I am in "active" labor 4 cm dilated?

Question

i was 4 cm. on thursday- its now saturday and i dont know whats going on- he said i should "go" within 48 hours but i dont feel any different accept my baby has not been moving the same as before, I have had some bad contractions - but before- i couldnt even feel them. I could see that i was having one but it felt no different. now they are bad enough to feel but irregular- how long does it usually take to dialate the rest of the way and how will i know without a doubt i am in labor?

Answer 1

with my 3rd baby i had a dr tell me the same thing i went home and 12 hours later i felt nothing not a single contraction at all so i faked my symptoms and went to the hospital they hooked me up to the machine for a while then did an exam and they said i was 5cm and they were going to break my water i had my baby 4 hours later........................so do what i did just go to the hospital and get checked you also need to make sure your baby is not stressed out they should listen to the baby to be safe so tell the hospital what your dr said and they will look at you.

when your in labor for days even if your not in alot of pain can be dangerous to baby it is too much stress so to be safe get looked at like i said my friend had to have a c section cause she wouldn't progress past a certain point you need to know your both ok so you dont have that happen

good luck!!!

Answer 2

You just gotta wait, I'm afraid. I'm sorry, it's the truth. There are a myriad of home remedy type ways to start labor but the honest truth is that when that baby is ready to come, he'll come. They won't let you go more than 14 days overdue without inducing. But they will let it get up to that point. My son was born exactly 14 days late, just hours before the induction was scheduled. lol. Little bugger... However, do try to respond quickly once real contractions start because some hospitals will not allow an epidural past a certain point of dilation and you do NOT want to be caught in that trap since you are already 4cm. For those saying you should be in the hospital, if you went in, they have you walk the halls, check your dilation and effacement, and send you home most likely. Which gets really frustrating! Wait it out, do some nesting, take some naps and know that you'll be a momma within the next week or so. Good luck! Oh, I hate to discredit others but, nipple stimulation is very dangerous if not guided by a midwife or nurse. It can bring on incredibly hard contractions very fast. I don't recommend it unless you're being supervised by a professional. Same with massage. Most massage places won't even take you this late. As for sex, it is true, it can help. Semen has prostaglandins in it that may help stimulate the cervix and when a woman has an orgasm, the uterus spasms in much the same way it does during labor contractions. So it can jump start labor. But, it never worked for me....except that one time at 20 weeks. lol. Bad juju. ;)

Answer 3

if this is your first baby it may take a little longer than 48 hours to reach established labour, that's fine, though tiring. Once your contractions are nice and regular say 4-5 mins apart and lasting 50-60 secs, progress of about one cm an hour is "normal" however every labour is different. When we're in labour the contractions can mask the baby's movements and we don't notice them so much but if your baby is not as active as it has been it would be a good idea to speak to your midwife or doctor and maybe get checked out? Make sure you eat well and drink well until labour is established to give you plenty of energy. High carbohydrate foods to give you lots of stored energy, and then high energy drinks or glucose sweets in advanced labour. If you can snooze now, do so. Once in active labour with lots of regular contractions, keep active (ie, upright and free to do a little belly dancing to help your baby down through your pelvis!) And never forget that we are especially designed to do this. Hard work, but wonderful!

Answer 4

Call your doctor or the hospital. They have dealt with hundreds of deliveries. They can ask you the right questions and make a more reliable assessment than someone on the web. I am concerned about your statement that the baby is not moving like before. Birth can be a dangerous time for both mom and baby. It would be a good idea to be checked. Some people feel embarassed to call the doctor. What is worse, feeling foolish or grieving over an injury or loss or a mother or child?

Answer 5

It depends on your body and the baby. Fror some it come in the next 2 hours and for others 8 or more hours. First time moms usually experience longer labors. I went in at 4 cm and it took 8 hours to get to complete. Every pregnancy is different. But congrats you're almost there you'll be holding your baby soon.

Answer 6

It might not be that long. I was that way and I delivered about 4 hours later. When contractions are about 5 minutes apart, call your doctor and ask if you should go in. By then your contractions should be getting strong enough that you have to breathe through them.