Dilated with no contractions

[Lovelostnfoundx]

Yesterday I had my second sweep and the midwife told me I was 3cm dilated (stretched me to 4cm) and had a paper thin cervix. She was convinced the baby was ready to come at any moment.

This was a week after my first sweep where I was 1.5cm and I was effacing so I have been progressing. The first sweep I had my mucus plug come out in bits but this time it was more aggressive and have had a bloody show. However I have had no contractions or pain throughout. My mum had a similar labour when I was born. After 10 days dilating with no pain she had her waters broken and I was born 2.5 hours later. I’m booked for an induction on Monday just in case and am expecting I may just need it.

Did anyone else skip the contractions in the early dilation stages? Did your labour go on to progress quickly? Was the labour more painful?

I’m a bit concerned we live 35 minutes from the hospital and may not make it by the time I’ve established a contraction pattern!

I had four sweeps at the end of my pregnancy but ended up being induced at 41+5. At each sweep the midwife said I had progressed and she couldn’t see why I hadn’t gone into labour.
I was 3cm when I went in for my induction - didn’t need pessaries or drip - midwife was able to break my waters which kick started contractions about half an hour later.
From first contraction to baby out was about 5 hours so pretty quick considering it was my first baby! I don’t have anything to compare it to but I did find the contractions very intense. Couldn’t have an epidural as there was “no time” so got through with gas and air and pethidine

Thanks for your reply. It’s my first too! I didn’t realise they may just break your waters instead of going straight to pessaries. Hopefully it will be as straight forward for me!

I’m quite similar. Had a sweep at 38w. 1cm, cervix nice & soft although a bit long. Lots of cramps & bleeding after but then nothing.
2nd sweep yesterday at 40+2. Cervix again, very soft & favourable. Good position. She could poke the baby’s head 🤦🏻‍♀️😂. Again, some cramping & bleeding, which has pretty much stopped this morning. I haven’t been in any pain & had no real contractions. Induction booked for Monday. She seems to think I won’t last till Monday. If I do, it won’t take much to induce me. My friend can’t believe my cervix is at this point without any pain or contractions.

I had a sweep at 40+9, I’d had a few random pains but nothing significant and I was 3cm, fully effaced. I did go into labour that night and. I definitely knew about it once proper contractions started😂

Sorry I should add I was 2cm dilated at sweep yesterday!

With my first my waters broke at home and when I went in to be checked I was 3cms dilated but hadn't had any contractions at all. They put me straight on the drip and my DS was born 6 hours later.
So it will depend on your circumstances as to what they do, but with your cervix so favourable you might not make it to Monday anyway and an induction should be straightforward, I doubt you'd need pessaries.

@Lovelostnfoundx when’s your due date? 😊 have you got an induction booked?

Yeah I was 2-3cm on my sweep, she could stretch to 4cm, that was on my due date and five days later I went into labour, my contractions were immediately 2-3 minutes apart and my DD arrived after just over five hours of labour, fingers crossed for you

Thank you for all your replies. @SquigglyOne My due date was 19th June and induction is on Monday so not long to go now! I initially thought this was all quite a negative scenario to be in but from your replies it actually seems it’s not so bad at all. In fact, a few benefits to it! No one has really explained anything to me regarding the procedure so I’m not sure what will happen on Monday, which probably added to the anxiety.

@Johnson10 The midwife could also poke my baby’s head! I was a little jealous she could feel him! My bleeding has also stopped. It sounds like we are having the same!

The comments have been very positive.
Sounds like, by the time the contractions actually start we might be quite dilated. Sounds quite painful but quick-ish. I could live with that ! Haha.

Hope it starts soon for you! This heat isn’t nice. X

@Johnson10 Same to you! Although I’ve also checked Monday’s weather forecast just in case!

Lucky you! This could be a quick and easy Labour when it happens: the worst part for me was 1-5cm; it was easier at the business end (with the aid of some drugs)

If your waters go at home your labour could be very quick so I wouldn't hang about. I would be tempted to ask for a home birth kit just in case!

All 4 of mine with induced because getting me to dilate was a nightmare and painful - once I did the rest was quick.

My first was like this, I went to the hospital when my waters went and I was 9cms with no pains at all. It's meant to be not that common but it does happen.

Unfortunately my 2nd and 3rd babies made up for my pain free labour with horrendous ones.

Will definitely get moving quickly! I’m actually hoping to last til induction now with everyone’s experiences. I was so anxious before so thank you for putting my mind at rest.

@PutOnAHappyFace 9cm! That must have been really rare!

I had all different midwives coming in to see me because no-one believed I had no pain.

Oh and he took 5hours from waters breaking to actually arrive, so it doesn't always mean they will come super fast.

Good luck.

It's a nerve wracking time with your first but I'd take it as a positive!

I was a snivelling little baby crying with pain at 1cm 🤦🏼‍♀️😂 I cried even harder when hours later I was still only 2cm! So to skip to 4 or more without even knowing about it would've been lovely 😊

Good luck with it all, no matter how and when it happens it will all be so worth it (not just a cliche it really is true!)

@Lovelostnfoundx Thank you for posting this!

I keep reading all the comments & it’s really making me feel so positive & brave. I had convinced myself that I was going to end up with the most traumatic experience ever - I haven’t had a very good pregnant so all of your stories have really helped me to be more positive. Thank you!

Just wanted to update here in case the end result will be useful to anyone searching in the future.

I was finally induced by my waters being broken and things did indeed move quickly to established labour within an hour. However overall it was not the short labour I was hoping for. It ended up being 8.5 hours long and as it got intense very quickly there was little time to adapt to the pain. However at the end of it I got a beautiful healthy little boy! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to enjoy the moment for long as I had a third degree tear and had to quickly be moved to theatre. Not quite at all what I was expecting, which shows the importance of an open mind!

@Johnson10 I hope your labour went well!

@Lovelostnfoundx Ah congratulations!!!

My labour didn’t end up how I would like it either. But never the less, we made it. My little boy was born 30th June. I was induced the day before. I ended up on the drip but did delivery quite quick after that got going.
Ended with a ventose & episiotomy. I still feel it was a positive experience though.