Pregnancy question - What does 2 cm dialated really mean?

[leighe]

I went to the dr today and she told me I was 2 cm dilated (sp?). I asked her what that meant (this is the uncommunicative dr that I really don't like BTW - the other 4 are great) and she said, "It means you're close to the end." So I said, "How close - 2 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks?" and she said, "Close."

WTH? I realize she doesn't want to give me a definite time frame because she really doesn't know but can't she do better than "close?" I promise I'm not going to be in the office throwing a temper tantrum if she says two weeks and it's four. I'd just like to know a general opinion.

Any experiences you'd care to share?

 

[Beth76]

It means you're 2 cm dilated. Sorry, that's about it. You could have the baby later today, you could have the baby in two weeks. When is your due date? I'm guessing it's very soon. Some people can be 2 cm dilated for two weeks before starting labor. Some people can be at 0 and go into labor. It just means that you're 1/5 of the way dilated. Less work to do once you actually do go into labor. Congratulations and good luck!!!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Well, she's right. You're close to the end! There is no way for her to be able to narrow it down. I was almost 2 cm for 3 weeks! During another pregnancy I wasn't even that 3 days before I went into labor. Are you near your due date? If you are 2 cm now, then you probably won't go past your due date, but even that's not a guarantee.

 

[Maleficent13]

I was 2 cm for about a month before I went into labor. I think my SIL was also dilated 2cm for about that length of time. So really, there wasn't any answer your OB could have given you.

Considering I see by your ticker you're at 36 weeks and I assume this is your first, it could be awhile.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Dilation means your cervix is opening. This has to happen for the baby to come out. Ten cm is fully dilated, ready to push. Some people don't dilate much before they're in labor, some do. You can be 2 cm (or even more!) for a while before you go into labor. So, your MD is correct in not giving you a ballpark timeframe. My experience is that MDs don't usually like to give you time frames because it's just an educated guess. Babies come when they are ready...or they don't come and you get induced or c-sections!
Have you had a childbirth class? Usually they cover this kind of stuff.
Good luck with the baby, BTW!!!

 

[pfishgirl]

it really does depend on your body and if your baby wants to come out.. so I guess you can be in competition for the first baby born on New Years Morning..

oh and by the way my friend was 3cm for like 2days then wham.. rushing to the ER at 9cm..

sooooooo good luck and if you can, keep us posted...
by the way.. I see Tag Fairy oppurtunity here... still dis' ing at 2cm dilated

 

[Sonya]

I'm sorry, I know you are ready for this to be over! I was at 3cm for a month. But then again, some peple go fast! Ask your mom how hers went.

 

[clarabelle]

She doesn't know. I wouldn't think you would make it another month that way -but there really is no predicting.
2 cm is pretty significant though.
If you are 36 weeks like your siggie says you would want to make it another week anyway.
A normal preganacy (you probably know this so forgive me) is from 38- 42 weeks. 36 would be early -but not particularly worrisome.

Here is a brief explanation from web md:
Cervical effacement and dilatation


As labor nears, the cervix begins to thin or stretch (efface) and open (dilate) to prepare for the passage of the baby through the birth canal (******). How fast the cervix thins and opens varies from woman to woman. In some women, the cervix may efface and dilate slowly over a period of weeks. A first-time mother often will not dilate until active labor begins.

Late in your pregnancy, your health professional will manually check (wearing sterile gloves) how much your cervix has effaced and dilated.

Effacement

As the baby's head drops down into the pelvis, it pushes against the cervix and causes the cervix to relax and thin out, or efface.

See an illustration of cervical effacement.

Throughout your pregnancy your cervix has been tightly closed and protected by a plug of mucus. When the cervix effaces, the mucus plug is loosened and passes out of the ******. The mucus may be tinged with blood. This passage of the mucus plug is called "show" or "bloody show." You may or may not notice when the mucus plug passes.

Effacement is described as a percentage. For example, if your cervix is not effaced at all, it is 0% effaced. If the cervix has completely thinned, it is 100% effaced.

Dilatation

After the cervix begins to efface, it will also begin to open (cervical dilatation).

Cervical dilatation is expressed in centimeters from 0 to 10. Zero means that the cervix is closed, and 10 means that it is completely dilated.

 

[720L]

I walked around 2cm dilated for about a month before both my kids were born.

 

[lillygator]

2cm is basically two fingertips... I was 2cm dialeted with bith my pregnancies and ended up being induced with both as I never dialated more on my own.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

When the doctor told me I was 2 cm dilated, I was so excited. I thought I might just deliver soon. Well, it was 4 weeks before my DD was born.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Well - most doctors will consider you officially "in labor" at 4 cm.
It just means that things are starting to loosen up and get ready. With all 3 of my pregnancies, I was at 2cm for weeks before my due date.

but can't she do better than "close?"

Nope, if you've been pregnant before the prior experience of how your body labored can give a decent guess, but even still there is just no way to know for sure.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What does 2 cm dialated really mean?

The cervix is the opening of the uterus that the baby must pass through to be born. The cervix thins out and opens at the earliest stages of the birth process. (As others have said, it could be a very long process but at least it's a start - hey, mine never opened at all so if nothing else you're on your way ). It should explain it in any pregnancy book, but here's a link to give you some idea. Hang in there!

http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/childbirthclasses/l/blclass2b.htm

 

[phillybeth]

My cousin was at 2 cm for the last 10 weeks of her pregnancy with her second child- no contractions, no preterm labor. It really doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. You could go into labor tomorrow, or not for another 6 weeks.

 

[Ava83]

2 cm for 3 wks.

I was so excited when I heard...my excitement was in vain!

I still believe it was starbucks that started my labor...I was in the hospital not 6 hours later.

 

[mickeyboat]

I was 2cm dialatedfor at least two weeks before I went into labor. Then, look out for me! I realized I was in labor at 7:30 and had Emily at 9:40.

Denae

 

[golfgal]

I was 2 cm dilated for the last 6 weeks of my first pregnancy. I was in labor for 36 hours and only dilated to a 6 and had a C section. One woman I know had an OB check at 40 weeks give or take a day or two and wasn't dilated at all (her appointment was at 8:00 am) she went to school to teach and her water broke at 12:30 and her baby was born at 2:30. Another woman I know went in for a regular exam at about 38 weeks and she was 5 CM's dilated, they took her up to the hospital (it is connected to our clinic) she was in labor for a few hours only AFTER they started pitocin and had her baby late that night. The moral of the story is, EVERYONE is different and there is really no predicting how or when it is going to happen.

When I was pregnant with the twins I was at 38 weeks and had dilated, effaced, NOTHING. I told the OB, fine, give me a CSection because I am DONE being pregnant. She scheduled the CSection for 4 days later and I DS was 7 lbs 5 oz and DD was 6 lb 7 oz.

Hang in there, this is the HARDEST part of your whole pregnancy. I don't like waiting for ANYTHING.

 

[FSUGrad97]

2cm is basically two fingertips... I was 2cm dialeted with bith my pregnancies and ended up being induced with both as I never dialated more on my own.

I had the same experience - only mine was after being induced and my water breaking.

 

[katerkat]

Ha - Russ dropped at 26 weeks and I was 2 cms dilated from then on. I didn't go into labor until 38.5 weeks. AND I worked retail, so I was up and walking almost every day for those 12 weeks.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

When I was pregnant with the twins I was at 38 weeks and had dilated, effaced, NOTHING. I told the OB, fine, give me a CSection because I am DONE being pregnant. She scheduled the CSection for 4 days later and I DS was 7 lbs 5 oz and DD was 6 lb 7 oz.

LOL, golfgal, I can relate! I was at 39 weeks with my twins and spent 5 nights in L&D on Pitocin trying to get the cervix going and NADA. They tried laminaria, breaking my water, walking me around, you name it, and nothing. Very happy at that point to have a CSection, and my two were born one day shy of my due date weighing 7lbs 4oz and 7lbs 10oz.