2cms

Hey lovies,

I just have a bit of a general wonder-ment (is that a word?) that I was hoping some of you girls with experience might be able to answer for me...

I had a Dr's appointment today, at which I received one of those loverly internal examinations, and the Dr said that I am currently 2cm's dialated and he could feel bubs head.

Next Monday (18th) he has booked be in for an induction (he'll break my waters and insert a drip to get labour happening) incase I don't go into labour on my own within the next week. By monday I'll be 9 days overdue.

So, what I was more or less wondering is seeing as I am already 2cm's dialated what are the odds that I'll just sit on that 2cm's for the next week and not move an inch? (and I know that anything can happen at this stage - pregnancy has no rules unfortunately) I would really love to go into labour on my own, but at the end of the day whatever is best for bub is good for me too, but these odds are making me a little curious!

TIA for your replies!! :heartbeat:

Hey Teagz,
I am sorry I don't have much experience with this (with DS waters broke and he was out in 6 hours). But I did want to wish you labour vibes :cheer:. I can also recommend acupuncture - I really think it helped me I went from 1cm - 10 in 5 hours...) Goodluck and I hope you have a wonderful birth!
Rach xx

SOme women can be 2cm dilated at 26 weeks and continue to hold on until past their EDD :dunno:

Sending you labour vibes hun - do you have any gravel roads around your place? If so get into the choc bullets and go for a bumpy drive

nae x x

I have no responce to your actual question, just wanted to say woohoo not long now! I am so excited for you, I can't wait to read your BA!

Thanks girlies! yeah i thought it was gonna be a pretty inconclusive situation...

Bugger.. I guess I'm just gonna have to put my patience hat back on and sit tight and see what happens ;)

Naenae, DH took me 4x4 on Saturday, yesterday I helped DH wash cars... and mum has just taken me for a marathon hike of the shops this morning... I'm pooped! so I think I'm gonna reward myself now with a nap ;)

Goodluck hun. Labour vibes

hi, i've been following your story from afar,when i was having my 3rd child,doc did an internal,i was 2 cms as well ,booked me in for induction in 4 days time,next morning i was ringing the hospital to tell them i was coming in,that i was in labour,told them about the internal,midwife said'that's what would of got things moving'so make sure those bags are ready.Looking forward to reading your ba...

Hi Teagz.

Its hard to say - all women are different! But it is normal (especially in first pregnancies) for the body to take longer to dialate as its a new process. Many women don't dialate at all until labour begins. Are you having any cramping pains that may indicate that labour is on its way?

Quote "I would really love to go into labour on my own, but at the end of the day whatever is best for bub is good for me too"

Remember that your estimated due date is just that - an estimate, and the normal length of pregnancy ranges from 38 - 42 weeks. Mother nature, your baby and your body care little for external timetables set by scanning machines - because they know much better than we do!! Unless there is a valid medical reason for inducing labour (ie - pre-eclampsia), statistics show that it is much safer to allow your body and your baby to start labour naturally - when he/she is ready to be born. Approximately 70% of inductions end in c/section (mainly due to the baby going into distress), wheras roughly 15% of spontaneous labours end in c/section. The reason this increased risk is not mentioned is because Obs tend not to view c/sections as a negative outcome - as long as they have a living baby at the end of it. The woman however, has to live with the physical and emotional effects of the c/section so may feel very differently.

Please keep in mind that at the end of day, only YOU are in charge of your body and your baby, your Ob may speak about induction in a "this is what we are going to do" type manner - but ultimately he/she requires your consent to perform any proceedure, however minor (this includes internals - which many women refuse to have until they are actually in labour by the way!). If you do not feel entirely comfortable with artificial induction of labour you can decline this method of intervention, or at least ask to be informed on why induction is considered necessary. Check out the threads on induction and do your research.
Most of all, do not be afraid to speak your mind and to 'go with your gut', perhaps requesting that you would prefer to go until 42 weeks gestation, provided you and bubs are monitored to ascertain that everything is fine, which in most cases, it is!

Sorry to bombard you - your post just made it seem as though you were feeling under pressure to 'perform' by a set deadline - which is not fair on you or bubs. Permit yourself to relax and simply trust in your body and your baby - combined, they are infinitely wiser than you can possibly imagine.
I wish you the very best - and hope that bubs decides the right time is soon!!!
xxx

Teagz,

That is wonderful news Congratulations! I am so happy for you that it won't be long until you meet you son!!!

I agree with JellyBean, it is actually much safer to wait to go into labour on your own and not too mention it is soooooooooooooo much less painful then with the drip!!!!!! I think it would be a great idea to read the articles on bb about induction and have a think about more natual approaches, you can ask to have monitoring to make sure bubs is doing fine and if anything shows up induction will still be there. Monitoring is just a ctg, I told my hospital I want \ed to go overdue indefiniely and I was told they wouldn't even want to do extra mnonitoring until 10days over sos if you want to go into labour on your own I woulddefinitely think about that.

Here's hoping you will go into labour on your own soon anyway xo

Go Teagz!! Not long now, one way or the other!!!
I had an induction with DD1, completely ignorant of the risks involved (not one of the books I read about birth covered them, nor did my midwife or obstetrician), and if I had my time over again, I'd wait. But, some actual good news for you - when I was pg with DD2, I went overdue and at my last antenatal appt at 40+5 (a Thursday), the doctor did an internal and told me I was 2cm. I booked in for an induction on the Monday in case nothing else happened (would have been 41+1), then to my delight I went into actual, proper labour on Saturday afternoon and bubs arrived early Sunday morning :D

So, sending you heaps of labour vibes - you should be able to avoid an induction if BB gets behind you with them hehehe :) I notice they seem to work for everyone else! Best of luck, can't wait to see your BA!

"I would really love to go into labour on my own, but at the end of the day whatever is best for bub is good for me too"

was meant to come across as me being comfortable with the choice, not ill informed, to avoid an induction lecture :) I'm happy to go ahead with the induction (for my sanity and other medical history, and not just because I'm fed up with being UTD or my Dr needs to go away on a golf trip) if nothing else pans out and I'm aware of the intervention factor. Everyone has preferences as to how we want these things to go - we just don't all get them.

"The reason this increased risk is not mentioned is because Obs tend not to view c/sections as a negative outcome - as long as they have a living baby at the end of it"

"Increased risk of unexplained stillbirth" scares me more than "increased risk of possible c/s"

But, Thanks for your opinions, girls :)

I was 2cm dialiated at my 40wk check too. OB also did a stretch n sweep to see if got things going and also booked my induction date.

I had the induction 1wk later as nothing happend and didn't appear to be happening at all without help..

I was induced the same with water's broken and that brought on labour. If fact I have been induced with all my kids past date 10days over and had natural deliveries..no complications.

I was happy with that :)

Hope all goes well however you go!

x Heather

yay Teagz the time has really flown.
You might try some accupuncture or a stretch and sweep if your confortable with either of those?
Did you ob say why they wouldnt start with gel for an induction - just curious - ds1 was induced and I had a S&S and a gel induction 36 hours later and didnt need anything else or have further intervention.

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yay Teagz the time has really flown.
You might try some accupuncture or a stretch and sweep if your confortable with either of those?
Did you ob say why they wouldnt start with gel for an induction - just curious - ds1 was induced and I had a S&S and a gel induction 36 hours later and didnt need anything else or have further intervention.

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I didn't even think to ask about that. I assumed it was because I was already dilating and the gel is usually used to start softening the cervix if it's not already? That's how we were explain it in our antenatal classes...

Teagz,

I am sorry if my post offended you, wasn't meant to come across know-it-all-ish

For what it's worth induction actually has a higher risk of stillbirth than going overdue does, if you are interested.

You are right about the gels being used to dialate you, sometuimes though even with being dialated they can kick labour off. If you are wanting to go for a more gentle method of induction you could ask to have your waters broken and see how this goes, it might be enough to get cx happening without the drip.

Wishing you a wonderful labour and birth!!

Hey Teagz!

i just thought i would pop in here and give you some support!!!!
Given all the history i am so proud of you for making such an informed decision with your little mans best interest as a top priority! ( i know that i would be an emotional mess by now!)
Everything is goikng to be fine tho and at the very latest next week you will be holding your little man and trying to remember what all the fuss was about!!
Good luck!!

Hi! Well, I was at 2cm when I was heavily contracting and the midwife told me I wasn't in labour (apparrently you must be 3cm before it's counted as 'real' labour :rolleyes: and I went to pushing in less than an hour, so I think if your body wants bub to come out 2cm is as good a start as any and you've got just as good chance of going into labour yourself before your induction date.

PS - Good on you for going for a VB and having your backup plan - my SIL Twins first was stillborn and she had the CS's for her others due to the greater risk in women with histories of such and for her that safest option - so sounds like your OB is doing the right thing for you.

All the best - some brown sugar in milk (natural mild laxative), nipple stimulation and DTD over a week is what I did before DD who was 39+5, don't know if it helped or not but if you're game... Looking forward to your BA however it happens!

Im sure I was already a little bit dilated when I was induced becuase they wouldnt have done the stretch and sewwp if i wasnt?
Not sure though. I hope I havent caused you more confusion hun.

For what its worth Id give accupuncture a go it worked for me, and didnt hurt.

I just wanted to wish you all the best!
Your decision to induce is right for you, and i am sure after your history just getting him out safe and sound is all that matters to you. Goodluck, wishing you a fantastic birth, hopefully sooner rather than later. :D

Just wanted to wish you well with the birth - however it happens you'll have your darling in your arms - that is the main thing. Goodluck hun!
Rach xx

I think they only use gels if you're not dilated at all??? The preference is to break the waters if some dilation has occurred.

Hun, you could always ask for your waters to be broken, and then some time (hours....) to go into labour on your own without the drip. You will likely find things easier to handle then, not so full on as with the synto. If nothing happens, then the drip can be started on a low dose for you.

But, up to you, whatever you decide, all the best! Looking forward to seeing your BA :D

Thanks girls... but i just wanted to know about the dilation thing.

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So, what I was more or less wondering is seeing as I am already 2cm's dialated what are the odds that I'll just sit on that 2cm's for the next week and not move an inch?

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I'm all up the speed with my options re: the induction :)

How long is a piece of string? :p

Yeah okay, sorry :redface:

Million dollar question hun! Could go either way. If you're keen to get things moving, then try all the natural stim methods, and see how you go.......good luck :)

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How long is a piece of string? :p

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Yeah I know that now :D I just wasn't really up to speed with the whole dilating on your own thing once it had started... aah, i know what I'm on about XD

Pre/early labour (up to 4cms) as you have been told (I think it was you or someone else LOL) isn't active labour - because the contractions are not getting longer, stronger or closer together - there are none of them. It's prework before it gets active, so it is doing some great work even though you can't feel it or see it yet. You could be in prelabour for hours, days, weeks. But the good news is, once it's active, it's usually all up from there ;)