Getting close to delivery?

[April2]

Today at her ob appointment they said my daughter is 80% effaced and the cerfix is closed (so I guess no dilation yet). Can this be a sign she's getting close? Is there a way to try to estimate when the delivery will be? They're saying June 16th (so another 2 weeks) but she thinks they estimated it wrong because she knows exactly the day she got pregnant and is estimatimating it to be more like June 10th. Poor thing is so ready to get this over with, I know. She's miserable with back pain, swelling, etc.
The baby has dropped the last couple of weeks too, it looks like.
I'm just curious if it was a good sign today that she's 80% effaced and how close that might mean she might be? What do you all think?
Oh yeah, she's nesting too, lol, has been for awhile. :)

[April2]

She's been having low back pain and lots of contractions today. We were timing them a couple of hours ago and she was around 5 minutes or so, still not totally consistent but stronger, more painful contractions than the usual braxton hicks. We shall see what happens!

[mamaofonetrying42]

Good Luck to her!

[gillianl]

i wish her loads of luck for when she does go into labour and hope it's a very quick and almost painless experience :)

[April2]

Baby sounded good. They did take her blood to check for preeclampsia since she's so swollen and bp is elevated. They didn't seem too concerned though and said we can find out the results tomorrow. She had several contractions while there and the nurse said she thinks she's close!

[April2]

I'm thinking about taking her in tonight to get checked. She's been tired all day today and said the baby has barely moved. I checked her blood pressure on my home monitor and it was 150/90. I'll let you all know how things go.

[mamaofonetrying42]

Well, I think it was a good thing they are doing a 24hr test. With her B/P getting a lil high and all the swelling you say she is having..its a good thing. My guess if she has protein(sp) in her urine they will induce earlier then later...I hope all goes well!

[April2]

They wanted to do a 24 hour urine so we'll turn it in tomorrow. They said they don't induce until you're 10 days over! Let's pray it won't be that long!

[connorethansmom]

Yes, I was one of those women who walked around at 80 percent effaced and 3 cm from 36 weeks until I was induced at 39+ weeks. How did the urine turn out?  I know the last few weeks are hard, but like my husband told me..."she can't stay in there forever, she will come out."  Reassuring...not when you are the one that is miserable, but it did get me to laugh a little.  The good thing is that IF they do have to induce early because of preeclampsia or something like that, or later when the baby just won't come, her body getting that far by itself is a really good sign things would go well.

[April2]

I just hope it's soon because she's so swollen in her hands, feet and legs and been having pain and numbness in her fingers. Was told this can happen and should go away after birth. Still, she's so uncomfortable and hurting so I do hope it's soon!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

As long as the it's the baseline of the heart beat that's going down, and baby isn't having decelerations from the baseline, it's normal.  Dialation and effacement is really hard to predict especially if you haven't had a baby before.  I've known women to partially efface and dialate a few cm's around 32 weeks and sit there only to dialate another cm or 2 and end up being induced and, in my case, I don't dialate until a few days before labor or the day OF labor.  Due dates ARE just a guess as there is no way to know 100% for certain when baby will be born, even if you do know the exact day of conception.  Good luck, it does sound like this baby will be here soon tho!

[Rosa20]

My babys heartbeat has went down from the 150's to 130's as well..im due tomorrow..i have been getting told for weeks that im going to have my baby anyday and still no show!! LOL...im trying to be optimistic about it all...its hard when all you want after so long is to finally hold your baby!! ( in your case grandchild ) :) !! I hope for both our sakes its happens soon...i forgot to mention i didnt get a check at my last appt...soo mad about that but like a week ago i was 2 cm and really ripened! But i do know that im getting induced on the 17th if my lil man dont come before!! I hope before! LOL

[PrettyKitty1]

Wow April, I actually didn't know about the HB thing. But, if they didn't seem concerned then I guess it's a good sign, or an indication that it is NORMAL. I'm sure she'll do great. I wish I could help her out with the whole nesting process. It must be so cute for you to watch her nest :-)

[nickieb85]

Babies hearts fluctuate as they get bigger but also when they sleep. My last little boy slept so much when I had my NSTs done that they would have to buzz him to wake him up. It is completely normal =) I hope she doesn't have much longer!

[April2]

She had another ob appointment today, just 5 days after the last one and she's now 1 centimeter! Yea! It's getting closer! :)
The only thing is since her blood pressure was still a bit high they finally have decided to test her urine so hopefully that will turn out alright.
One more thing, it's normal for the baby's heartbeat to keep going down the further along you get, right? I think I heard because he's getting bigger and stuff? Well, his heartbeat went down from the 150's last week to the 130's this week but they don't seem concerned. That's alright, though, right?

[Heatherm4]

Only time will tell I guess!! I wish her all the best though!! She will do great!!

[mom2ariana]

its hard to say, its different with everyone!! i was 50% effaced for over a month before i started to dilate...so you never know!!

[nickieb85]

Wow effacement is the toughest part and it makes dilation so much easier when labor comes along. I know how hard it is to wait (as does anyone that has had to wait for the birth of their baby) but there is no way unless they are going to induce her that they can tell her exactly when she is going to deliver. I would say if she can stand the swelling that she is suffering to get out and walk as much as possible. I had the same problem when I was pregnant with my first son and I had to suck it up and I walked as much as I possibly could and eventually I dilated so much that my water broke. I hope she has the same luck!