I am 1 Cm and I am at -3 effaced?

Question

Last week my Doctor told me that I was at 1 cm and -3 effaced. The next day I lost my mucus plug, and have had lite contractions. Friday night i was having contractions 5 min. apart for 5 hours so my husband and I went to L&D. They told me I was only about 1 1\2 cm dialated and -3 effaced. What is going on? I am 38 weeks and all the Doctors I see are telling me that I am going to be early. Has anyone else been through this and how long did it take to go into active labor?

Answer 1

Yes, I lost my mucas plug on a friday, went to the doctor on a monday and asked him to keep me. This was a 5pm in the afternoon. He didn't and I retuned at 4am the next day after my water broke and had contractions every 2 minutes... Listen to you body, i am sure you will be going shortly, since I pretty much went into labor within a week after losing my mucas plug both times. 1st child was a c-section, second was VBAC. Good luck to you!

Answer 2

I am assuming this is your first baby. Lots of people think of labor as being only the time when you have extremely strong contractions- but this is not true. There are three stages of labor. The first stage is all preparation, to get the cervix thinned and dialated, and for the baby to drop down to the cervix and crown. Active labor is what most people associate with labor, as this is the stage where the baby is actually born. During the third stage, contactions continue, and the placenta is delivered. At that point, labor is officially over.
The first stage of labor in first time mothers can take days. You don't necessarily even pay attention to the first contractions, as there are lots of other physical discomforts to distract you. The contractions are toning the uterus and pushing the baby into delivery position, in your case, the cervix has dialated to about the size of a little finger tip, and the baby is well against the cervix. That particular dialation size is not unusual at your stage of pregnancy, and doesn't in itself suggest much.
The process of the first stage takes longer in first time mothers because the cervix must completely thin or efface- before the contractions can begin dialating for delivery. In future deliveries, this process tends to happen all at the same time- which is why the babies deliver slight quicker.
Nobody can tell you exactly how long you will be in first stage labor- as it depends very much on how quickly the effacement and dialation process happens, and how well you react to the process. Normally the first contractions are mild and irregular, gaining intensity and frequency as things progress. However, contractions can be very regular, as you noticed- and still not be strong enough to be uncomfortable. Regular contractions over several hours time will eventually become more intense, and as they get stronger the cervix dialates to the full 10cm for delivery. Usually most women find the contractions become most difficult to take when they are between 5 and 7 cm dialated. Although they consider themselves in active labor, medically speaking they are not. The doctors, midwives and nurses do not start the clock on the second stage until the cervix is completely dialated. It stops with the complete delivery of the baby, and the third stage clock ends when the placenta delivers.
At this point in your labor process, the best friend you have is gravity. It will pull the baby's head against the cervix and encourage it to dialate quicker. If you are feeling restless, get out and walk or take a nice warm shower. Stay upright as much as you can, to keep pressure on the cervix. If things get you really anxious, ask the doctor or midwife about having a glass of wine- not the bottle full, mind you- just a glass to sip on. The alcohol will sometimes let you catch a catnap, and will relax you just enough to let things pick up the pace. But first ask the doctor- don't just do this on your own!!
With my first baby, I was in first stage labor for three days. I thought the baby would never be born, and was frightened I was looking at a c-section. I was lucky to have a good midwife with loads of experience and a very calm manner. I was in second stage for 45 minutes, from crowning to delivery. Each baby after that came quicker, the last one was only 6 hours from first noticeable contraction to delivery, with only 5 minutes of second stage labor.
The first baby is always nerve wracking. I'm a nurse, so you would think I would be more relaxed about it all, but it's a whole different arguement when it's you going through it. My best advice is to just relax, go for a walk, and wait it out. When the contractions reach the point you can't quite talk through them, regardless of how frequent they are, that's the time to get excited. Just keep thinking gravity is my friend, and stay upright as long as you can. Good luck, and have a healthy baby!

Answer 3

I have heard that you can stay at 1 cm for quite some time. I was stuck at 2 cm for 3 weeks, and at -2. They finally induced my labor with pitocin, which didnt work. Then the Dr. broke my water, and I went from 2 to 10 cm in an hour and 40 minutes. It all depends on your body. I would say that if you are still at -3, you may have a little while before baby comes. Good luck!

Answer 4

Each birth is different-- I was in labor for 1 week approx (contractions coming and going)until my son was born. I went to the hospital thursday evening and was at about the same point you are-- the next day I waited for my water to break and when my contractions got 2-3 minutes apart at approx 4:30pm i went to the hospital again (at 4 cm this point and they had to break my water) and he was born at 9:17pm.
Good Luck and congrats!!!!

Answer 5

the only way to know is when you have more than five contrations in an hour, they are strong. If your water breaks then go in right away. But unless your ocntractions are close and strong, then you may as well stay home.

this is a great site. check it out. It will give you more information about true labor.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/childbirth/181.html

Answer 6

with my first pregancy, i was at 3 cm for about 2 weeks until i finally got induced 10 days after my due date...just take things as they come.

Answer 7

I kind of went through this with baby #2 and I eventually had to be induced. But I dont recommend it. I was anxious for my baby to be here and for it to all be over with but I wish I would have just waited for him to come on his own rather than let myself be pressured by my doc and nurses. Just keep walking and dancing and getting ready for that baby, it'll be here before you know it.

Answer 8

the first stage of labor can take forever but when it all starts to move it does it pretty quickly, you will have a bub in no time