For how long can you be 3cm dilated?

[Epacris]

I've had heaps and heaps of pre-labour for weeks now. My Ob did an internal on Wednesday and I was 3cm. I was NOT READY to have this little buba then (too many jobs to do and just not in the right head-space) but now I am ready (the jobs are either done or just don't seem to matter anymore, and I want to meet this little creature).

So can this (3cm dilated and lots of pre-labour) go on for days or are we talking possibly weeks here?

TIA!

[Cyathea]

Ah yes, many women can be 3cm for days and weeks and never even know it...having prelabour is a great sign though, hopefully it means that your body is really gearing up for the birth, and it won't be too long for you now.

[tannedangel]

Id go for walks to get things moving along, if you aren't already.
Good Luck. It all sounds promising.

[Tobily]

Aw hun you could still be looking at a while yet

Especially with second/subsequent bubs, it's not unusual at all to be a few cm's dilated for weeks with nothing much else happening.

But, looking on the bright side - that's 3cm less you have to do when labour does get going

Good luck, and hopefully bub won't make you wait too long.
x

[Antheia]

If your having lots of pre labour try using some EPO, rasperry leaf tea and/or clary sage oil. It might kick start labour for you. Goodluck.

[Visitor7]

I had pre-labour for 4 weeks with DD2. By the time I went into labour I was 3cm, and my cervix was thin and 'ripe', and it was only a 6 hour labour.
So yeah, it could be any time really, won't necessarily happen straight away.

[Midwife Melissa]

You can be 3cm (or more) for a while before labour starts, but being this far dilated usually means a shorter labour

[queenbee]

I was 2cm dilated on the Monday and then by Wednesday I had my DD. I had a 5 hour labour

[Epacris]

Thanks so much girls for your lovely replies. I'm honestly not absolutely busting to have this baby, it's not like I'm even overdue or anything, I'm just ready now, where as a few days ago I wasn't.

Yes, we are expecting this birth to be rather quick (although I know every woman/baby/birth is so different). My ob is a bit worried we'll have a side-of-the-road birth. With DS I lost my plug and had my very first (very mild) contraction at 11:30pm. My waters broke at 12:30am, we got to hospital at 1:40am (after dilly-dallying because we thought we had heaps of time) and DS was out at 2:53am. And he was 3.94kg and a compound presentation (where an arm came out next to his head).

My ob would really like me to come in so he can break my waters but I'm resisting. I'd like my baby to be given every opportunity to chose when they are born. And geez isn't the suspense of these last few days tantalising!

[No.5]

Just wanted to wish you luck. Hope you meet your little one soon!

[Early Kids]

The others have pretty much covered everything

all the best hope you meet him soon!