37 weeks, 2cm dilated, 60% effaced, and contractions 2-3 mins apart. Why are they sending me home?

Question

My contractions are 2-3 mins apart and they even showed up on the monitor as being just that. They still sent me home and I don't understand why. For some reason my cervix won't dilate anymore and they told me that when the contractions become unbarrable to come back. My contractions hurt like crazy and they are very regular, what can I do to help my cervix dilate. This is horrible to feel like this, I didn't have this problem with my first daughter. Any help? This just happened last night.


Today the contractions are still 2-3 mins apart and when I went to the bathroom there was a jelly like substance that was bloody when I wiped. I went back to the dr and they didn't even check me. What do I do? How do I get them to admit me? I'm so exausted and I feel like there is no help. I don't want to end up delivering this baby at home. I can't help it I 'm pain tollerant and that the pain hasn't been unbearable. I'm going crazy.

Answer 1

The jelly-like substance was either your mucous plug or just some of the K-Y they used to check you last night, things are moving along, but slowly. Walking is one way to get things moving faster, squatting (but not pushing) is another. Taking a warm shower or a warm bath can help. Them admitting you won't make things go any faster, it won't change anything at all. Grab a list and head to Walmart to get the last minute things and some easy food to make when you get home from the hospital. Walking around Walmart is like a good 20-mile hike, that should help. It is hard to be this close and have nothing to do but wait, I understand. You are contracting so there isn't anything more you can do but walk, rest and wait. Don't eat any big heavy meals, keep your bladder empty, keep having bowel movements if they come, and try not to make yourself too crazy. I was stuck with contractions at 3cm for over a week with my second, it happens.

Answer 2

Well hon, I know how you feel!! I have a 7 month old and it seems like yesterday I was big and pregnant! I actually used Evening primrose oil capsules and this helped me dilate.
You insert them vaginally and they help to ripen your cervix. The bloody mucuous you had was "bloody show" it can happen hours before a birth or even weeks. Though if you are having regular contractions and had the bloody show I would presume that you are almost ready to have that baby! I true contraction though is SO PAINFUL you can't talk or breathe through it. If you take a warm shower or bath and your contractions go away, then it's false labor. If the contractions continue then it's probably true labor. Some people just have a high pain tolerance but a real contraction gets SUPER tight in the front and ALL over the belly and goes into the back as well. It's the most awful pain!!! I wouldn't sit around and have that baby at home. I would march my butt up there with my bag and tell them you're not leaving until they check you!!

Answer 3

First of all, take a breath and relax as much as you can. Stressing about everything will only slow progress down. Relaxation will be the best thing to help you dilate. You really don't want to be in the hospital any longer than you have to be when in labor as you already know. I would suggest a soak in the tub or if you can get to a pool, go for a swim to relieve some of the pressure on your body. Staying vertical and especially moving will help things along as well - let gravity work for you. When you sit on a chair, sit with just your butt on the chair and spread your legs to help open your pelvis. Not too ladylike at the dinner table but it could help. Seeing as you're 37 weeks, maybe your body just isn't totally ready.

The jelly-like substance would be your mucus plug - some women lose them during labor and some a couple of days before (like me) so I would imagine you're going to have your baby soon. Having lost that, they probably will only check you when they feel they need to because that is the last barrier protecting the placenta from rupture and exposure to possible infection.

I really don't think there's anything you can do to "make" them admit you unless it's really an emergency or you go back and you're that much further along. You could call the OB to see if you could take something like Tylenol PM to help you sleep. You really need to rest as much as you can (doesn't a nice soak in the tub sound nice), get a foot rub, have a glass of wine (may help you relax some and there's no evidence that a glass of wine here or there will hurt the baby), do some walking and it all will happen. I'm sorry this labor is so much different and by the sounds of things more uncomfortable for you than your last. Hopefully things go quickly for you from here on out. Good luck!

Answer 4

They likely sent you home because you are only 2cm and the contractions appear to be mild on the monitor. Being at home though means you won't be hooked up to monitors, IVs, in an uncomfortable hospital bed and poked with needles, so take this as the blessing it can be. Get as comfortable as you can at home....try different positions, walking around, crouching, a long bath or shower especially can be very helpful. When you are really struggling, can't talk through contractions and cannot get comfortable no matter what you do, then head back to the hospital. If your water breaks, go in immediately. It does sound close :) Good luck!!

Answer 5

They won't admit you until you are in what is considered "active" labor where there has been cervical change, or 3-4 cm dilated, and having contractions that you cannot talk through. High pain tolerance or not, you will reach that point where you have to stop what you're doing and focus on breathing through them, and that is the point where they will admit you.

I know you are frustrated, but unfortunately, health care is expensive, and honestly there is nothing they can do for you at the hospital right now. I'm sure when you went in they put you on the fetal monitor and made sure baby was tolerating these contractions before making the decision to send you home.

You're not going to deliver at home. You are in early, latent labor. Drink some fluids and lie down to rest and the contractions might even give you a break for a bit. Save your energy. Fill up a sock with rice and heat it in the microwave and use it along your lower back or belly. Sit in a warm (not hot) bath. Get your hubby to rub your back.

Hang in there!

Answer 6

Go back to the hospital without talking to your doctor and tell them you want to be examined by another doctor not in your practice. You have the right to change doctors at any time! If you have a choice of hospitals in your area I would even go to a different hospital. They can't turn you away without checking you out at the hospital. 2cm isn't much, but the fact that you are only 37 weeks is concerning! The baby might need a little extra care that you wouldn't be able to provide at home. I have a friend who had problems with her doctor and her daughter ended up dying, but that was due to things surrounding an over due baby. She labored at home for 5 days though (she did deliver at the hospital)!

Answer 7

Why they are sending you home because they want you to be dilated at least to 4-5cm. And your contractions need to be 5mins apart for a hour. I know it hurts just keep timing your contractions if there coming 5 mins apart form each other lasting 60 seconds for a hour then go to the hosiptal.

Answer 8

every person on here is looney..and their answers are ridiculous.if you lost your plug it can grow back and you can loose it more than 4 weeks before your due date.now if your waters have broken that's a different story they have to admit you but that too like the plug can close off again brax hicks contractions can come a month beforeand yes painful..if they checked you and your a 2 to 3 you can be that for weeks if your contracting but didn't change in a certain time frame then its not labor. you should let the drs do their job. for the lady who said to ask for meds that will help you dialate its against the law for a doctor to use these in the 37th week if baby is not in distress or u o baby danger if the heart rate looks good and baby's arm isn't hanging out your bag them relax..also Lady who said you didn't dialte because your baby was breech who said moms of breech baby's don't dialate..its a hormone in baby's lungs that is released that makes you dialate and go into labor

Answer 9

They should have kept you in the hospital if you are 2-3 mins apart and only 2cm dialated and not dialating anymore. I went over 40 weeks and was induced. I was only 1 cm dialated all day. I had to have a c-section. (cause, even tho they didn't say the word, but the baby was breached) which is why i didn't dialate. My water broke after walking for 20 secs. The bloody jelly stuff, may have been your mucus plug.

I would go back to that hospital and demand them check you again. I wouldn't leave there till they do.

Answer 10

Happened to me. I mean I literally went to the Hosptial every day from 37 weeks until I gave birth at 38 weeks 1day. I was dilated to 3cm and 70% effaced and they sent me home. It is so frusterating and so uncomfy. I walked stairs (instead of just walking) and as long as your water hasn't broke you can have sex. Believe me that will send you into labor. And I know probably not the first thing on your mind, but believe me it will make you go into labor.

The stuff you are wiping is normal. They probably have checked your dilation and that happends.