Can you dilate without contractions?

Question

I'm 40w exactly today. Every apt I've been to in the last month dr asks "how are the contractions" and ive had none, and then I'm not dilated at all and barely effaced. I haven't even had Braxton hicks. I get some period like cramps, but very very mild. More like pms or gas cramps, but only in my lower abdomen. My lower back always hurts because of my sciatic nerve.

Answer

Does your belly get really hard at times?

Answer

This was me. My doc asked me every appointment if I had contractions and I didn't. I didn't have Braxton hicks. I didn't dilate at all until 39 weeks. And it was only 2 cm. by the time I was 41 weeks I was at a 4. It took forever. I didn't get contractions until I was in labor. And even when I was in labor I didn't go past a 4. Not even a tiny bit. They had to give me pitocin. The same happened to my mom with all 5 of us.

Answer

And if baby is doing great and momma is doing great, being 40+wks and nothing is happening, there shouldn't be anything to worry about. You could try acupressure, sex, dancing, nipple stimulation, etc to help maybe move things a long.

Answer

There is a such thing as back labor. My mom had it when she was pregnant with me. She said that it would feel like her back would start hurting and tense up really bad, and then release. She never had lower abdomen cramps with me. After a few days of going through bad back pain she went to the hospital and was dialated to 4cm.

Answer

I'm wondering the same thing. I hit 40 weeks yesterday. To my knowledge, I haven't had any contractions of any time. Like you, I've had lower back pain and period like cramps, but that's all. At my checkup last week I was dilated 1cm. Interested to see what others say.

Answer

Yes you can, but it isn't something that's extremely common.

Can you dilate without contractions?

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