How Soon Do You Think I Am?

Hi M.,
I know pregnancy can be wearing at this stage. I truly emphathize. I was pregnant with twins last year, on bedrest for 3 months. I held on until 37 weeks and delivered healthy babies. My first child was born at 36 weeks, and although I thought I was so ready to be done being pregnant, I wish she had cooked a few weeks longer. The longer you can go, the better for the baby. Full term (ideally 38 weeks+) can really improve breastfeeding success, decrease chances of delivery complications (unless the baby is really big), decrease chances of jaundice, etc... I would try to remain well hydrated, rest, and hope for a healthy full term pregnancy.
Good luck

M.,

If you are not due until Oct 7 I would not try and rush anything. I'm sure you are uncomfortable and would like to be a Mommy ASAP, but the longer you can wait and the closer you are to your due date the more time the baby has to develop.

You could stay that way for weeks or you could deliver in a few days, the DRs can't even tell you how long it will be.

My biggest recommendation is REST until that baby gets here because there will not be much resting at first so you don't want to start off tired.

T.

Everybody is different as to how quickly they dilate so who knows for sure how much longer you have. I didn't have any problems with dilating I went very quickly a friend of mine however was not so lucky. I can't remember how far a long she was but her doctor told her to go home & have sex that it will help her progress that was on a friday it took her a day to convince her husband so they had sex saturday night & her son was born early monday morning.

H M.! First...a little about me. I am a SAHM to 3 kids...11 yrs (in Nov), 8, and 3 (this month). My first was induced 4 days early because of preeclampsia. The second came on her own 3 days early. And the third was induced 9 days late. I tell you this all as part of my answer to your question.

There is no way (as many have already stated) to be able to judge when you will go into labor on your own, if at all. It is normal with first pregnancies to dilate and the baby move down a month prior to the due date. In subsequent pregnancies, it is normal to not dilate at all and the baby to not move down at all until hours or even minutes prior to labor starting. Now, how that relates to what I told you about my kids. My oldest who was induced 4 days early....I was 3cm dilated and she was all the way down approximately one month before she came. How frustrating that was!! I wanted to see her now!! The middle child, I had been to the doctor about 3 days before and he had stripped the membranes in an effort to move her along. I was not dilated at all! 100% effaced...but no dilation. How disappointing! But at 3 am, 3 days early, she decided to come. When I got to the hospital at 6, I was 6 cm. With the third, there was no dilation...I was a week over due...I was begging the doctor to induce me. He finally agreed at 9 days late. There was no dilation...only effacement.

Moral of the story....like everyone else said...you probably still have the rest of the month that is supposed to be left. I know it is exciting to hear that you are dilated. But the baby will come when he/she is ready to come.

Congratulations on the new addition! It is a wonderful time. Best of luck!

T.

I was 1 cent for over a month with my first child. He was even low enough for the doctor to feel the head. I hate to tell you this, but you probably still have some time. Just remember the baby is safer and still growing in there. As far as moving things along, the best advice I have is to walk, walk, walk, but make sure it is ok with your doctor.

Congrats! If you are only 1 cm dialated, I wouldn't worry it could be a while yet.

If your due date is 10/7, you don't want to try to hurry things along yet. Your baby needs more time to develop before meeting the world. Since the due dates are typically figured for 40 weeks, you won't want to have the baby if at all possible before about 9/16 or later. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Since you are a first time mom, I would suggest that you take a childbirth class. They explain lost of things regarding the birthing process and they are an excellent additional source of information for expectant parents.

Once you reach at least 37 weeks (although 38 is better), you can walk a lot. If the weather is too hot, try indoors at a mall. Basically though, your baby will let you know when it is time!

Here are some things that I was told:
1.Eating eggplant may help induce labor - my son was 3 days late and so I had some eggplant parm and went into labor the next morning.
2.Eating spicy food
3.Taking long walks
4.I even had someone suggets Castor Oil, but I didn't try it.
5.Sex
Good Luck

Hi M.,
Well, not to burst your bubble, but going into labor is anyone's guess!! With my first child, I was actually dilated to 3-4cm for a couple of weeks and ended up being induced. My doctor had even scraped my membranes to try and bring on labor and I was still three days overdue. You will hear a ton of people say to walk, walk, walk, walk! I tried that to, but it didn't work for me. I am due with my second child via c-section on October 2nd. However, I will be starting my weekly visits this week as well as my internal exams (frankly, I don't know why I need an internal if I'm having a c-section, but that's a whole different topic!). Keep an eye out for what is called the mucus plug or bloody show. That's usually a sign that you are going to go into labor pretty soon. It could be a matter of hours to a matter of days after that happens. Also, keep in mind that the mucus plug CAN grow back! Good luck to you and I totally know how you're feeling!!! We're almost there and then you'll forget about the aches and pains when you see your beautiful baby!

S.

Trust a mommy of of 3 hun, labor will hit you soon enough, but in the mean time (and I'm sure you've heard it before somewhere) one of the best ways to bring on labor is to have sex! It releases all those wonderful endorfines(sp) that cause you to relax afterwards. Another method I've heard of, but never tried, is nipple stimulation. It's supposed to promote the production of a hormone involved in labor induction called oxytocin. I hope this helps a little, and don't worry about when it starts if you can, you'll know labor has started for sure when you can't do anything except stop everything you were doing to let that contraction pass. Good luck hun!!!

If your due date is Oct 7th, you don't want to rush things along too quick. It is so hard to tell. Some people are dilated for weeks before they go. I was barely dilated and the baby was in place and my doctor told me it would be at least another week and I went into labor the next day (one week before my due date).

My best advice for getting things going is WALK, WALK, WALK!!!

Best of luck!!

If you are really ready to have a baby and the doctor thinks you are ready, drink castrol oil. Mix it with OJ, drink it through a straw in the back of your throught, you won't even taste it. Make sure you don't eat a lot that day because you will go to the bathroom. I did this around 3:30 in the afternoon. Went to the bathroom once, ate a small dinner, went to bed, woke up in labor (this was about 8 days before my due date) and had the baby by 1:50. Now I did ask my doctor before I did it, you still have a month to go, so I would not do it yet. Make sure the baby is developed enough to be born first. Good Luck!

there are a couple of things i was told to do when i went through the same stuation, by doctor and my mother who has 5 kids! one was walk, alot!! the other was to have sex wich is not what you really want or to even think about right now but it might help and it cant hurt the baby. as for me i was 2 weeks over due and was at 2 cen. for a week and none of these things worked they helped but i went out and had spicy mexican food and then walked around the mall and 5 hrs later i was in the hospital. hopefully this helps you! good luck

I just had a baby in April and I was 1-2cm dilated and 70% effaced for about a month before I had my little guy. I know it's hard to keep from getting too excited when you hear that you are starting to dilate, but don't drive yourself crazy wondering when the baby will come. Your little babe will come when he/she is ready. Just remember, the more dilated you are before you go into labor, the less work your body will have to do then! :) Oh, and I did try walking everyday for the last 3 weeks-1month before my due date and it didn't help bring on labor (although it got me in good shape for labor). I was still one day past my due date when I delivered. However, the night I went into labor, I did the deed with my hubby and the contractions started as soon as we were finished. So when your body (and baby) are ready, sex might help. But whatever you do, don't try castor oil, as I've heard it generally doesn't help and just makes you really sick. Good luck!!!!! Wishing you a healthy end to your pregnancy and a safe and happy labor! :)

M.,

I remember when I was in your shoes a year ago. Ha, Ha! Just kidding. Only one centimeter dialated and carrying low is a good start, but still a while to go. Once you get to four centimeters, it's home free from there. Try walking as much as you can, and stay active in the bedroom, if it's still comfortable for you.

I went into preterm labor at 32 weeks and was 3cm dilated and partially effaced. They were able to stop my labor after 4 days (thank goodness!) and I actually ended up going full term. My daughter was born one day before her due date. I remember all to well the feeling of wanting it to be over, and it will be soon enough! Unfortunately, being very low and 1cm may or may not mean anything yet. Good luck and don't worry, your time will be here before you know it!

Hi M.,

With my last child, I went to the drs on a Tuesday and I was 3-4 centimeters then. He scheduled me to get induced on that Thursday, but didn't think I would make it til then. Anyways I did make it til Thursday and when I got there he didn't need to give me any meds to get the labor started further. All he did was break the amniotic sac and bam within 2 hours I had my son.

There are soooo many wives tales (many of which you can find on the net) telling you how you can hurry up your labor. My view on it is, If your body and baby are ready then it will happen. Don't hurry it along bacause your body needs all the rest you can get now because once that baby comes then you won't get much.

Congrats on soon becoming a mommy!!!!It's awesome!!!

L.

Hello M.,

For first babies, sometimes the mom can be dilated at 1-2 cms. for a couple weeks. If the pregnancy is at a safe point to deliver the baby, then usually having sex can bring on labor. Make sure your dr says it is ok. Sometimes drs need to put a restriction on certain activities during pregnancy. You may want to use these last few days to get as much sleep as possible. I know you are anxious to have your baby. Keep in mind also that there are some methods and medications that can help with the anxiety and discomfort of labor. Good luck with everything!!