How much longer??

Question

We went to the hospital to have her checked out and no positive test on the leaking but she is a "fingertip" dialated i really dont know how much that is but at least it has started and i was just wondering what are the next stages and what i need to expect!! she is 38 weeks

Answer 1

tell her to start walking alot and start having lots of sex with her... like everyday about 4 times a day

Answer 2

Congratulations on your new baby to be. It is so frustrating when you are so close but still are waiting. Many women are a fingertip dilated all the way through. Did they tell you how effaced she was(thinned out). If this is her first baby she first needs to have her cervix soften and "thin" out. You may hear the doctor say that she is 50% effaced etc. The more effaced, the closer you are to starting good dilation. The early and pre stages of labor are tricky. You can be several centimeters but days away, or hardly dilated and very close to having a baby. What will probably happen is that she will have several days of feeling really uncomfortable. She will most likely have loose bowels, be crampy and have irregular painless or sometimes painful contractions. This is the longest phase of labour. It comes and goes, starts and stops as baby moves down and really applies firm pressure onto the cervix. If she starts to have regular contractions that is wonderful. Remember however that the early phase of labor is the phase where you want to carry on with your regular activities. At night you want to rest. Either on her side, in a warm tub, over a birth ball or wherever. During the day, she needs to alternate rest and activity. Walk, do some lunges, light housekeeping, whatever she normally does to pass the time. As things increase she will most likely have more discharge, perhaps bloodied since the cervix is full of blood vessels that pop as she thins and dilates. When she is having a hard time concentrating, talking, and really needs your help through the contractions it is time to head in. Generally that is 3-5 minutes apart, lasting at least 60 seconds and regular in that pattern for at least an hour.
She is still quite a ways away from having her baby. A fingertip is not even 1 cm and she needs to get to 10 cms. The first 5 cms are the longest and can take several days of on again, off again labor. After 5 cms it is usually and I stress usually a centimeter an hour.
Try and rest. Try and relax. When women are stressed they release adrenaline. This restricts the amount of oxytocin she will produce (the hormone that causes contractions).
When she does start to labor, have her drink lots and eat small amounts throughout her labor of easy to digest foods.
Best of luck to you. You guys will do great!

Answer 3

Be prepared now. Have her bags packed and the baby's things ready. It could happen in the next few minutes. And then again it could still be several days or weeks. In 3 of my 4 pregnancies I dilated to 2 (which is more than a fingertip) and stayed there for several weeks. It all depends on her thinning. How much is she thinned out. If the lining is still thick, it's probably going to be a while. But, you never can tell. on my other pregnancy I showed up with contractions and was dilated 1 (a fingertip). They sent me home and before I got home which was less than 10 minutes away the contractions were really bad so we went back. I had my daughter within 30 minutes lol. The doctore was shocked. Just be prepared to go when says lets go!

Answer 4

When you say leaking, is that her waters because if her waters have broken even just into a leak you should not have sex, a fingertip would be about 1cm it can be a slow wait especially if this is your first baby, the next stage can be hard but you will need to be patient, she could get angry or sad, labour is very controlling and please don't take anything she says in the moment personally as its the pain talking, Sometimes water can be very helpful, either a bath or the shower running on her back, massage and just telling her your there for her and whatever you can do to help. I hope everything runs smoothly for you both but just remember at the end of it you will have a beautiful little baby to hold for the rest of your life.

Answer 5

She could go into labor any day now, or she could be pregnant for a couple more weeks..it all depends on her body and when she is ready. She is now full term so it could happen, but don't get your hopes up. I was 3 cm dialated at 37 weeks and my water finally broke at 40 weeks and 1 day. I know you are anxious and she is definitely very uncomfortable, but believe me, enjoy these last few days/weeks without the baby because when the little one gets here you are going to have your hands full! Good luck with the rest of her pregnancy!!!

Answer 6

technically most doctors will let a woman go to 42 weeks gestation as long as the baby is safe and healthy. so she may have a while yet. as she gets further along talking long walks can help drop the fetus down into the birth canal and start the dilation process.

Answer 7

If she is leaking and dilated, then labour should be starting soon. Her doctor might tell her to stay home until she begins to experience active labour, where the contractions are 5 mins apart or less. Don't panic, just try to be supportive.

Answer 8

It can be any time now. Watch for contractions when they're 10 minutes apart go to the hospital. Congrats!!!

Answer 9

Another 2 weeks or so

Answer 10

It could be a day or a few weeks. Be patient! And when your child is born let me be the first to congratulate you on your newborn child. God bless!