can i tell if i am dilated from home?

Answer 1

Yes, you can but you definitly should not try. There are many things that can go wrong. Your doctor should check you around 36 wks and every week thereafter. I don't know if you have already had a pelvic exam but since your uterus is stretched to maximum there are blood vessels that are very sensitive and can rupture and bleed if you are not extremely careful. I would leave it to the professionals.

Answer 2

I'm sure people will say there are ways to check, but I would not try them. If this is your first baby, most of the time it will take you longer to dialate than if it's second, third, etc....but that is not all the time. There are always exceptions.

When you go to your doctor, when he/she does a check on you they will usually tell you if you are dialated and how far. You can be 1 or 2 centimeters for a few weeks and have no contractions at all. You can also loose your mucous plus without being very dialated and your water can break.

If your water breaks or begins to leak and you are not having contractions, you still need to call your doctor and go to the hospital. Most, not all, doctors will want you to begin to labor within 24 hours of loosing your water or it leaking. It's not because the baby will die with no amnionic fluid, but it's because an infection can set in.

A wives tale about the mucous plug is that you loose it and within 72 hours you will have your baby. That happens a lot; however, there are a lot of times it doesn't happen too.

If you are unsure when to go to the hospital, ask your doctor or nurse. Never be afraid to ask them anything if you have a question. That's what they are there for. Most doctors will tell you, if it's your first baby, to wait until you are having contractions 5 minutes apart for about an hour or two (to make sure they don't go away...which happens sometimes); however, if you have a gut feeling that you need to leave before that, go with it and leave. Better to go to the hospital and have them send you home for awhile than to wait too long. Whatever you do, don't feel like you're stupid for doing it...this is your first (and sometimes even the second because usually each pregnancy is so different!) and you don't know what you are supposed to be feeling or not feeling.

The nurses at the hospital will not care. They'd rather have time to get everything ready for a nice calm delivery than to have you come in with the baby coming out and having to rush to find someone to deliver your baby (most nurses have worked in the department long enough that they are very qualified to do it though, but the hospitals don't like it).

Good luck!

Answer 3

You should never try ant check yourself for dilation as you can cause infection and rupture the placenta or just generally put the baby at risk. The baby will come when ready. ANything you try isn't going to help your body release hormones that only labor can trigger. You can opt not to be induced and have it in your birth plan that you don't want meds. Just wait it out and the baby will come when ready.

Answer 4

Actually, no. To be honest the time when I thought I was most dilated, I was like 1.5" and the time when I thought I'd barely started opening up (sorry), I was already at 4."

There's no reliable way I've heard of, and I read a library of pregnancy books!


One note, though: When I was 4" inches, the thing I did to make a difference was drink strong red raspberry leaf tea. It may have been a coincidence, but it is said to help with dilation and rhythmic contractions. Honey, it worked that time! The baby was born in 2 hours!! God bless her! My other two took 8 and 11 hours!

Answer 5

Am I Dilated

Answer 6

Yes, you can. I know several women who have done exactly that. You really don't want to be checking it very often though as it may push bacteria closer to the baby. If you're trying to make a decision on when to transport to the hospital or are checking for a cord prolapse or something important like that, you'll want to know how to do it properly.

Directions are somewhat long and involved for the YA format. I have an article that a midwife friend wrote on the topic and her permission to forward it to individuals who desire it as long as they respect her copyright to it. If you email me, I can pass it to you.

Answer 7

well, honey, I want to fisrt say congrats on the baby. I don't think it would be a good idea. You WILL know when you are dialated or when it is getting close to time. It could cause in infection so leave it to the OB. I am studying to be one, and I wouldn't advise anyone to do at home checking. It could be bad if you tear something or pop something , so again leave it to the professionals. If you are trying to bring on labor, walking, is a good thing. I have not had a child so , all, I got to say, is just be packed and ready to go , but don't check at home. When the water breaks, you should call your docotr. He may want to check you. Well, take care and don't do it at home.

Answer 8

Yes you can tell, but you shouldnt do it. Its not medically neccessary for you to go right to the hospital once your water breaks. You would be there for just hours, and hours. So you should wait until your contractions are exactly 5 minutes apart. Im a certified medical assistant, if you have anymore questions just let me know.

Answer 9

If you're more than 38 weeks, you can assume 1cm. That doesn't mean labour is starting because you can stay at 1cm for weeks. If you've lost your mucous plug, you can assume 2cm. If your water breaks, you've probably hit 4cm, which is where most women are when they start hard labour.

Answer 10

Sure, just have your boyfriend or husband to shove his 2 fingers up there to see if he can feel how wide the opening of your cervix is. it is safe. I had my husband do it for me a month ago when i was due.