How dilated were you before delivery?

I'm currently on hospital bedrest at 4cm dilated (was 1cm last Mon & up to 4cm by last Wed). The doctors are allowing me to go home once I hit 34 weeks (which is Thursday, but doesn't seem soon enough!) & are stopping my Nifedipine at that time. I'm not 100% sure on my restrictions bedrest wise, but one had mentioned possibly lightening me to a Level I bedrest when I blow this joint.

My question is, being 4cm dilated, how much longer do you think I'll be able to hold on to these tykes? I've already had 2 big episodes of PTL requiring Mag (30w4d & 33w0d), so does that mean I'll potentially deliver soon after going off this lovely bedrest? I know I've heard stories of women walking around 6cm dilated for weeks...so I'm just hoping I can hear some of yours for inspiration. While I know 34wks has us primarily out of the woods for complications, I still am holding out hope that my boys will come far enough along that I'll be able to take them home from the hospital with me. My goal is for NO NICU time!

Any story is welcomed (even if it's a story about being dilated to 1cm & delivering the day after you went off bedrest ...hee hee)....

Thanks in advance!

 

It's a tough call to say how long.

I was 3 1/2 cm dilated when I had my first internal exam at 36 weeks. I ended up delivering the next day. My water broke at 9 a.m. and I went to the hospital. I was hooked up to the machine and was having contractions, but not feeling them until around 7 p.m. My kids were born at 9:27 and 9:30 p.m.

 

I was 4 1/2 cm when I was induced at 38w2d. I was a fingertip at 31 weeks, 2 cm at 32 and 33 weeks, 3 cm at 34 and 35 weeks, 4 cm at 36 and 37 weeks.

I had a very uneventful pregnancy, was not any type bedrest although I did start to take it easy when I started to dialate ... or at least to the extent possible with a toddler.

 

I had a pessary cerclage with my son and the day it was taken out, 35w 6d, I was 1cm dilated (had been on bedrest for 16 weeks at that point being 1cm dilated for the whole time, I started to funnel at 22 weeks and was 100% effaced at 30 weeks) My OB took the pessary out, turned around to put it in the sink, asked me what I wanted to hear (told her 1-2 since my shower was that coming Saturday, it was a Tuesday) she checked me and I was 3-4cm that fast (30 seconds) I was sent to the hospital because she was afraid I was going to go into full labor on the drive home. I got to the hospital at 11am and by 7:27pm I had my son. (got to the hospital and checked about 30 mins after getting there and was already 4-5cm)


When you go home if you are trying to make it farther in your pregnancy that you stay on pretty constant bedrest. You could dilate pretty fast or stay at 4cm for a while yet.

 

I was 2cm dilated at 29 weeks, when I went in to deliver when my water broke at 36 1/2 weeks (after weeks on Nifedipine) I was 3cm. I stopped taking the meds 7 days before I went into labor. At 29 weeks I was on strict bedrest but it got eased a little as I got higher in the 30's. I even went out for dinner one night after getting a little more freedom and it was absolutely bliss (to think I only went to Friendly's LOL!!).

 

I was 3 cm dilated and 80 effaced at my 35 week check and delivered 2 days later.

 

I was 1cm at 34 and 35 weeks and almost 2cm at 36 weeks. Four days later I went to L&D and thought I might be in labor. I was expecting them to tell me I was 3cm. I was shocked to hear "You're 7, almost 8!" Good thing I decided to believe I might be in labor.LOL :blush: I had always been induced before the twins, so I didn't think I could labor without pitocin.

Best of luck to you and I hope and pray your little boys stay put a little longer.

 

at 35wks was dilated to a 5, 3 days later had constant contractions 2-5min apart, went to hospital and was 6 and 90%effaced. then after a day and a half everything just halted and they sent me home. now i am 6 and 90% and head at +1 and the dr. seems to think i can make it to July 3rd when they will be 37wks 2days. the babies have always measured big and he says they are just running out of room and pushing out the weakest opening (the cervix). i want them to be healthy, but i am ready to meet them. Good Luck, and i pray your babies are good and healty when born

 

I was just a fingertip at 36 weeks, at 36, 1 day my water broke and I had the girls 12 hours later!

 

I am currently 3cm and 90% effaced at home on bed rest. I went into PTL at 30 weeks, required 3 days of Mag (left hospital 1cm and 50% effaced) and last week I went into PTL again and required 3 shots of terbutaline (left hospital 3cm and 90% effaced) and I have lost my mucus plug. I have been on Procardia, same thing as Nifidepine since 23 weeks. I had both rounds of steroids at 30 weeks for the boys lungs. They told me I could deliver anywhere from today to 2 weeks from now. good luck to you. Sounds like we are in the same boat!

 

Thanks ladies! At least I know I might make it a LITTLE longer! Too bad my fFN was positive last week...which I know means nothing, but it wasn't NEGATIVE either (like it had been since 24 wks). They're going to check my cervix Thurs before discharging me from the hospital...I'm really hoping I'm still 4cm!!!! Sounds like I'll be stopping my Nifedipine/Procardia on Thursday as well...yikes!

 

I'm curious as to whether or not a male or female doctor checked you....it really does make a difference since they estimate dilation according to fingerwidth apart....TMI, I know, but when a guy with larger hands checks you he might say you are dilated less than a woman would say if she has smaller hands.... In any case, being at a four is much more significant than being at a 3 or 2... I have heard of many stories of women holding on for weeks at 2 or 3...but rarely any at a four lasting much more than a week... Especially if they take you off your meds or if you are active at all... I would totally expect you to delivery pretty soon...

 

I was in the hospital on bedrest for a month and left at 32 weeks at 4cm and my cervix was 100%. I went to my doctor appt when I was 34 weeks and was at 6cm but my water still hadn't broke. Doctor decided to go ahead and take the babies that night. Pretty sure I was not going to last much longer since in between visits I would have to go back to the hospital to get checked out since my contractions were so close and steady. They spent 2 1/2 weeks in the NICU as growers and feeders. They were born breathing on their own and very healthy. Good luck!!

 

It is very hard to say, however, the fact that you've been on mag twice and they are taking you off the other drug at 34 weeks, I bet it won't be too long.

I went on mag at 33.5 weeks (all my other episodes of PTL were controlled by terb, not that last one though). They took me off of it at 34 weeks. That night, I went into major contractions. When I was admitted at 33.5 weeks I was 2 cm and 80% effaced....one day after coming off the mag (34w1d) I delievered via c-section at 4 cm and 100% effaced...nothing would stop the contractions anymore.

That being said...I was 1 cm dilated at 27-32 weeks. 2 cm, 80% effaced and head at -2 station from 32-24 weeks. So, anyting is possible! Goodluck!