Effaced?

[mamachula]

I went to my OBGYN on Thursday and he said I was 1 1/2cm dialated and 85% effaced. What does effaced mean and should I be expecting to deliver soon? My original EDD was 3/12/08 and now he has me scheduled for an induction on 2/27/08 at 5 in the morning.

[Super_sally888]

hahaha.... wrong year..... shows what happens with pregnancy brain!  Though this message was THIS year.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

I reckon  you should ask why he wants to induce you. His convenience, or is there a medical reason.   If there is not a good reason then you should be allowed to go into labor on your own and when your body is ready.

It is not standard practice to induce women without a good reason.

Best wishes

[mamachula]

should i be worried or do you think it is ok?When he checked me and told me he just told me to go ahead and pick a date since I was already dilated and then he gave me 2/27 which is 2w before my 3/12 due date.

[mamachula]

Actually  I am 37w going to be 38w on 2/25. My last LMP was 6/6/07 and my EDD has been 3/12/08 since my 20wk check up.  The EDD before that one at my 16w check up was 3/16/08. He told me that my measurements were spot on with my LMP at my 20w check up. I really dont know why he wants to induce me. He has never told me anything about my dates being off or anything.  He has always said that they were accurate to my measurements and agreed with my LMP.

[lonta83]

Dilation is how wide the cervical opening is, effacement refers to the thicknes of the cervix, You're on your way, in my experience effacement is more of a predictor of impending labour as you can be 2cm dilated for weeks.  If your doctor is putting you in early that he must suspect that you will deliver early, but why are you now being induced?  Were your dates off by about a month? because they usually only let you go 1-2 weeks over your due date.  They don't usually induce early especially if your body is already doing it on its own.