I'm 38 weeks and 3 days today. I have been fully effaced and 6 cm for almost a month now. Went to the hospital because I had been having intense contractions 2 minutes apart for almost 2 hours with no end in sight. I pack up the rest of our things, called fiance home from work and was ready to have this baby. After monitoring me for an hour and acknowledging that I was in fact contracting every 3 minutes at this point, they check my cervix and since there was no change from 6 cm, they sent me on my way for the third time and told me not to come in until they're unbearable. I've had tons of contractions every single day for the past 3 weeks, back pain like crazy, and baby's head is stationed at +1, which means pressure like nobody's business. The only thing keeping her in is my water still being in tact. Going crazy and super frustrated because their usual magic number is 5 cm. If you're there and contracting, they keep you. That's how both my nephew and goddaughter were born, at the same hospital. Only difference is I'm trying for a VBAC so they won't intervene unless absolutely necessary. I think they should let me make that call at this point, right?