How can you tell if your dialated?

Question

I'm 32wks pregnant and my cervix feels soft and kinda open, I can fit the tip of my finger practically. Well I called my OB but she's doing a delivery so that's why I'm here asking moms with experience or someone with any experience on this. I just want to know if this is considered being dialated, I didn't go through this with my first daughter, so it's like new to me.

About 3 days ago I had a contraction which seemed weird to me at 32wks so I figured I'd check my cervix, to see if I was dialated, but the thing is I don't know what it should feel like, cause my 1st pregnancy went by so quick and easy. I have had like 2 contractions in the last 2 days.

Last doctors visit baby was positioned already, she asked me to monitor her movements. I can still fell my baby's head down, I don't know if that will make a difference.

Answer 1

I am a doctor, but not an obstetrician. It is common for the cervix to be a little soft and fit part of the finger during pregnancy. The cervix usually dialates to 10cm during the initial stages of labour.

If you are worried about it, the only way to ease your concerns would be to get your midwife to finger you. If you are not bleeding and have no abdominal contractions, then i would not be too concerned, and the examination can wait several days.

Answer 2

You need a medical professional to check you while you're laying on your back. Either a nurse or a doc. Don't check yourself without wearing gloves. You don't want to accidentally transmit bacteria near the amniotic sac. I personally am not physically able to check myself, nor would I ever want to, since it's such a painful thing to do.

You shouldn't worry about being dialated until you're in active labor. Partial effication and dilation is normal late in pregnancy, and usually doesn't result in a rupture of membranes unless the amniotic sac is actually falling out of the cervix. In this case, incompetent cervix is usually diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy, but if its missed it poses an extreme danger to the baby as the bacteria of the vagina can cause an infection.

It's hard for you to dialate on your own without active contractions. And really, the only reason you'd need to worry about it anyway is during labor, because it's a measure of when you can push.

Just ask your doc to check you at your next visit. If you think you might be in labor, go to the hospital and a nurse will check you and measure your contractions.

Answer 3

It's possible you are dialated; however, that doens't mean you are in labor. I have had three children. I started dialating around 32 or 33 weeks with each of them. By the end of my pregnancy, I was walking around at 5 cn for two weeks. What that does mean, is that once I did go into labor I went quick. My first labor was 2 hr and 10 min, my second was 1hr and 20 min and my 3rd was 2 hr and 15 min. Your body does most of the work before you actually begin to labor. So, don't be alarmed at this point if you are not exhibiting any other symptoms of labor ( ie bleeding, contractions, etc.) GOOD LUCK.

Answer 4

Only your doctor or nurse practitioner or midwife can tell if you are dilated. You can not do that kind of exam on yourself. Even if you are dilated, that does not make labor imminent. With my second and third babies, I was dilated 6-8 weeks before their delivery. With my first, I was not quite 1 cm dilated at the doctor appointment before she was born. My 4th was pretty odd, I was a week late and showed no signs of dilation or effacement and had no Braxton Hicks contractions that I could feel. I was high risk because of gestational diabetes and I was 38, so they injected a gel vaginally that was supposed to begin softening my cervix and hopefully move things along so they wouldn't have to induce. I had a horrible reaction to the gel and it sent me into 6 minute contractions and the baby into distress. They moved me so I could be prepped for an inducement, but when they checked me I was 6 cm dilated and about 50% effaced. I had the gel insertion done a little after noon and had no signs of labor at that time. Things went so fast after the gel insertion that she was born at 7:29 PM. Initially I was supposed to have the gel insertion and then come back in a week!!

Answer 5

You should not be trying to judge this for yourself. You are in no position to be able to make a firm decision about your own dialation. Go on to the hospital if you are in pain and let some nurse who has had the experience examine you to see if you are dailated. Some of them are more competent at it than drs. Or perhaps there will be a dr there who can examine you. You are not wise to try to do this yourself.

Answer 6

My cervix was 3cm dilated for an entire month before giving birth. I don't think it is a cause for concern if you aren't having contractions or other problems. But leave a message for your OB if it is bugging you.

Answer 7

What the heck are you doing sticking your fingers in there!! Do you want to loose your baby??
Get to the doctor and let the pros do their job!!
The only way you can and will know is when the doctor examines you...
32 weeks is way to early to be having that baby anyway unless it is an absolute emergency.
I hope your wrong on your dates and this baby is older than 32 weeks.
Until your obgyn sees you... keep your hands to yourself!!

Answer 8

Go to the doctor and have them check. if your having painful contractions, then your going to become more and more dialated.

Answer 9

why dont you ask the moms at mothering.com. they are very knowledgable. of course, you are probably a bit dialated, but i stayed dialated for weeks, so its no indication of impending labor (any more than you being pregnant! lol!).
congrats!

Answer 10

My doctor told me. . .Really at that stage of the game I was incapable of tying my shoes much less giving myself a good time.