3cm dilated...

Anonymous
If you found out you were 3cm dilated, did you go into labor soon or did you walk around for weeks like this? I'm 38 weeks along and 3cm dilated (and almost fully effaced). I feel like I'm overanalyzing every twinge to see if I'm in labor, but it has been 2 days without anything...
Anonymous
It could be days to weeks still...you never know. I was 3cm, 80% effaced at my 36 week appt and didn't have my baby until 13 days past my due date (not what you want to hear, I know!). But the great news is, once you start contracting, you should kick into active labor quickly and have a relatively short labor.
Anonymous
I was 3cm and 50% effaced at 38 weeks 0 days and had my baby at 38 weeks 4 days. Walked about a mile every evening in between.
Anonymous
Ah, lucky you! If you want to crank up your odds of going into labor sooner, try long walks and have lots of sex. I have a few friends who were around your level of dilation/effacement, cranked up the walking and sex, and went into labor very shortly thereafter. Good luck to you! I am 39 + 1/2 weeks ... and 0 cm dilated and 0% effaced ... belly very high ... no other signs of anything imminent ... alas. I'm going to get to the walking and sex too, in the hopes this little one gets moving.
Anonymous
I was 4 cm dialated and almost fully effaced at 38 weeks and I gave birth right on my due date. Once my contractions started though my labor progressed very quickly.
Anonymous
I was 3 cm at 38 weeks for both my pregnancies. Really! Weird, right?

Anyway, I delivered the first at 41w2d (I was 5 cm at my 41 week appointment).

The second baby came at 39 weeks.

So you never know...
Anonymous
I also can give you not so great news...I was 4 cm with first DC and delivered 3 days early, 3 cm for 3 weeks with second DC adn delivered on due date. BUT I did have quick labors, first was 6 hours with epi, second was only 1 hour 10 min , no time for drugs!!

Wishing you a quick delivery!


Anonymous
I was 3 cm for two weeks and I couldn't take the anticipation anymore and drank some castor oil. Best thing I ever did! Wound up with a 40 minute labor at the hospital without drugs. Tastes terrible but suck it up and drink it down!
Anonymous
The story from the 23:46 poster is almost a replica of mine.

DC #1 - 3 cm at 36 weeks - delivered 1 day after my due date... labor 4 hours with and epi

DC #2 - once again 3 cm at 36 weeks - delivered 6 days past my due date .. labor 40 minutes

Thankfully I went into labor at night and we are a quick drive to the hospital!
Anonymous
I will be 40 wks in 3 days..I'm 3cm and 80% effaced. I have been having contractins for weeks but all irregular...everyone keeps asking me if the baby is here yet! Its so anoying! Like I'm not going to say anything to anyone....I see the dr tomorrow. I'm bringing my bag with high hopes!
Anonymous
I was 3 cm dilated for several weeks. I had my baby at 41.5 weeks.
Anonymous
Been 3 cm for two weeks now -- due Friday and no baby yet. I've been walking like a crazy woman.
Anonymous
I'm at 39 + weeks 3cm dialated and my dr asked me if I want to be induced. Shouldn't I just wait?
Anonymous
Is this your 1st baby?

Normally a first baby drops early, putting pressure on your cervix & causing some dilation but it doesn't mean labor is imminent. I was 3cm for a few weeks with #1. If you are dilating that much with subsequent babies and baby has dropped, you could be closer to labor. However, I was also 2-3cm with #s 2 & 3 and went for about 2 more weeks - not sure how typical that is, though.

I'm 38 weeks with #4 now and only 1cm and I was kind of disappointed with the lack of progress, but my doctor said, after having 3 babies, when this baby's head finally engages (she is still up pretty high), my cervix will go pretty fast. It's just that right now her head isn't doing anything to dilate my cervix.
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