Dialating from 3 to Active...

Hi H.,

The conundrum is that there's no scientific rule about dialation with regards to proximity to labor. I had a friend who was dilated at 5 and still working and did not delivery for another day or so. I have also heard of folks dilated at one, who went back in the next day and were ready to labor. I was only dilated at about 2, and had my baby one week later. Good luck, and hang in there! And if you've already had the baby by the time you read this, CONGRATS!

You can be at three for a couple of weeks. Just know that the baby will come when ready, and you are already 3 cm done. Good Job!

Hi H.,
With my first I was at 3 cm the day before I went into labor (9 days early). And with my second I was at 3 cm for almost a week before I went into labor (5 days early). With my second it very painful for me to walk around also. But each pregnancy and each baby is different.
Good Luck

With my last child I was at 3 for 2-3 weeks. Every time I went to the dr. she would say it could be any time (very frustating when you are uncomfortable and have another child to worry about...). After about 3 weeks of this I was induced (for a few different reasons) a week later. At the visit when we decided to induce the next week I was actually at an almost 4 and showing no signs of labor. My dr. said contractions are a better indicator of labor than how much you are dialated. And remember everyone's labor is different...you will probably get a wide range of advice!!!

Good luck!!!

J.

H.,

I went from 1cm-10 in about 12-14 hours total. I was 1cm for a few weeks before though and 70%effaced. If your water hasn't broken, I would just try and relax and let it come on it its own. Its not worth it to force labor when your baby isn't ready yet. You could be at 3 for a few days/weeks without labor-- it just depends on your body. Congratulations on your baby coming! Have a happy,safe, delivery~

Molly

Hello H., I happen to be a labor and delivery nurse so I can answer your question. Since you are a multiporous woman (a woman who has had a least 1 baby) that is not uncommon for you to hang out at 3 cm without any change. Every woman is different as well as each pregnancy. One option that you may have is for them to break your bag of water so it will augment your labor, which means get it to start. Since you have had a baby you could go from 3 to 10 cm very quickly. I hope that this helps you. Some women have taken black cohash or even mineral oil to facillitate labor but there are drawbacks to that as well, like bad diarrhea. Let me know how it turns out, I hope I helped. Dee

what everyone else has said.. you might be like this for a while, and you may have been.

You can ask your provider to strip your membranes at next apt..??

I was at 2 for over a month with my son!! With my daughter I went to the hospital when the contractions got close. (They started about 5pm and I waited to tell anyone til about 9pm) Went to the hospital was at 1 or 2, then after a couplre of houts I went from 3 to holding my daughter in my arms in about 10 minutes!!! (With this child they had to break my water, as soon as they did that things started happening! With my son my water broke at home, but I didn't get heavey contractions for hours!) The intern didn't evn have time to get the doc and only had on his gloves! So I say the child comes when it is good an ready be it you are dilated at 3 for a while or 10!! Good LUCK!!! and congratulations on the newest addition to your family!

I was 3 cm for 3 weeks. Four days after my due date I finally went into labor. Because I was already so far along, once labor started, I was in immediate active labor and gave birth 10 hours later. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

With my son I was at 4 cm for 2 weeks before going into labor, which when it happened only took 6 hrs. With my daughter I was at 3 cm 6 weeks before my due day and was put on bed-rest for 3 weeks, which stopped the dilation. Then at 37 weeks I was allowed to resume regular activity, as they were OK with her coming anytime. I dilated another cm, but then stayed at 4 cm for 2 weeks. She was born at 39 weeks, and that labor only took 3 hrs. So, you can be at 3 or 4, or even more, for some time. But, in my experience, it then means your labor an progress very quickly.
Good luck, and best wishes.

My first pregnancy... 32 weeks 1cm
... 34 weeks 1cm starting to thin out
... 36 weeks 3cm
... 38 weeks 3cm and 1/2 efaced... then my doctor told me to go to the hospital where he would induce my labor. I got there at 9am and my water broke at 3pm, and I immediately went into hard labor. They notified my doctor, who showed up at 7pm when I started pushing.

My second pregnancy... from 36 to 39 weeks I was finger-tip dilated. I started cramping at 8pm and my husband forced me to the hospital, where we arrived at 11pm. I didnt think I was in labor. Neither did the nurses who wanted to send me home. My doctor advised against it, and asked them to keep me there, even though my contractions did not register on the monitor. At 1am the nurse told me I could have my epidural because "CONGRATS" your at 4cm. (I really DID NOT LIKE HER!!!!) 20min later I was complete and crowning. They actually had the nerve to ask me to wait for the doctor to get there, who took another 20minutes!!!
There are very safe herbs that can help you. You can take Evening Primrose, or drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, which is also helpful in bringing in your milk. If you can stand it... SEX!!!! Your husbands little buddies, believe it or not, help you dilate! ;-)

Hi My midwife always sai they come out the way they go in have lots of SEX and nipple stimulation-and if that fails eat a huge meal with meat and have a glass of wine-fine now an do it again-Good luck

I was at 1cm (and had been for a month) when my water broke with baby #2, and she was born 4 hours later (exactly on her due date)! With my first baby, I was not dilated or effaced at all on my Tuesday appointment, and she was born that Friday (2 weeks early).

A friend of mine was at 3cm and almost fully effaced for a week before her second baby was born.

Try to relax; best of luck with your labor and delivery!!

Congrats...

I was dilated at 3 for just about a week. The doctor "stripped the membrane" and I went into labor about 6 hours later. Dont know if that caused it, or if I would have gone into labor anyways? I was anxious waiting for the labor to start any minute when they said I was at 3, then six days later was just a little frustrated :)

Good luck!

3cm always seemed to be my magic number. I was dialated to 3cm weeks before they came. My last two were induced 2 weeks after their due date. I've learned not to get too excited when they say 3cm. Now if they ever say 4cm, I'm jumping for joy. (I'm due with #5 on July 12th)

Baby will be here before you know it, she can't stay in there forever whether she likes it or not.

God bless.

I know that this might sound crazy but I went from a 2 1/2 to a 8 1/2 in 1 hour. However, I pushed for 4 hours. Not info that I am sure you want now but in asking how to move into active labor. I think that I sent myself into labor with my son. I had been using that lanolin cream on my nipples getting them ready for nursing, however the night I went into labor I decided that there was too much on and decided to wipe it off. Well it was hard to get off and so I kept at it. Later that night my water broke and I have heard that nipple stimulation can create faster labor. Best of luck. I have a 22 month old son and a 6 1/2 month old daughter.

Hi H.!!

Yeah!! With every hour you are getting closer to delivery. You may have already heard from others that every pregnancy is different and that you can be dialated like this for weeks and then suddenly begin active labor. The baby is the one who gets to decide this one and letting your little girl do so is the best. So hopefully you can relax, enjoy the fireworks and be pampered a few more days until she decides to make her appearance.

Have you read anything about a Bradley Birth? If not you may want to while you are waiting, the Bradley info is very helpful in understanding the 3 stages of labor. As a M. who birthed at home and has two daughters who have birthed with midwives we have all benefitted from the Bradley Birth info.

Good Luck,

Dean L

I'm not sure how long it took me put here are same healthy and safe self-inducing remedies that my midwife told me about which I used with both of my daughters (and if your baby isn't ready to come out these methods will not work so you know you can't induce too early...) Go to a local health food store and ask for Prim Rose supplements and calcium supplements. Take them twice a day. A stronger remedy is Blue Cohash (there is Black cohash but you don;t want that) take about 5 drops twice a day (as necessary, my kids were born about 24hrs after doing these three things). If the baby is ready this will kick you into gear pretty quickly...good luck!!!

With my second, I was 100% effaced and 4.5cm dilated at 36 weeks. I walked 3-4 miles everyday my whole pregnancy. No one thought I would be making it to my due date... but I did. When I went into active labor 3 days prior to my due date, I was 7cm.

Everyone's body handles each pregnancy differently. And, baby will come when baby is ready.

Hope you have a great labor and delivery.

Hi H.,

I know you have heard this, but remember every pregnancy is very different. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had an appointment the day before my due date and and was at 1 cm. One week later I was still at 1 cm. (My daughter was born a week past my due date). I went into active labor then, and after many long hours, I still hadn't dialated. I ended up having a c-section.

I know you must be feeling anxious. Best wishes to you and congratulations!

M.

Hi H., I was at 3cm for a couple weeks with the first one, and the second one. I was at a 4cm for a week with my last one. Sometimes the body takes it's time through the first phase, and then lets loose for the second phase. Good luck to you, labor will be here before you know it.

Ok, I don't know how to say this but to just come out and say it this way. Nipple Stimulation! Yea, I said it. It really brings on the contractions and helped me to dilate faster. I did everything like you, walking, sex, but the thing that I think helped the most was the stimulation.

Happy Labor!!

I was 0cm on the Thursday before my due date and went into pre-labor on Saturday. Sunday morning, my midwife came over and said I was at 3cm. Active labor hit a few hours later, and I had my son (FINALLY) Tuesday night. I chose not to get checked often; only when my midwives felt it was necessary (like maybe 5 or 6 times in 2 1/2 days). It's different for everyone and every baby. My son didn't descend straight... he was slightly turned with his hand up by his head, so it took him longer. Have faith in your body and trust that it and your baby know how to get things done :) Good luck, and try to think positively about your new baby girl!

I was 3 cm and 90% effaced on a Monday. The next Monday I started feeling a little crampy (nothing uncomfortable) and was 4-5 cm. It wasn't until 1/2 an hour later or so that I had that first unmistakable labor contraction. Like I'm sure others have mentioned, it can take weeks...though you're close to your due date, so hopefully things get going soon!
Best of luck to you!
Jennifer

Hi H.,

I stayed at 3 cm for over a week and then scheduled an induction. I also tried tricks to get labor going but nothing worked. Good luck! A 4th of July baby sounds like so much fun!

C.

I have had 3 kids, and with all my pregnancies I was dialated at about a 2 to 3 cm about 3 weeks prior to active labor.

nipple stimulation!!!! both times it took me from 2-10 in less than 8 hours. Mt first i was dilated at 1 for 1 week, then my water bag broke and i had to get labor started or face pitocin. both times it worked. Preferrably in the shower with hot water on your low back, maybe sit on a yoga ball in there and roll your hips in as wide a circle as you can stand on the ball. While doing that, roll and slightly pinch while rolling your nipple between your thumb and index fingers. Natural pitocin! Good luck!

With my first I was dilated to 3 for three weeks before my water broke and when I got to the hospital I was at 10 and ready to deliver. 2 hours later he was here. My second I dilated quickly too but ended up having a c-section because of her positioning. Good luck and God bless

with my first baby I was dialated to 3cm for a few weeks before I had him. With my 2nd I was dialated only 1cm and was told it would be AT LEAST another week before I went into labor... My water broke 2 days later and I had my baby boy..hehe
hang in there, each pregnancy is different.

With my daughter I went from 2m to dialed on my due date in 7 hours. My son was 5 weeks early nd I was 4 cm at 7 motns and had him 3 days from my 8th month. My appointment was on tuesday and he was born on a sunday. Wirh my son we had to go into a ambulance because my contractions were 2 minutes apart and I couldn't make it to the car.. We got to the hospital and the only reason he was not born on the freeway was because he was turned sunny side up. He was turned into the correct position and still came out side ways. My son i had him in 3 hours from start to finish. he was over 7 pounds 11 ounces at birth. good luck

Sorry to say but everyone is WAY too different to put a pin point on how long it will take for you to go into labor. But I will tell you this, I was dialated 3cm for about two weeks before my son came and he was actually 10 days early! So even though you are 3cm, it could be a couple days or weeks you'll just have to be patient (I know, its hard ;) I know some of the responses say it made their labor faster, well not for me! Haha, I was contracting all day long then finally at 3am I decided it was time to go to the hospital and when I got there I was dilated to 5cm but my son wasn't born until 3 in the afternoon! I was in "painful" labor for over 15 hours! So like I said, everyone and every pregnancy is so different! well good luck and congrats!

It can take quite a bit of time. I heard gardening work would bring on labor and gave it a try when I was just tired of being pregnant. Snip a few bush branches for about 30 mins, float in the pool for 30 minutes, pick up snipped branches for 30 minues, float in the pool for 30 minutes, snip a few tree branches for 30 minutes, and float in the pool for 30 minutes. I went on like that for over half a day My water broke right after my last floating event, and I went into labor that afternoon and delivered the next day.

I say gardening works.
Stephanie

oh first babies are DIFFERENT. You can walk around dilated for days with subsequent babies. (youre already stretched out this go round haha) Support your tummy, even if you use yr own hands. Good luck.

It wasnt even a full week for me when I was 3cms and then in labor. I think it was Tuesday the appt. and then saturday the hospital. I was told to scrub the bathtub like you're trying to remove the enamel and then vacuum. Its what i did and sure enough it worked! Good luck.

Dear H.

You could be three for a week or even two. You could have already had your baby. Dilation alone is interesting to know but if you are not in labor it doesn't perdict when you will have the baby.

I had a client last year who was 5 cm for 2 weeks before going into labor.

T. Mclean
Student Midwife

Unfortunately I was, with both of my children, 2 1/2 and 2 months, dialated to a 1 for a week, and then had to be induced. You never know what is going to happen. There is no way to predict it, everyone is different. Congratulations early!

nipple stimulation, like you're breast feeding, will cause contractions and sex can also bring on contractions.

Hello H.,
Each labor is different so there's no telling excatly when what will happen. It's also true that "due" dates really are guess dates, nobody except the baby and your body knows when it's the right time for birth. Consequently, it's close to impossible to start a birth if the baby isn't ready.
Have you tried sitting in a bathtub of warm water or standing in a warm shower to help you feel better? There is also accupuncture or accupressure to help you if you like.
All my best and congratulations. S.

I remember at the time feeling that it was for ever, but I was 3 cm dialated and 50% effaced and a week later (at my next appt) I was 4 cm dialated and 100% effaced. That appointment was a Thursday and I was 10cm by the Saturday morning. I had been having contractions for 12 days. I thought they were Braxton Hicks for the first 4 days and then found out they were the real thing. I waited until my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart before I went to hospital and my little girl was born within an hour of arriving at the hospital.

Good luck- I know everyone's labor is different and you could be dialated for weeks. I walked and swam to try to bring it on.

For me I was at 3 cm for a month and my daughter was 1 week late. Hang in there!!!

I was 3 cm on a Monday, and went into labor the following Monday morning. I thought the week of dilation helped make the labor short (about 8 hours)!! Good luck and enjoy your new little one.