How do you know?

[Beauty915]

How do you know when you've started dilating?

[SerenitysMommy21]

Contractions cause dilation but they have to be strong and last more than just a few minutes. Yes, bh cause dilation too. Lol

[Roxxxy915]

My OB checks @35wks checks weekly after that til of coarse labor...  W.my 1st @35wks iwas 5cm . Its painful & uncomfortable. W.my 2nd @35wks iwas 3cm. You yourself cnt tell if you have or not dilated only an OB/midwife .

[Goranna]

I havent dialated until the end, when  my water broke and i went into labor right  after...
I did have a situation in 28th week (1st pregnancy ), they were Braxton H contractions,  i was sure i was dialating but i wasnt... so i almost sure you cant know for sure if you are or not...
You will be ok! Think  positive  :-)

[specialmom]

I think that is what happens as the baby gets bigger and moves down a bit unrelated to dilating.  It's painful or uncomfortable depending on your tolerance.  It will be over soon hon,  hang in there!

[Beauty915]

Do you remember feeling any pain near your rectal and a lot of pressure down there?

[Goranna]

Until checked of course

[Goranna]

You can't really know of you are dialating

[Beauty915]

What does it feel like? I've been having a lot of pressure down there like she's pressing something. I also been having pains by my rectal area

[specialmom]

Oh, and being checked can be very uncomfortable.  I always had spotting afterwards.  

[specialmom]

My doctor started checking at about 36 weeks. They basically stick fingers in and measure.  (you can not do it yourself).  I was 1 cm for a full month.  In first pregnancies, it is common to not dilate much until the very end (and I was 10 days over due).  good luck

[JaymeGirl]

Depends on the doctor when they check...I asked my midwife last week when they start checking and she said that it's basically irrelevant to check and that they'll check early at about 36 weeks if requested but otherwise she usually waits till about 38 weeks to check. She said it's irrelevant because some women can be dialed but not effaced, or vice versa. And some can be dialated to the same amount for weeks before anything changes. It all just depends on your doctor or midwife on when they like to check, and of course if you asked them to I'm sure they would.

[Beauty915]

What does it feel like? When does the doctor normally check ?

[Nana_22]

Your doctor is supposed to check. My doctor was going to check when I was 39 weeks but I had my son before that