29 weeks Pregnant and 1 CM dilated...

[QueenTrident]

Just got back from the dr's office. I've been having a lot of what I thought were BH contractions, but it turns out they were real. While my membranes are in tact and I'm not effaced, I am one CM dilated.

However, the doctor just told me to take it back a notch. He did approve for me to work from home for a few weeks, but no real bedrest or medication or monitoring. Still having doctors visits only every other week.

Is this normal? I'm worried as can be, but the doctor seems to be nonchalant. He said I can stay at 1 CM for weeks at a time, so it's not a big worry.

Last time I never dilated with DD, even after being induced, so I'm not sure what to expect.

 

[tonyswife]

I'm sorry Jenn. Take it easy, eat well, stay off your feet and try (I know so hard to do, so easy to say) to not get stressed out.

 

[decker96]

I was dilated to 3 with my 3rd for 4 weeks before I ever went into actual labor (she was born only 3 days before my actual due date). So chances are I was 1 or 2 way before 36 weeks. I felt like I was having contractions for about 2 months before she was born, but also figured it was just BH. Now, I'm sure they were real ones. My midwife said that many women walk around dilated to 1 or 2 for many weeks, but don't know about it because they're not checked for dilation that early.
I agree, just try not to get too worried about it and take it a little easier. I know it's not as easy as it sounds, but it's the best thing. Good luck and to you!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well I don't want to scare you too much!

I suffered from pre-term labor. I had to have much meds and the contractions all day, everyday about killed me.

So my advice is to take it easy, drink water frequently and keep yourself "in check". If you are feeling "pressure" you are overdoing it.

 

[piglet too]

I would also be sure to pay attention to the contractions. Keep a record of them and call the drs office if you have more than 4-5 an hour. I went into pre-term labor with my DD at 30 weeks and had to take Brethine until 36 weeks when I had her. (However, I was never dialated until 36 weeks, so that might make a diference too.)

Try to take it easy as much as you can. Call your drs if you have any questions at all!! Do not worry about being a bother.

 

[mickeyboat]

I too had pre term labor at 31 1/2 weeks. I was not dialated at all and didn't even know I was having contractions 5-7 minutes apart.

I was put on bed rest for a week. The contractions stopped. That night my water broke.

I was admitted into the hospital, given steroids to mature the baby's lungs and stayed there to wait it out. At 34 weeks they determined DD's lungs were mature and induced me.

I am not telling you this to scare you. I am telling you this because if your doctor was really concerned, he would be taking action. Keeping a close eye on you sounds like a good plan to me.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[goofy4tink]

I walked around for a month nicely dilated. I kept asking my doctor why he couldn't just induce me. He said nature would start when she was ready. I kept going in for my weekly check-ups and kept going home again!!! Take it easy, try not to worry. Let the doctor do the worrying. He went to medical school, he'll do what's best. You should be fine for a bit yet. Hang in there and this is the time to stop doing housework. No scrubbing floors, vacuming, lugging in the groceries. I mean..hey, you've got a terrific excuse. Be lazy while you still can.

 

[my3kids]

I was a couple of cm and 50% effaced at 20 weeks. Take it easy and if you feel anything out of the ordinary....pain in the sternum like indigestion, a back ache, tightening of the uterus without any pain, an odd sensation "down there" that happens for more than one time or with any repetition or degree of continuation, call your doctor immediately!

 

[Disney01]

You just got back from the doctor!!! Did you ask him if it was normal? What did he say? I mean, if he said it was normal and not to worry, and you trust him, are you going to contradict him with info from this message board from people who most likely know less than him? Follow his advice...That's what you are paying him for.

 

[decker96]

Originally posted by Disney01
You just got back from the doctor!!! Did you ask him if it was normal? What did he say? I mean, if he said it was normal and not to worry, and you trust him, are you going to contradict him with info from this message board from people who most likely know less than him? Follow his advice...That's what you are paying him for.

I don't think the OP was asking for advice to contradict her doctor. I think she was just asking for support from anyone else who had been in her situation and what she might expect. Just because her Dr. gives her the medical info, doesn't mean she might not want some personal info from others who've been in her shoes. Sheesh!

 

[tonyswife]

Originally posted by Disney01
You just got back from the doctor!!! Did you ask him if it was normal? What did he say? I mean, if he said it was normal and not to worry, and you trust him, are you going to contradict him with info from this message board from people who most likely know less than him? Follow his advice...That's what you are paying him for.

This is harsh. I think she's looking for a little emtional support. Pregnant moms worry about everything that isn't "normal" and she just needs a little encouragement.

 

[chris1gill]

Hmm, yes, I agree & I will encourage the OP to really take it easy, put your feet up & relax for at least the next six weeks... try to de-stress & take it easy!!! That's most important

 

[gshoemate]

I went into preterm labor at 24 weeks due to a shortened cervix. Because the nearest hospital with an NICU was almost 2 hours away, I was in the hospital for 7 weeks. Between then and when I went into labor, they had to stop labor a total of 4 times with medication, and it was not fun. I would suggest taking it easy when you can, lay on your left side, drink as much water as possible (when I was first admitted I didn't want to bother the nurses with getting me water all the time, Christmas day they had to put me a magnesium pump to stop labor again, after that, I asked for 2 glasses of water at a time). When I was released I was then on bedrest at home until about 37 weeks. By time the doctor broke my water, I was 4cm dialated, had been 80% effaced for weeks and he was at a station 1 for about 3 weeks before (which is real close to being born). In the end he changed his mind and wanted to stay in, but I was tired of walking around Wal-mart not knowing if he was going to be born in aisle 3 so we finally induced just a few days short of his due date.

Please take it easy. Take this time for yourself, lay around, do nothing. Once the baby comes you will wish you had this time back. Move the computer to a place that is easy to access it from a comfortable postion, we had mine by the recliner. I spent alot of time playing Dark Ages of Camelot online, i was bored with TV. Take it easy and PM me if you need to talk.

 

[capthooksmom]

I had a situation that was different from yours, but I think I felt the same way you do. I was already a high risk pregnancy and I called my OB early in my pregnancy when I started spotting. The nurse told me the spotting I was having was not normal but the dr. didn't want to see me and there was nothing they could do. That may have been true, but I just didn't feel like he cared or took it as seriously as I did. I thought about changing dr's in the middle of my pregnancy, but a nurse there I had known for years talked me out of it. That turned out OK, but in the 7th month of my pregnancy, I developed pregnancy induced hypertension. My OB took it very seriously, putting me on complete bedrest and having me come in twice a week for exam and stress test. One Friday I felt horrible and blood pressure was really high, so he hospitalized me and told me I would not be leaving the hospital without a baby. I ended up being so glad I did not change doc's and I figured I just have to trust him and his judgement.
If you're like me, when you got that kind of news, you probably weren't "thinking straight" and think of lots of questions after you leave. I think it's great you posted here to try to get some reassurance. Just don't hesitate to call in the morning (or any other time) if you have questions or don't feel right. I wish you the best.

 

[m&m's mom]

This is another perspective but if you are 29 weeks you are mostly out of the woods. It does look like you are having a boy and they do mature more slowly than females.
I kind of tell people to breathe a small sigh of relief after 24 weeks. My 1st DD was born at 24 weeks 8 years ago. Even back then they knew she would be fine at 1 pound 5 ozs. Sure enough today she suffers no ill affects from the prematurity.
You probably will stay that way for a while but if not don't automatically think the worst.
Having been in your shoes with both of my pregnancies I can definitely relate. Hang in there!

 

[suz72]

Jenn,

I've been there too. If you are stressed about it, I'm sure your doctor would see you in a week. If I were in your situation, I would feel better if I knew I was being checked next Th.

By the way, I never did dialate past one cm...both of mine ended up being c-section.

My doctor calls that not quite bedrest "princess rest" . I liked being on princess rest, but spent most of my time lying down or sitting for fear of my water breaking, etc.

Also, I second the advice about staying hydrated "drink lots of water".

Susan

 

[Nette]

Well... my mom was dialated to 4 cm with me for 4 months! I was only 4 days early.

Myself, I was dialated to 1 cm and completely effaced for probably 6 weeks...

My water broke in bed 1 week past my EDD and I was in labor for 17 hours. Never did get past 1 cm dialated... had a c-section.

Try not to worry... I know that is much easier said than done, but after something like 24 weeks, the baby has a 90% chance of survival outside the womb. And it only goes up from there.

Best of luck... You only have 1/4 of your pregnancy left!

 

[ahutton]

I was right about that point 29-30 weeks with my first baby - 1cm and not effaced. I was put on "partial bed rest" meaning I was only allowed to work so many hours a day, and then it was requested I spend time laying on my left side to rest. I was lucky that I was able to work at home at my then employer, so I did this. I stayed that way for the next 6 weeks, going to the doctor every other week, and at 36 weeks I was 3cm but still not effaced. I had DD 2 weeks after that.

Something my dr here told me that the AZ dr did not - was that you can ask if you are 1cm at the front or back of the cervix - it is thick, so what may be 1cm at the front may be fully closed at the back. That is how I was with DD2 until they induced me (for toxemia). No way of knowing now if I was 1 at the front or back at that time???

Anyhow, take it easy, drink lots and just enjoy the last couple months of being pregnant and on Princess Rest! I love that name for it!!

 

[ash&abby'smom]

Sorry to hear you going through this. I went through the same thing with dd #2. I was 1 cm dilated starting at 20 weeks. I was told to not walk very much, not to lift anything over 10 pounds, which included dd #1 (boy how do you do that?) and just take it real easy. I stayed at 1 cm up until 34 weeks. I had to go for a visit every week and was checked every visit. So yes you can stay that way for the whole time. Just take it easy as much as possible. I will say an extra pray for you that you can make it to at least 35 weeks.

What AHutton said about being dilated at the front is true. When I went for my last checkup I was told I was 3 cm and when I went to the hospital to be induced 3 days later I was only 1 cm on the inside.

 

[Alice28]

While I would definitely take it easy if I were you, you can walk around for a long, long time dialated 1-2 cm! I know I did with DS#1 for about a month. And who knows how long before that I was dialated as she didn't check my cervix until 36 weeks. (I think she did at 22 weeks, but not after that).

I like the term "Princess Bedrest." That's a good one.