Is it possible to be at 1/2cm or even 1 cm dialated for more than 2 weeks?

Question

I am 39 weeks prego starting today. Back at the start of my 36 week appt, this was 3 weeks ago on a Tuesday from today. The Dr did the strap-b test and also checked my cervix. I was at that time told to be 70% effaced, 1/2 cm dialated and baby's head was down.
Then I thought I may have made some progress in dialation, but I guess not. Well then my start of 38 weeks which was last Tuesday, actually the nurse practitioner midwife checked my cervix. She said I dialated to about 1 cm, was between 70 and 80% effaced, and the baby's head was very very low. She said his head being real low and my effacement being thin, could mean labor is real soon. Well my due date is march 20th. and I had to go back and see my Dr on friday. She read the notes from the midwife and started saying 1/2-1 cm dialated so not much more, she said still looks like 70% effaced and head was very low. Why did Dr. say something little different from what the midwife told me? Is it possible I am 1 cm, even

is 1/2 cm and 1 cm dialation the same almost? cause the midwife said it was around 1, but the Dr said it was the same as last time. She didn't check my cervix, she just looked at what the midwife noted, I guess.
Anyway knowing that I have been dialated at only 1 cm from more than 2 weeks now, is that an indication of very slow progress? Is it possible to be only 1 cm at 3 weeks, even though I am having lots of painful...and more than 5 minutes of long BH contractions? When you think I will go into labor?

Answer 1

My experiences are similar to those already given here. Dilation and effacement can only tell you that changes *are* taking place in there; they CANNOT accurately predict when you will go into active labor and give birth. With several of my pregnancies, I was walking around dilated to 3 and even 4 cm. for weeks before my due date. I spent every day wondering if this was the day I would give birth... sigh... and it could go on for weeks like that. :( What a waste of energy!

My normal pattern was to be dilated to 1 cm. by about 28-30 weeks, 2 cm. by about 34-36 weeks, and 3 to 4 cm. the last several weeks of the pregnancy. Two babies were born ON their due dates, three babies were born within 1-2 weeks before their due dates, and one baby was born almost a month early. I did have a lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions, which were closely monitored in some pregnancies and practically ignored in others (depended on the doctor/midwife). The only time they proved to be of any consequence was with my last baby, who was the one born 4 weeks early. But that was a different pregnancy altogether from the previous 5.

Try not to focus too much or worry about exactly how far dilated and/or effaced you are. When you go into labor, or when your water breaks (if that should happen before contractions kick in), you will know your baby is coming soon! In the meantime, try to look at your due date as an *estimate*. And remember-- the longest you will be pregnant is another 3 weeks! :)

Best of luck, and congratulations!

Answer 2

First of all, doctors are notoriously bad judges at cervical dialation. Midwives always seem to be a bit more accurate from my experience. They feel the cervix and usually use their fingers for refference so a person w/ big fingers is going to say the opening is smaller than someone with smaller fingers so if you see two difference people you could be 1cm according to one but 2cms according to another. Anyway, you can stay 1cm clear up until the day baby comes and then go into labor. It's really not fair, I know, but for alot of us the first warning that the baby will ever leave the womb is when the contractions actually start. Congrats on the baby and don't worry, they can't stay in forever =)

Answer 3

Yes, it is possible to be this dilated for 2 or more weeks at this stage in your pregnancy. There will always be a small variation in what each caregiver might feel when checking your cervix. Since the doctor and midwife were so close in their measurements, I would go with the 1 cm. At 39 weeks you can go at any time. Unfortunately there is no predictor of when a woman goes into active labor. Try the age old tricks of walking, having sex, and maybe try some spicy food. Good luck.

Answer 4

I was 2cm dilated for 2 months with my last 2 pregnancies, when I was examined, the babies heads on both occasions were so far down that doctors could actually feel the babies head, which does seem to contribute to more pain, on top of the usual everyday pregnancy pains. I have had different results when examined by different doctors or midwives, maybe their fingers are slimmer or they have slightly different ideas about what a cm actually is, but I shouldnt worry too much, it wont do your baby or you any good to get stressed, it will certainly come, but you could try a hot, but not red hot bath as this can actually help to soften your cervix and encourage you to dilate/bring labour on, it worked for me, when i was having trouble dilating in the hospital, and I was in labour 1cm dilated and 37weeks pregnant, (I had all mine early) but do this when you know someone is around who can keep an eye on you that you dont suddenly go into labour.
Hope this helps

Answer 5

Sounds like your labor is not far off.

Doctors don't use a ruler when they measure you in there, just their best estimate based on their experience, so 1/2 cm either way doens't mean anything.

Don't worry and relax about al this!

yes of course you can be nearly 100 percent effaced and starting to dialate for several weeks. This is normal, expected and a very good thing!

Congrats -- I wish I was this far along as you. I have 7 more weeks till my due date. Walk alot and have sex if you feel like it which will help speed things along.

Answer 6

At 37 weeks, I was 1-2 cm dilated. At 38 weeks I was 2-3 cm. dilated. Then 2 days after my 38 wk check up, I was having some weird crams so I went to the hospital and they said I was 4-5 cm dilated. Five hours later, I gave birth to my son.

Answer 7

Honey people can dialate to 5 cm at 6 months and still carry a baby to term. Dilation and effacement are very poor predictors of impending labour and measurements of dialtion and effacement are highly subjective.

Answer 8

absolutely.
I was 2 cm for 2 weeks and then finally 3 cm.
In fact I've heard of being 1 cm one week and not dialated at all the next....
Before you're in labor it really doesn't matter how dialated you are. You could be that way for weeks or lose it all togehther.

Answer 9

I was at 3 cm for over a week, but the baby dropped so low and sat on my siatic nerve, so I was in a lot of pain for a while and it didn't go away until 3 days after giving birth.

Answer 10

I had a friend walk around for 3 weeks at 2cm dilated. She was induced at 40 weeks. You can go into labor at anytime. I walked around {ok I was on bed rest in the hospital} completely effaced no dilation for a month thanks to my incompetent and dynamic cervix