dialted to 1??

Question

hi. im 35-36 weeks pregnant. and i have a few questions...
my doc appt. was today. he said im dialated to a one, im 50% effaced and the babys head has started dropping and im at a negative 3??? what does all of these things mean??? is being dialated to a one a big deal? what does being 50 percent effaced mean? and what is the negative 3?? is there anyway to tell APPROXIMATELY how much longer by these facts? please helppp..... im miserable.

Answer 1

While these numbers are interesting to know, in actuality they mean NOTHING. A woman with your numbers could give birth later the same day or not for several weeks. Since you are only 36 weeks, you likely have another month or so to go. Sorry! On the other hand, I have found the last month to be a bit easier on me. I don't know, maybe the baby's growth slows down or maybe my body is making more "happy" hormones or something. It's just easier than months 7 & 8.

It is normal for a first-time mom to be 1 or 2 cm. dilated towards the end of pregnancy. Effacement refers to how much the cervix has thinned or shortened. It will probably stay at 50% or so until you go into labor, and reach 100% about the time you are 10cm. dilated. Station (-3) refers to the position of the baby's head in relation to your pelvis. -5 would be if your baby's head is not engaged and is floating high in the pelvis. O station would be right in the middle of the pelvis, and +5 station would happen when the baby's head is crowning. Negative 3 means that the baby's head is starting to engage in the pelvis, but is not way down yet.

So all I can tell you is that 1cm., 50% and -3 is perfectly normal for someone at your stage of pregnancy, and you will can expect to have the baby by 38-42 weeks. :)

Answer 2

Dilated means how large your cervix is getting. You need to be at 10 for the baby to safely come out. Effacement is how thick the walls of the vagina are. You are 1/2 way there. The baby won't fall out don't worry. I don't know what negative 3 is unless it means how far the baby has dropped.
Don't worry. I know easier said than done. You may find your water breaking any minute or in a few days. As long as the water has not broken you could go for a while. Walk around the house, take a bath, and/or play with your mate (sexually). All these things will help things along and you may feel better afterwards. The last few days are misery. But, you will be over that very soon. Good luck.

Answer 3

Dilated to 1 isn't a big deal at all. As previously mentioned, you can be there for many weeks. 10 is considered complete. The journey from about 7 to 10 is considered "transition" and it's the toughest part of labor, but it usually lasts less than 2 hours. (I had one last 30 minutes and another last about 5 minutes.)

Effacement is the thickness of your cervix, which has to get thin and stretchy for delivery. You're about halfway there, but again, that doesn't mean much at this point.

The baby's position in the birth canal is what is indicated at -3. +2 is considered "ready to push" so again, there is quite a ways to go.

Please don't be so emotionally miserable. You WILL have this baby. and it's going to be sooner rather than later. Physical misery, well, all you can do is try to alleviate those symptoms. Get rest, eat healthy, drink water, get some light exercise.

Congratulations on your baby!

Answer 4

you can be 1cm dialated 3-4 weeks before delivery, and being 50% effaced is when your cervix is softened and stretchy. (you are half way there!) When your baby drops into your pelvis they are at different stations. Station -5 is when the baby's head has not dropped into the pelvis yet. Station zero is when the baby's head has reached the pelvis, and station +5 is when the baby's head it through the pelvis and you are ready to push. You might still be a week or two away, but things are definitely moving along.

Answer 5

-3 means how much your baby has lowered, and that isn't very much.

Dilated to 1 isn't much either. My friend was dilated to 3 for 3 weeks solid until she gave birth.

50% effaced means that your cervix has thinned out about halfway.

All three factors tell the doc how ready your body is to give birth.

I would give you a few more weeks.

At 38 weeks, after 3 days of induction in the hospital, I dilated to less than 1 with 60% effacement . The baby had never lowered. They gave me a cesarean because I had preeclampsia.

Answer 6

A woman can be one centimeter dilated for WEEKS, not a big deal. Fifty percent effaced means your cervix is about half as thinned out as it needs to be for baby to be born. Negative three says the baby's head isn't at the cervix yet. It'll be at zero when it is. Not long at all. Go for walks and let gravity help. GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 7

Effacement refers to the thickness and length of the cervix and is expressed as a percentage.

Dilation-Dilation is the process of the mouth of the cervix opening and widening, which allows your baby to pass through. This is measured in centimeters. For most of your pregnancy it should be 0 centimeters. In order to deliver your baby your cervix needs to stretch open to 10 centimeters. As the cervix dilates, some people describe cramping and pressure, similar to what you would feel during menstruation.

When your provider tells you about your baby's station, she is referring to how far down his head has come into your pelvis. If your baby has dropped, but has not yet settled into your pelvis to begin his decent, it is measured in centimeters as a negative station. This negative measurement goes from -3 to -1. Once your baby has settled into your pelvis, but before he starts his descent to the birth canal, it is referred to as a zero (0) station. Once your baby starts heading towards the cervix, it is referred to as a positive station from 1 to 3. During this time it is likely that you will feel an increase of pressure and pain in your pelvic bone and vaginal area.

Answer 8

The link below describes what station (you are -3) means. Dilation refers to the amount the uterus has stretched and effacement is how much the uterus has 'thinned' The uterus normally looks like pursed lips during pregnancy but the more you efface the looser the pucker is. Imagine it as loosening your mouth slowly after a kiss. The dilation can be thought of as the lips opening up into a smile afterwards.... I hope that wasn't to corny of an analagy :-)