Effacement and dialation

Question

i have an ultrasound at 34 weeks - should i expect to be effaced or would that be bad that early? Just wondering what all your experiences were with being effaced or dialated and when it apprx happened.

WifeofAnt · Answer

At 34 weeks you don't need to be effaced or dilating and you probably shouldn't be, the baby is still a month away from being 'term' (and 2 months away from being post-term).  DoulaSummer is right too, induction techniques (even stripping the membrane) should not be performed before 41 weeks

DoulaSummer · Answer

sorry somehow it submitted before I was done.

Cervidil is a dissolving capsule placed in the cervix to help ripen it as a form of artificial induction.  It is made from pig sperm because it has a higher concentration of prostogladins than human sperm.  Although over time, human sperm has shown to have a higher rate of effectiveness than 1 to 3 doses of Cervidil.  Cervidil is a very common way of gradual induction today and is often given to a woman the night before a pitocin induction.

DoulaSummer · Answer

Unless you are have regular documented contractions, it is against recommendations by ACOG for your care provider to be checking your cervix at all before 39 weeks.  Constant checking can cause irritation to the cervix and sometimes swelling depending on how rough a care provider is.  It also introduces abnormal bacteria into the vaginal cavity that can lead to infections, especially since its unknown when your water will break.  Some pushy and intervention-happy care providers will even strip your membranes (again, not recommended before 41 weeks by ACOG) during a cervical check without permission from the mom.

babymama:  Yes it is true that the combination of semen and a woman's orgasm can help favor the cervix for dilation.  There is certain prostoglandins that help "ripen" the cervix, but it really only has a full effect if a woman is able to orgasm while semen is on the cervix.

babymama11 · Answer

it is true all drs are different. i started dilating 3 weeks ago and i dilated 1 cm. i dont know if i dilated anymore since than but my delivery dr didnt check my cervix when i went in yesterday. i wanna know if i am dilating anymore since 3 weeks ago. i am 36 weeks and 3 days now. me and my man been having intercourse 2 times since i started dilating. we were hoping it would speed everything up. i think it is cuz i been getting more cramping and pressure. my dr said his semen and my pleasure can increase everything. i guess its true??

waitn838 · Answer

actually they can tell if you are starting to dialate by u/s....the tech who examined me last time was nice enough to explain how they do this and even showed me what they are looking for...

the best way to describe it is it looks like a pocket of water inbetween the baby's head and cervix...as long as this pocket is visible no dialation is occuring...once the pocket disappears dialation is likely occuring...im prob not explaining it correctly but i was amazed at it myself

most women i have talked to say that their docs do not check them for dialation until they start menitoning that they are having cramping....but again every doc and practice is different

Brittny27 · Answer

I am 31 weeks and haven't been checked at all yet.  I have an appointment next week and will be 32 weeks I wonder if he's gonna check then. 

When do they normally start checking you? 

I can't believe were all getting ready to be holding our little ones in our arms very soon. I can't believe how fast these last 7 months have gone.

HeatherLF16 · Answer

I have had both internally checked weekly, and I had one ultrasound at 31 weeks and one at 34 weeks to be sure of the length of the cervix. They can't really tell if you are dialated from an ultrasound just how long it is.

jschoch8 · Answer

i know its crazy to have followed everyone from the beginning and we soon be giving birth! Im so anxious already!

waitn838 · Answer

i started dialating at 32 weeks with my son but still went past term....i got stuck at 1 1/2...

i know with this one since i am high risk they dont want me to start dialating until 32-34 weeks but they are going to start checking prob about 32 weeks...my cervix has been holding at the short end so they are expect my dialation to occur quickly...all just guesses

i cant believe we are talking about this now....its so crazy that we are nearing the end of our pregnancies

jschoch8 · Answer

did your doctors check you internally or via ultrasound? i feel like ill be disappointed now if he tells me "long and closed" I just have a feeling im going late anyway

feather2e · Answer

I was dialated 2/3cm and 90% effaced at 31 weeks and delivered my son at 37 1/2 weeks. Some women have nothing till the day before they deliver,everyone is different.

HeatherLF16 · Answer

I am 35 weeks right now.  If you are slightly dialated and your cervix is thinning slightly, it's normal and your body getting ready.  

My cervix has thinned some and I went from a 1cm a month ago to dialated to a 2cm at my appointment Friday.  I also have had preterm labor, so 1cm a month ago was concerning.  I was so scared a few weeks ago so when she told me I dialated more at my last appointment I didn't react well. But, the doc mentioned was perfectly normal for where I am at now.  You can be slightly dialated for weeks before active labor starts. That happend to my sister and she had to be induced at 41 weeks.  It doesn't mean much when you are so close to being full term. =)