some point, or your waters will go and birth will be quick! I'm not sure I'd be straying far from home in your position!

One way to look at it is that it takes some women HOURS of active labour to get to your stage. You've got there without even trying!

Be careful op as he will literally be out in a couple of pushes.

With dc1 I was hardly feeling a thing...I was 8 cm!

Best of luck. let us know how you get on. x

omg... please god, please let this happen to me!!!!

Omg I would love for that to be me right now! I'm currently being induced and feck all is happening

Haha Iwish, I might be 6cm or more by now but nothing is happening here either so not sure how much better of this makes me. What have they done so far?

Sorry this is a bit off topic but why did they check how dilated you were so early on before you were in labour?

In my first pregnancy I wasn't checked until I was well into labour (was 5cms then). I'm curious as to why some women seem to be checked earlier.

You're not usually checked. I was because I had very strong brackston hicks contractions every couple of minutes over a whole day and night and thought my waters had gone at 32 weeks. Went into triage and found to be contracting and had the fibronectin test coming back positive which is an indication of imminent labour. So I got the steroids to prepare for a premie but then things settled down. Contractions kept going but no further dilation. Then at 35 weeks I went to triage because of a small bleed and I needed anti d. Ctg picked up regular contractions and I went to 4cm. Was kept in for 2 weeks over Xmas as birth again looked imminent at various points. Got discharged but had to come in for some follow up monitoring as an out patient and contractions on ctg were crazy. Doctor on call didn't believe I was 4cm, she thought less and last exam must have been wrong as no pain, checked me and I was at 6. Admitted to labour ward again, birth imminent blabla but nothing happened so I went home the next day as I didn't want to hang around in hospital again for weeks with a toddler at home missing me. That was on Wednesday. It's now Sunday and here I am still. What a tale.

So anyway, the checks happened because they thought I was in labour.

is there a plan in place for a fast labour? Would they consider breaking your waters now that you're term so that you're definitely in hospital (assuming thats where you're planning to give birth) for the birth and don't have an accidental unassisted birth? I was 3cm for at least 2 weeks with my second baby and when labour started it was fast!

They offered to break my waters at various points but I have so far refused/they changed their mind back because I'm terrified of the hormone drip. While I would be happy to just have my waters broken and then run up and down some stairs for a few hours to see if that gets things going I'm terrified of the drip and I don't want it. However, because I have tested positive for strep b in early pregnancy apparently hospital protocol is to start the drip full on as soon as they break my waters. I find this silly as firstly, I think the risk of infection to my baby would be smaller anyway since I'd be having iv antibiotics from the moment of waters breaking so whole lot earlier than if they were to go at home and secondly you'd th kill no that with a second baby and starting off at at least 6cm ok induction would be faster than with someone starting at 0cm so I think I should be given a few hours to try myself before they come in with the big guns. Consultant gave me an appointment for 40 weeks to seriously consider induction then but said she was only doing so to humour me as no way would I still be pregnant by then. Well, all consultants I met agreed I also wouldn't be pregnant anymore by 36 weeks, never mind 37. So I'm waiting. I really couldn't make it up.

Plan for fast labour I assume would be to phone an ambulance. It takes me an hour to get to hospital all going well and that is obviously after waiting to have contracted properly for an hour to make sure it's actually happening. Haha.

Wow. It could be quick then.
I was examined by mw, found to be 4cm, thought it would be ages, baby born just over an Hour later, could still talk through contractions too which didn't convince the mw I was going to give birth imminently, I'd have been stuffed if they'd sent me home!

Good luck.

Wow, OP!!

One things start happening, I suspect baby will arrive quickly!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Wow, OP!!

One things start happening, I suspect baby will arrive quickly!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Seriously, if you are an hour from the hospital, have everything ready for a home birth.

My last baby, I had strep b and was told no home birth. Was also told at 33 weeks birth imminent, given talk on what to expect with premie baby etc.

Was in and out if hospital numerous times with regular strong contractions. Baby stayed put till 39 weeks. Day of birth, the first 6 contractions over half an hour, I mistook for baby sitting on a nerve. Did not feel like any previous contractions. Then while dh getting dressed, I suddenly could not move or speak as contractions one on top of another, waters broke and had ambulance and midwife on route. Ended up with unplanned home birth, as midwife arrived before ambulance and said "push" this baby is coming now! It was nearly as unassisted home birth.

Living an hour from the hospital, please be prepared!

it sounds like you have had a very stressful few weeks.

I hope that the baby is born soon, but not too quickly. Good luck

Good lord.. Never heard anything quite like it. The human body really is amazingly weird sometimes!

I'd be a utter mess by now!

Same thing happened to me on my 3rd (and 4 th) pregnancy. My ob/ gyn offered to let me stay after my 38 week check up because I was at 6 cm but I refused because I hadn't yet bought a car seat. I went home and no signs of labour apart from odd bh for several days. After about five days I had regular contractions( one an hour) for four hours - yep 4 contractions! But they were strong so I went to hospital. When I arrived mw wanted to send me home because after monitoring me for30 said I wasn't contracting but I had one just before I arrived I said. Anyway my ob/ gyn wasn't there so I asked if they could check me anyway before I leave. I was 9cm dilated... They broke my waters, I started contracting every minute and 40 minutes later I had given birth and already had a shower... Easiest deliveries compared to my others. ( I have had 4 babies).
You are very lucky and yes, it may go very fast. Good luck but remember if you suddenly feel like you have a bowling bowl sitting on your cervix ( even without contractions) I would go immediately to hospital. Xx

Still pregnant and still waiting. When I was in labour with DD I felt a lot of pressure in my bum from about 5cm or so. That's the kind of feeling I think I'm waiting for but I don't know if everyone feels it like that. I'm really symptom spotting now, kind of like when I was ttc and I need to say that since this afternoon I've been to the toilet 5!!! Times, you know. I swear there can be nothing left. Funnily enough, tonight is also the night I don't want to go into labour as I've got a nice toddler free day planned tomorrow. Ha!

Prepare yourself now for a home birth, get a list.

I was 8cm when I was at my mw appointment after having a sweep at the hospital on my due date a few days before. My waters had gone and I hadn't noticed. I was sent straight to the labour ward and she was born very quickly shortly after. She is 4 now.

I have a 10 day old ds who was delivered, by my husband, after 2 pushes, in my bathroom. By accident. I didn't have a single contraction or indiction he was coming until 1 hour before and it was very mild, 12 second long, tightening then boom a baby in the bathroom.
Dh had to grab towels and my dressing gown from behind the door, no time to get warm fluffy clean ones from upstairs, then when paramedics came they were raiding the cupboards trying to find stuff. We were totally unprepared. We live 1 mile away from the hospital.

So my best advice if you're an hour away. Read up on home birts and make sure everything you need is handy and you and your dp know where it is.
Good luck. Baby isn't far away :D

Prammy, no pressure feeling? Did you just suddenly have to push?

If my waters had gone days ago that would obviously be a massive problem due to the strep b but I think I would have noticed?

Ditto to getting ready for home birth, good luck. My last labour was 30 mins from start to finish and no pain hardly. Just made it to hospital literally up the road, less than a mile.
Good luck OP. x

This was similar to my labour with DD2.
I was contracting from 30 weeks but wasn't dilating, had steroids to be safe and at 39+3 my waters went and she was born an hour later.
Just make sure everything is ready for a possible quick delivery!