How do you know how far your dialated. i've gone to every Dr.app and hes never done an examination to check. Was he suppose to? or was i suppose to ask? i'm now 40 wks and 4 days. In 5 days i have another app. but thats to be induced. but what if i start dilating before then. how will i know difference? i do get pains down there, when i walk around. but its not labor, i guess..
This is my first pregnancy, is my doctor not doing what hes suppose to be doing. or am i just worrying about it too much?
oh yeah.. and i always feel like i'm gonna start menstruating, like the cramps.
2007-01-10 07:46:59 · 16 answers · asked by newmommy2007 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You have a GOOD doctor who is taking a hands off approach! Congratulations! Many midwives will never do an internal exam on you until you are in labor. Honestly, how far dilated and effaced you are means NOTHING until you are in active labor. It doesn't help predict when you'll go into labor. The information is totally useless at this point. You could walk around 3-4 cm and 100% effaced for a week or more. Or you could be closed up tight as a bank vault and have a baby later that day.
Don't worry about it. You will KNOW when you are in active labor. Your contractions will get harder and closer together as they come. It will become impossible to talk through them as you'll need to concentrate on getting through them. Your water may break, but don't count on it happening in early labor, so don't depend on that alone as your cue to go to the hospital.
2007-01-10 07:54:29 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my mid wife didn't check to see if i was dilated until i went a few days over due. she explained that dilation doesn't mean as much with the first pregnancy and often causes new moms to be disappointed if they are not dilated or expect to go into labor asap if they are when it is still unclear. if you are dilated one or so centimeters, it does tell a doctor alot, but it is not 100 percent. i was checked at about 40 and a half weeks. i was about 1 1/2 centimeters, but not really effaced. i ended up getting induced a week later. some doctors check for dilation early. i've heard of some as early as 37 weeks. a lot of doctors (my midwife included) believe that you should not check to soon or if its unnecessary because it can expose you to germs which can lead to infections and such. i wouldn't worry too much. it seems like your doctor is doing the right thing.
the cramps are probably early signs that your body is getting ready for child birth. probably very early contractions. and no, i didn't feel like i was dilating. i had no idea i was almost two centimeters until the did the internal.
good luck and congrats
2007-01-10 08:01:44 · answer #2 · answered by k_leigh326 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, my doctor started doing a physical exam (put his hand up to check for dialation and efacement) at 36 weeks, 37, 38, 39, and 40. You can't feel dialation, and honestly it doesn't really affect when your baby will be born.
I know women who were at 3cm for like 3 weeks before the baby was born, and others who weren't dialated at all when they went into labor. However, I definitely think your doc should've been checking you.
Whatever the case is with you, you'll soon be a new mom, Congratulations!!
2007-01-10 07:49:51 · answer #3 · answered by Margie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, when they induce you they will definitely do an internal. Dilation doesn't really matter anyway. I was dilated 2cm for 6 weeks an still had to be induced. The cramps and pains are your body's way of getting ready for what is to come. You will be fine, just let nature take it's course. You're almost to the bottom of the downslope now!!
2007-01-10 07:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by emtrucking2004 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, i am a student midwife in the uk, the pains you are getting are normal it is the pressure and weight of the baby. you will feel contractions when you are dilating, most women get a show when this starts to happen. the show is a mucas plug that blocks the cervix when you are pregnant and this is lost when the dilation starts. it isn't standard for you dr. to examine you down there at your appointments unless you are presenting signs of labour. the cramps you are feeling are braxton hicks - practise contractions getting your body ready for the real thing. when the real contractions start they will feel strong and more painful. they will also gradually become more frequent increasing in strenghtand frequency,when they get to about 5-10 minutes apart it is time to call your midwife or hospital to see what they want you to do.
i hope this helps. and i wish you all the best in your new role of parenhood. maria.
2007-01-10 08:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by frost7216 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most docs don't do internals if they are not necessary as a general rule. It can cause infection and that can be bad for a baby. Some docs do still as we've all heard on these boards a few times.. but like I said, it's actually better if they don't. My doc checked me (after trauma I had to my uterine ligament) through ulrasound. So if you've had an ultrasound lately then they've looked and you're not dialated at all yet, which is why they haven't told you :)
2007-01-10 07:54:40 · answer #6 · answered by Gig 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you begin to dialate it is generally the VERY early stages of labor (like in the weeks before actual labor). When you dialate your cervex is begining to stretch to allow the baby to exit via the birth canal. Even if you were dialated now unless you are having contractions (regularly spaced muscle contractions in your abdomin) or your water has broken you are not considered in labor. If you want to know if you are dilated I would suggest calling you doctor and requesting him/her to check. Best of luck to you and the baby.
2007-01-10 07:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by fairychic77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
someone requested this question the different day so I honestly have an answer for you as I had no clue both. sure you're pregnant for 40 weeks (or nicely, 38 because they count number from the first day of your LMP) yet no longer each month is 4 weeks lengthy precisely. the more effective 2 or 3 days substances up and all of it finally ends up being round 9 months. yet you may extremely count number in weeks, no longer months.
2016-12-28 15:31:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The doctor will have to check you before he can start inducing. But nowadays, I guess depending on where you live, they really don't check weekly anymore. According to my doctor it doesn't tell them anything. You can be 2-3cm dialated for weeks before anything happens
2007-01-10 10:11:46 · answer #9 · answered by alkdab3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every situtation is different, but I think that he probably should have checked for dialation at one of your last appts. Sounds a little odd to me... unless of course you have a condition that you won't go into labor on your own. Good luck to you.
2007-01-10 07:50:55 · answer #10 · answered by Danielle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋