Already dilated - what does it mean?

Question

I went in for my first internal exam yesterday and found out I'm 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  My OB said I could progress quickly or walk around like that for weeks.

I'm a FTM so I'm not sure what to think!  Anyone have an experience like this before?  I'm 36w5d...

Answer

I want your luck! Lol. I'm 38 weeks & only dilated 1/2cm if that...good luck. & just like the other girls & your dr says it just means every pregnancy & labor is different. Some people while dilate faster than others. So you could be one to keep dilating or one who stays at that cm for awhile...

Answer

This is pretty much why I'm declining cervical exams until I go into labor. It doesn't seem like they actually give you much information about when the baby will be here, and I can forgo the extra poking and prodding :)

Answer

Omg my first chk will be next Thursday I will be 35 w + 1 day lets see how it goes!! Hope everything goes well for both u and bby👶👶👶

Answer

Last week at 36 weeks, I was 3 cm and 80% effaced and baby in station -1.  Going in today to see if anything has changed.  Although my midwife thinks I baby will come before due date.  This my 3rd child.

My first baby I was induced at 39 weeks.

My second baby I went into labor in the morning and in the afternoon I was admitted at a 4 cm.

Answer

I was told tonight that I'm 1cm dilated at 36w. My Dr. said you could be like that for weeks or progress.

Weird that it's so up in the air.

Answer

You're lucky! Less work to be done during labor!

Answer

I went Monday and I'm already dilated 1/2cm. I'm 36w now. Hope I progress some more by Monday for my next apt.

Answer

It really is unique for each pregnancy. My cousin was 4  dilated for 4 weeks. We were all sure he would come early, but he came late! Whereas, with my first, I wasn't 4 cm dilated until I had been in active labor for almost 24 hours. My water broke 4 hours in, but my daughter just wasn't ready!

Answer

3cm is a lot closer than 1cm!!  If you keep walking then you shouldn't stay at 3cm but everyone is different.  It's really hard to compare.  Most people don't get to 3cm before being induced so that is a good sign to me, but like the doctor said some people get stuck and don't dialate :(

Answer

Well I stayed at 3 cm for less than 24 hours. I went into labor at 9 pm on Tuesday night and was dilated to 9 cm by midnight! My son was born just before 4 am on Wednesday. I started dilating at 36 weeks, but really seemed to progress at 38 weeks, which is when he was born.

Already dilated - what does it mean?

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