Near labor but no dilation check?

Bri

Now I know dilation doesn’t mean much pre labor. I was dilated to 3cm for 2 days before being induced with my first

BUT my doctor today said “I’ll be surprised if you make it until next week (being induced next week)”. How does he know that without checking? All we did was talk, he measured my stomach, felt around my stomach and listen to the babies heartbeat. That’s it.. so how does he think labor is near?