1cm dilated...labor soon?? Alan?

[1st time mummy 2 be]

Its only me again...lol!

I am 39 weeks + 3 days and had my 1st sweep yesterday with midwife, after she said my cervix was closer than what she thought it would be and on its way to being how it should and said i was 1cm dilated and could jus about feel top of babys head but since last mon i been havin tightenings with pains but not as regular as they sometimes are so not to sure exactly how long i been 1cm dilated could labor be soon??? I had a show but still feel as though it hasnt all come away yet but midwife said hopefully the sweep i had should dislodge it if not the 2nd one might!!
I have to see midwife twice a week now as bp does tend to go up and down ect so seeing midwife again thurs for a/n check and sweep if i want one then see what happens then and if im anymore dilated... i didnt realise u can dilate and not actually be having regular painfull contractions so thats confused me quite alot as me and my partner are just thinking well will we actually know when i am in labor and the waiting is just getting to much right now as its been goin on for over a week now,and everytime i get a tightening with pain were both like is this it????? i know 1st babys dnt come till due date or after just with me getting all this im not to sure how to take it all
midwife said if thursdays sweep doesnt work then she wants to see me monday for check and sweep again and so on untill 41 weeks as doc said he would like to consider induction if i am not in labor by then, i take it that could be my history of raised pb ect but midwife she thinks if im still the same by then as i am now then should wait till 10 days over due...

All this is so confusing to me and my bf, we just want our baby girl now!!
Oh and something about me being station -3 whats that about?? Take it thats my cervix being charted so is this me gradually getting into labor and cervix preparing itself???

Hope you can help me... were so confused

Laura

[Freya]

From what I can remember, the stations are talking about the cervix getting into the 'birthing' position.

As for labour being near because your a cm dialated - sorry but it doesnt work that way. I was 1cm from about 35 weeks and at 38+5 when I was induced I was still just 1 measly cm. Some women can walk around until 41wks at 3cm without going into labour. I certainly hope this is it for you though and labour starts soon! Youll know when its the real thing, no mistaking that pain

[Alan]

Hi Laura
If you are 1cm dilated then that is a good sign that labour is not too far away. Station 3 means that your baby’s head is in the pelvis and just engaged. Having a show is also another good sign that labour may not be far off. Are you using EPO? Another good tip to help bring on labour is nipple stimulation you or your partner can do this. Also sex, there is a product in seamen that can help to bring on labour.

[1st time mummy 2 be]

Well about half hour ago i lost my whole plug only had a lil show last week but all of it come away today... so with what iv already told u is that a good sign? Yeh baby has always been 3/5 into pelvis but midwife said she can jus about feel 2/5 maybe a lil less and like i said got told yesterday was 1cm dilated but not sure how long iv been dilated and if i am anymore now as been having tightenings and pains since lastnight as had sweep yesterday so that must of worked a lil well i hope labor isnt far off now me and my partner are full of every emotion going and with the waiting it reli doesnt help lol! But i am very nervous about going into labor... as its my 1st and feeling very enxious about it all

Havent started taking EPO yet would u say i should now or not bother? and if i should is taking it by mouth or insert via vagina? I got EPO other day but since knowing i was having sweep i didnt wanna mess around down there b4 midwife done it, and been taking rasberry leaf tea now and again and yes me and my partner have been having sex but since sweep we didnt wanna since then as i been feeling bit tender down there then with me loosing plug today i dnt think id feel right but yh uptill now we have been doing it all

Laura

[Trish]

Laura, I would start on the EPO, nice and high into your vagina. It might be the extra kick that helps you along. The 1cm dilated isn't something to get too excited about hun, sorry. I was 3 cms for the last 2 weeks of my last pregnancy. The way I saw it, it was just 3 less to go when I was actually in labour

Your body is definately getting prepared, so all that you ccan do to help it along is great. Also better to beat that damn induction threat.

Goodluck and I hope all goes well for you.