sorry, I asked this last night, but I only got two answers, and-surprise- they're conflicting.
Can you efface and dilate if the baby is not in position? I know it doesn't have to be ready to fall out, but if you're effacing and dilating, should the head at least be engaging?
2006-08-08 01:55:30 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
My OB said the baby was head down and low last week, but I'm feeling movements pretty high in my abdomen. I'm wondering if the baby shifted...
2006-08-08 02:05:22 · update #1
I assume so because the pressure the baby puts on the cervix causes it to dilate. But maybe not. LOL How's that for an answer!
2006-08-08 02:00:49 · answer #1 · answered by nicolehope 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can start dilation and effacement while baby is either high (-2 station or more) or breech. You probably won't fully dilate until baby engages in the pelvis though. I worked a birth last weekend where baby was still high and mom got to about 8 cm.
2006-08-08 09:13:32 · answer #2 · answered by indigrrl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're probably feeling the baby's feet high in your abdomen. You can efface and dilate without baby's head in position. Thank your lucky stars that dilation is happening, it will make things a lot easier later.
2006-08-08 09:16:21 · answer #3 · answered by Jessie P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those babies can do some funny things when it comes time to be born. I had one of my children who was dropped down and I was dilating and efaced and he moved back up It is okay it doen't take much for them to move back down I guess they don't want to leave the womb.(lol) . The head may not fully engage until you are in hard labor but as long as the baby is head down everything should be alright. At least that was what I was told and everythng worked out just fine.
2006-08-08 09:11:20 · answer #4 · answered by wolfy1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
effacement and dialation are two related but separate processes (for lack of a better word) they almost always happen at the same time.
the baby's position has nothing to do with either of them. if a baby is not in birthing position, that's how a baby is born breech.
as far as if he baby has 'dropped', it is very rare to be effacing/dialating if the baby hasn't dropped, but it could happen.
2006-08-08 09:10:11 · answer #5 · answered by Shrek'shandsomeidenticaltwin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this helps, I was 1/2 cm dialated when I went in to be induced with my youngest.. she had not "dropped" yet.... she dropped when I was in actual labor ... so I am guessing the answer is no... your baby does not have to be in position to dialate.. it has everything to do with your cevix effacing & softening and allowing to expand to dailate...
2006-08-08 09:33:04 · answer #6 · answered by nknicolek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily. many babies are tush down & mother's can be dilated. If it doubt call your OB and ask, that's what they get paid for. Good luck;)
2006-08-08 09:01:00 · answer #7 · answered by Tortured Soul 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋