Almost 38 weeks - cervix soft, but still long & not dialated!

Hi ladies,

I am 37+5 days pregnant with my third bub and had my cervix checked today due to some irregular contractions the last few days. I was expecting to be a one to two cms as I have had 2 natura vaginal deliveries in the past but my cervix was still long and closed, however she could just feel the babies head. My first child was born at 40+3 and my son at 39+2. This baby is currently head down but not engaged. I am so uncomfortable, sore and exhausted now and I am dying to meet my little man! Does my cervix being closed mean that labour is still a while away or is it not significant? I would love to hear your experiences of this as I am feeling quite deflated!

Congratulations on being so close to meeting your little man!

I think at 37+5 its pretty normal to not be dilated. I dilated early but I know I am quite unusual :) To give perspective I was dilated 2cm at 36 weeks and still didn't go into labout until 39 weeks, so even if you are dilated doesn't mean its close!!

Have you tried taking raspberry leaf tablets? That can help strengthen contractions etc. Get amorous with your DH;) The oxytocin released then can help give things a little nudge.

I wouldn't worry though. It can go from 0-10 pretty quick.

Like Little_O I dilated early - was put on bedrest when I got to 3cms at 31 weeks but then everything just stalled. Gave up on bedrest at 37 weeks and DD3 didn't make an appearance until 41+1.

I had the opposite of you because I was dilated for forevvvvver with #3 with absolutely nothing happening, so I guess it could work in reverse as well - not dilating means nothing until the time actually comes. It certainly can change quickly - with DD2 I went from a tightly closed cervix when I first got in to hospital to her being on my chest a couple of hours later.

Good luck. I hope you don't have much longer to wait. It gets so tiring at the end, especially with LOs to run around after

I think its all a guessing game and whatever and whenever it happens, its when its supposed to happen.

I'm nearly at my due date and my DH still can't even feel my cervix because its pretty far back. I'm not worried, I've had 2 vaginal deliveries and my cervix was obviously working then, so no reason why it wouldn't work for this one as well.

So I wouldn't personally try to read too much into it :)

With my second recent baby I went in at 38+6 and ob said I was closed but soft and that baby wasn't coming any time soon .... I had her the next day so you really don't know when it's gonna happen

Thanks girls... Glad to know its not a bad sign and that bubs won't be in there forever! This pregnancy has been a bit tougher on me than the others.. I have been really sick and sore, had bubs turn breech and then back again.. I just want to meet my little man cause I know that all that will be a distant memory the second he is in my arms! With my first I was 3cms on my due date and had her 3 days later so I was worried that no dilation at all and my cervix still being long means it is a while away yet!