I am worried that my cervix won't dilate?

Question

I am 38 and a half weeks pregnant and my cervix doesn't seem to be doing much of anything. With my first pregnancy I wound up getting induced at 41 weeks and it was pure hell, and after 30 hours of labor i was still only 2 cm dilated, so i had to have a c-section. I really don't want to have another c-section and i really don't want to go late again either, I definitely feel closer than i did with my first, but my OBGYN says she cant fit even one fingertip in my cervix yet, could there be something wrong with my cervix that keeps it from dilating? If so, should i jsut schedule a c-section? my dr. says she realy doesn't want to induce me again because it didn't really help me last time, but i am so uncomfortable and i just want my baby to come. any advice or opinions?

Answer 1

Sounds like we have similar histories. I went through the same thing with my first pregnancy and REALLY wanted to have a vbac with my second. I went three days overdue with my second and my contactions never got closer than 15 minutes apart. My doctor refused to induce the second time because there is a slightly increased risk of uterine tearing with an induction after a c-section. (Actually, I'm surprised your doctor didn't tell you that.)

I did EVERYTHING to try to thin my cervix and jump-start the labor process "naturally". I took Evening Primrose Oil capsules orally and inserted them vaginally. I drank Red Raspberry Leaf tea. I walked for miles, drove on bumpy roads and had lots of uncomfortable intercourse.

My doctor assured me at my last appointments that just because my cervix wan't dilating, it didn't mean that I wouldn't go into labor at any minute. RELAX. If it happens, it happens. You can go from not being dilated at all to ready to go in no time as long as you're having contractions.

In my case, the doctor scheduled a repeat c-section for me, even though I was planning on going natural, because he did not want me going too far overdue and risk tearing with a huge baby. In the end, I did end up having the c-section--and a 9 lb 4 oz baby!

Even though I was slightly disappointed with having a second c-section, I can honestly say that it was nothing like the first. Having labored for more than a day the first time around, my c-section recovery after that was horrible. The second procedure was less painful and the recovery was definitely not as bad as the first.

Just remember that your goal is to have a healthy baby--and survive the process.

Answer 2

You don't have to have another C-section b/c your 1st delivery ended that way. Many women have succesfully given birth vaginally after a C-section. Please read more at this link:
http://www.childbirth.org/section/VBACindex.html
You should not assume that what you went through the first time will happen again, since every birth is unique.
But the induction and then the pain meds/epidural they administered is most likely what caused your cervix to not dilate and pro-longed your labor and caused it to end the way it did.
Red raspberry leaf tea is known to condition the uterus/cervix so that when it contracts, it works more effectively and helps the labor/delivery be more successful. I drank this tea with all of my three pregnancies and its perfectly safe and tastes great. Check out this site for more info on red raspberry leaf tea:http://www.childbirth.org/section/VBACindex.html
My third pregnancy was also also a week past due and everything was fine-I had no high blood pressure or edema, and the baby was fine and her heart rate was great. My CNM gave me the option to start it on my own with castor oil(I donot suggest anyone trying this w/out supervision from a health care professional) and so I chose to do so.
Castor oil does not make the contracts any stronger, as pitocin/other labor inducing drugs tend to do.
I started it on a Monday night and started labor 6 am next day, gave birth 10:50pm that night but it would've been shorter had she not been in the weird sideways position that she was in.Once she turned, she was literally flying out!
I'm relieved to hear your curent OB opposes inducing your labor this time around b/c she probably feels that it caused your labor/delivery to turn out the way it did.
Please check this site on inducing labor:
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/childbirth/173.html#3
I hope you leave this forum with a wealth of information that will help you with your decision.
Good Luck!!

Answer 3

You may dilate for genetic reasons, hormonal imbalances or you may never know why. Since you didn't dilate last time it does slightly increase the chance that you won't this time either.
The other thing I would encourage you to remember is that you due date is a tentative date and you could have up to 3 1/2 weeks to go without really being considered overdue. That may be the time you need to go into labor naturally and not have to be induced as long as you can tolerate it and your baby isn't in any distress.
If you are really uncomfortable and your Dr. is sure that your due date is accurate, then I would go ahead and schedule the c-section.
Congratulations!

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my son, I was in the hosp., my water had broken and still my cervix was very high and I wasn't dialating, (I was 2 cm for 4 weeks) contractions were coming but that was about all. I had asked the nurse for pain meds, she said she was going to call the dr to let himknow I was there and get the pain meds, before she even made it out of the room I had to push, I was fully crowned and everything was a go. THANK GOD, my dr had just arrived, he deciede to start his shift 30 minutes early and was right outside..... my point is not worry about it, if your baby is meant to come naturally than he/she will. If not than a c-section would be the way to go. I would not get induced. no need on the extra stress. when the baby is ready he/she will let you know. I know the last couple of weeks is hard, buthand in there its worth the wait.

Answer 5

I had 2 c sections. Would not dilate either time. I also need to add, I was in labor for around 3 days. The whole fiasco started on a Friday nite, and the labor was getting very intense by Saturday morning, so I went to the doctor who checked me at a finger dilation, then I went to the hospital and they checked me still at a finger. At midnite they decided to let me rest so I could go the next day and still was in labor all nite long and exhausted. Finally my contractions were about 2 minutes apart and I was exhausted, so they gave me the pitocen to speed things up and I had a baby boy about 33 hours after the whole thing started by c section. I never dilated past 1 finger width. They said I just would not dilate. All thes Kukes who think it happens automatically are crazy. It did not happen for me and for whatever reason, I had a c section. I could not stay in labor for another hour because I was physically exhausted and shaking.
I was kept in a private area of the hospital with no visitors because I was weak and exhausted. They let me sleep for about 14 hours. They tried to help dilate me manually and they gave me meds to dilate me. It just did not happen.

Answer 6

I know several people who took Evening Primrose Oil capsules to help soften your cervix the last few weeks of pregnancy. I took it with my last one and by the time I got to the hospital I was 8 cm. My NPM told me about it. You could ask your doctor or do research on the internet. I did and I found it was safe in the last few weeks. Another friend had the same problem as you and took it with her last one. She had a great fast labor. You could also try Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. It helps with your uterus and has been used for centuries by pregnant women. Both of these things can be found at any vitamin shop.

Answer 7

Its usually easier the second time for a cervix to dilate. Mine didn't dilate with my first until I had 24 hours of labor pains. If your doc is concerned, they can place cervidil on the cervix to relax it and encourage it to dilate. with my second, I had dilated to 1 cm by week 40 and they had to do the cervidil. I ended up going into labor after just 3 hours of the medicine.

Answer 8

Take 1 evening primrose by mouth and one vaginally at night because the liquid in the gel will leak out a bit, they are 500mg so one by mouth one vaginally will equal up to your 1000mg. My midwife told me to take it and i was 1 cm by 38 weeks and my labor was ok. My moms only opens up to 2 cm. and she had to have c-sections with us both so just try the evening primrose from a health food store and see if that helps, also take raspberry tea, boil the leaves (not tea bags) and put them in water and some sugar or honey it actually tastes really good and will give you a little bit of contractions to thin out your cervix, start taking them now though to better your chances.

Answer 9

you are ONLY 38 weeks

and that c-section you had with the last was caused not by the failure of your body or cervix but simply because IT WASN'T TIME AND THE INDUCTION CAUSED THE C-SECTION

grrrr.....if there wasn't good reason for your doc to induce you the first time then it's her fault for your section

just let your body do it's thing!...ggeeeeeez it's so astonishing that modern obstetrics still hasn't learned to stay out of nature's way

Answer 10

Anything can happen. If you didn't dilate with your first you may not dilate with this one. Just trust your OBGYN to tell you what you should do. She knows what's best for both you and your new little one. Good luck!