38 weeks with no dliation/effacement

[Anonymous]

I am almost 38 weeks pregnant and am still measuring long and closed at my doctor's appts...no dilation or effacement yet. Just wondering if anyone else has measured this way and then gone into labor? I'm starting to get anxious about when the baby will come and am hoping that my measurements dont mean an induction is in my future...

[Anonymous]

You are only 38 weeks. It only takes a few hours for you to go from nothing to partially dialated/full on labor. I know lots of people who were checked at one doctors appointment and nothing was happening, only to have the baby the next day. Of course, its a slower process for others, but it can take between hours and days. So no, you may not have the baby in the next 24 hours, but I really do think you're likely to go into labor within the next four weeks. The last few weeks feel about as long as the entire first 8 months, so try and stay busy.

[Anonymous]

I was long, closed, no dilation at 39 weeks 4 days. I was very discouraged and thought I still had plenty of time before my baby came. Lo-and-behold, 12 hours later my water broke...and my son was born 2 days later.

Don't let a cervical check though get you discouraged. A friend of mine was at least 2-3 cm dilated for about 3-4 weeks. She kept telling me that her doctor thought she would go into labor at any hour...but obviously she didn't!

[Anonymous]

PPs are right. You can go from "nothing" to full-blown labor in the matter of hours. You can also walk around 3-4 cm dilated for weeks. Unfortunately, cervical dilation (or lack thereof) is not a good predictor of impending labor. As far as inductions, there was a thread not too long ago about that, most posters said that their doctor will not induce until 7-10 days past due date. So unless you have a medical condition or other compelling reason, you have plenty of time to go on your own without worrying about an induction.

I know how hard it is to wait (my water broke at 40w2d, no dilation or effacement at all prior to that), hang in there. Good luck and hope you have an easy delivery.

[Anonymous]

I'm 38 weeks, too, and I have no idea how dilated/effaced I am b/c my midwife doesn't do internals unless you're past due because they are not good predictors of anything. At first I wanted to know, but now I think I like it better not knowing because I don't have anything extra to worry about. As other posters have mentioned, you can go from nothing to full blown labor at any time, so don't put too much reliance on it.

[Anonymous]

Cervical checks can accomplish a few things:
1. They make you feel like you've already failed at something, when you haven't, since vaginal exams tell you pretty much NOTHING, as PPs have noted.
2. They give your care provider the opportunity to sweep your membranes (i.e. try to trigger labor) without your consent, even though the method is questionable and should never be done without consent. (Happens more than you'd like to think!)
3. Gives your care provider the opportunity to accidentally break your water.
4. Gives all the little germies that live on your doctor's "sterile" gloves a magic carpet ride to your baby's safe space.

With my first, I got the "nothing's happening" line too and it did nothing but put my anxiety through the roof. The lesson for me: decline all vaginal exams until you feel the urge to push. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

you're fine. I was a bit effaced at my 39 weeks checkup, and delivered 2 days later.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor was told at her 40 week appt to go home and chill out, the baby wasn't coming anytime soon, she was not dilated, not effaced, nothing. Barely 24 hours later, the baby was born, after a 3 hour labor.

My mom's hairdresser (I know that's pretty anecdotal, but hey) -- loves to tell the story about how she went in on Halloween and was told she was so dilated and effaced that she would be having the baby in a matter of days, maybe hours. She had the baby DECEMBER 1. Talk about having your head messed with!

So don't worry and don't give it too much weight. Things could easily go either way.

[Anonymous]

And PS - If you don't want an induction, don't agree to one! These days they seem to start pressuring you if the baby doesn't pop out by 9 a.m. on your due date. But up to 42 weeks is normal, so make them give you that long!

[Anonymous]

I am in your exact same boat. I am 38 weeks (almost 39) with no dilation or effacement. After my last doctor's appointment I was very discouraged- you definitely start to feel like it's never going to happen. Thanks for posting this message- all of the feedback is very helpful. My doctor has told me I can induce at 40 weeks. Does anyone know the pros/cons of inducement? I would rather this baby come on his own, so I am a little apprehensive.

[Anonymous]

If you get induced with an unfavorable cervix (no dilation and/or effacement), then you have an increased risk of having a c-section. Many "failure to progress" c-sections are actually failed inductions. On the other hand, all your body may need is that extra push and you can end up having an easy labor/delivery with an induction. Nobody could tell you which camp you would fall into ahead of time, so you just have to make a choice and live with it. I ended up with a c-section after a long labor, but I am glad that I waited to go naturally - that way I knew that my body was ready and that the c-section was inevitable. I knew that for me personally, had I had an induction and then a c-section I would forever wonder whether it was my fault for not waiting. But many others would not feel the same way in similar circumstances.

Good luck! Wishing you an easy delivery.

[Anonymous]

PP, you'll get all sorts of replies to your question about induction, but as someone who's considering elective induction with #2, I'll tell you what would absolutely prevent me from doing it -- no dilation or effacement. Inductions are much less likely to succeed (meaning, more likely to end in emergency c-sections) if your body hasn't at least started the process on its own. I know that my OB won't consider elective induction before 41 weeks if you haven't progressed at all naturally. I believe they refer to this as having an "induceable" cervix. I'd talk with your doctor about under what circumstances he's comfortable inducing and what the success rates are in different circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I am 38 weeks, 5 days and just went to the doctor. He told me I am 75% effaced, 1-2 cm dialated, and station 0. I took this to mean--I should have a baby in 0-3 weeks. I actually would prefer not to have internals and not know these numbers because they aren't so useful in predicting birth dates. If it makes you feel better, my doctor said I will probably deliver on or after my due date so I still have a ways to go even though I've got some signs of stuff going on.

[Anonymous]

My doctor has mentioned that, if you are not dilated or effaced at all, they would have you come into the hospital the evening before your induction to have medication applied directly to the cervix to help it begin to soften and dilate. The would begin the pitocin drip the following morning. He indicated that this made induction more successful for women who had no dilation up to that point. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Anonymous]

I asked for an induction at 39 weeks b/c my husband was abroad and wanted him to be with me during labor.
I was 50% and 1 cm dilated. I went into the hospital the night before to have my cervix effaced, then I was put on pitocin at 8AM. At 11 AM my contractions were 20 seconds apart and still 1 cm dilated. At 2 PM I got an epidural b/c I could no longer stand the pain. At 8PM I was 2 cm dilated. At 9 PM they broke my water in order to speed up the dilation. At 11 PM I was wheeled in for an emergency C-section.