3cm dilated! How long did you take to go into labour?

[Notlong2go]

So I’m 37+1 today and went in to be assessed for induction but, been sent home as they don’t need to give me anything as I am already 3cm.

Now waiting for a place on labour ward to have my waters broken but, anyone who was 3cm how long did it take to go into labour?

Could I expect to go into labour before they finally have a place on the labour ward?

Is it your first or second baby? Think a lot of mums who have already had a baby can almost be 1/2 cm dilated already. But if it's your first I'd say it'll be soon, today or tomorrow surely?? Xx

First baby - I arrived at hospital after about 7 hours of contractions at home to find I was 3cm dilated. They told me I could go home or go for a walk and come back in a couple of hours. I went for a walk and when I got back to the labour ward just after 5pm I was 5cm. Baby was born at 9:35pm that evening - labour was 13 hours start to finish and I had no sweeps or anything so it can go pretty quickly!

Oh of course forgot to add, this is my third baby. First came after about 6 hours of labour on due date. Second I was induced at 37 weeks and he came the next day, went from 1-2 to delivery within an hour

With my DD, I had a sweep on the Tuesday, was 2cm, by my second sweep on Saturday I was 3cm. Waters accidentally broke during that sweep, when labour started at midnight, I was still 3cm for a couple of hours when midwives kept checking but then went from 3cm to fully dilated in less than 3 hours! First baby

I had about 20 minutes between being three cm and delivering my third.

Really hoping it doesn’t take too long! Been so anxious and got myself psyched up and now the wait is going to be nerve wracking

About 1 hour from 3 cms and my first

Wow @FourTeaFallOut @Papaymama1 that’s really quick! Don’t think I’ll be that quick unfortunately

I had a sweep at 38 weeks (due to spd) I was 4cm. The next week was in hospital as wasnt well. They checked and I was 6cm but not inactive labour!! Was told it was far too busy to start me (if they popped my waters it would of been super fast as precious labours were 1h 10 and 45 mins as I silently dilate until my waters go) she swept me and I woke up 36 hours later pushing involuntarily in the night. Never felt one contraction the whole birth as waters never went till he was crowning.

I was 3cm pre induction with ds1. Had had a sweep at 41+5 in which they had expressed confusion that I wasn't already in labour. Went in for pessary induction at 42, told before they did it (around lunchtime) t 3cm and things would probably happen speedily. Nothing happened until the early hours when my waters suddenly went and labour started with a band and he was born 2.5 hours later.

Could not tell you when I was 3cm with ds2, I hadn't had a check or sweep when I went into labour at 41+3 and by the time the midwives came to the house I was well into mooing and past 6cm. Same with ds3!

Wow some really quick birthing stories here, hope it isn't too long op 😄

I wouldn't recommend it, I found it too intense and preferred the longer labours that were a couple of hours with my older children. But it is what it is - hope it all goes well, op.

@Scbchl wow that’s amazing!!
@unmarkedbythat did you still have the pessary even though you were already 3cm?

@FourTeaFallOut yes I can understand, my second was really intense and quick and horrible! I ended up delivering him myself on a ward as midwives weren’t listening when I was telling them I was in a LOT of pain

I was 3cm at midnight and went into active labour around 7am, was 6cm by 10am. Hope all goes well x

unmarkedbythat did you still have the pessary even though you were already 3cm?

I did! They were very enthusiastic about my Bishop score and said I would be labouring in no time. Which wasn't exactly true, but when it did start it went very blinking fast.

I was quite gung ho with the second and third about not wanting sweeps or induction on dates alone though, I still think I'd have gone into labour within a day or two with ds1 regardless of the induction.

@unmarkedbythat oh ok, they said they didn’t need to do anything other than break my waters which I need to wait for x

@Notlong2go good luck! I hope it all goes well for you

About 4 hours to go from 3 to 4cm but was constantly contracting x

I was 4cm for a week before I had DS1 apparently. Only Braxton Hicks contractions and no pain. Was 37+5.

Went to OB for regular appt, had a sweep. Had One contraction, waters went at 11am, baby arrived at 4pm.

@Strokethefurrywall how far you were when you delivered?

Well been losing mucus for a couple of weeks daily, getting more now and had bit of blood but not sure if this is due to examination

80 hours.

With second DC I was 2cm for days, then my waters broke and I made it to 3cm. Had a sweep and immediately went into active labour. She was born about 6 hours after the sweep.

I have known women who have had several babies before to walk around at 4 or 5cm for days, if not weeks (I’m a midwife) but it isn’t very common. Third babies tend to be a total pain in the backside IME though. No idea why, they just don’t seem to follow the rules.

11 weeks I went into premature labour with DS1 at 28 weeks, was 3 cm dilated but they stopped my contractions and I managed to hold on for another 11 weeks.

Good luck OP.

I was an hour from when I was examined at 3cm to when I was 10cm and pushing. Baby born 13 mins later. So an hour 13 from 3cm to delivery. First baby.
Was a bit shocking!

Good luck OP!