My appointment (random)

[carawestt]

I know it's difficult not to get discouraged but really, the dilation/effacement isn't a great indicator of when you'll go into labor anyway. My friend was walking around at 4 cm and 80% for weeks and still had to be induced at 40 weeks. And other friends weren't dilated at all and went into labor the next day.

And the fundal height varies too. It can change depending on baby's position.

[carawestt]

Dec 23, 2013 18:06:23 GMT -5 mekiakoo said:

It's just weird how dilation/effacement can vary. I had no idea.

I'm getting anxious though!

Oh yeah, it's funny how it all works. I had no idea the first time and was pretty confused by it all haha.

You're getting close!

[kristie]

It's subjective, honestly. It means nothing before labor, and during you will hear different things if different people check you. The only thing that matters is cervical change, and it's hard to know if it is changing unless you are the one that checks that person consistently. We know which docs check big or small and one midwifes 4 is most of our 2s. It can change depending on baby positioning too, so yeah. At least it isn't closed and thick, it's doing something and that is good.

[kristie]

I mean, some doctors tend to say larger or smaller numbers consistently, and the L&D nurses I work with know that. They will send a pt up there saying they are a 3, and we know that particular doctor checks big and the pt is maybe a loose 1. The numbers don't matter, is the point. It is subjective. So you might have gone backwards, or they might have just forgot what they told you last time.

[osulori]

Dec 23, 2013 17:59:01 GMT -5 carawestt said:

I know it's difficult not to get discouraged but really, the dilation/effacement isn't a great indicator of when you'll go into labor anyway. My friend was walking around at 4 cm and 80% for weeks and still had to be induced at 40 weeks. And other friends weren't dilated at all and went into labor the next day.

And the fundal height varies too. It can change depending on baby's position.

Ditto this.  I had zero signs of progress at 39w3d...no dilation, no effacement, nada.  And I went into labor in the early morning hours two days later, at 39w5d.  Hang in there!

[cmarie11]

Dec 23, 2013 18:41:51 GMT -5 kristie said:

It's subjective, honestly. It means nothing before labor, and during you will hear different things if different people check you. The only thing that matters is cervical change, and it's hard to know if it is changing unless you are the one that checks that person consistently. We know which docs check big or small and one midwifes 4 is most of our 2s. It can change depending on baby positioning too, so yeah. At least it isn't closed and thick, it's doing something and that is good.

I work in L+D too, and we always laugh because one doctor in particular checks pretty big. She'll call triage from her office and tell us she's sending over a patient who is in labor at 4cm, and then we'll hang up the phone and all make bets on what the patient really is. (Usually 2cm) haha.