[jprn05]

My 20 year old daughter is 36 weeks pregnant and driving me crazy. At 25 weeks her cervix was found to be funneled and her amniotic fluid measured 7 cm. She was given fluids and has kept her fluid at 11, until recently when the ultrasound measured 14. At 28 weeks she began to dilate. She is now approx >50% effaced, 2 1/2 cm dilated and at 0 station her baby is a bouncer and moves constantly along with BH contractions. I am thrilled that she has held on to the pregnancy this far, but she is constantly asking me when this blessed event is going to happen in fact, she asked me 3 times in one hour. I am a pedi nurse, so all I know from OB is what I can remember from school. If any OB nurses can help me give this kid an approximate answer I will be totally indebted. Her due date is Sept 19, but being on preemie watch since 25 weeks has left her doubting she'll go that far. "When the apple is ripe it will fall from the tree" doesn't work any more. Thanks Nervous Nellie's Mom

[Jolie]

Sorry to disappoint, but the truth is that the baby will come when s/he is darn good and ready!

I was 100% effaced, 4cm dilated, and at a +2 station at 28 weeks. I maintained strict bedrest, along with other measures to hold off delivery, and was CERTAIN that I would deliver as soon as I was allowed off bedrest at 37 weeks. Didn't happen.

Please help your daughter understand that while she has come a long way, 36weeks is still premature. It is in her baby's best interests not to rush things.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy delivery!

[babynurselsa]

I walked around at 4 cm for more than a month with 3 of my babies and all were term. Tell her she just needs to hang in there till little one decides to come out.
Good luck

[CEG]

I just had a doula client who had a cerclage removed 3 weeks ago and doc told her she would go into labor any minute. She was induced two days ago on her due date.

Also, this is just my wacky theory- but most women aren't getting checked throughout their pregnancy, so there may be millions of women walking around 3 cm dilated and no one knows it. There is no reason to think labor is immenent just b/c she is 3 cm. I was actually 4-5 when I went into labor with my 2nd.

Thank goodness she made it this far. Best wishes for a healthy baby.

[Elisheva]

I'm not going to be any help either. My daughter just gave birth to my 5th grandchild two weeks ago. She drove me nuts as well.

She developed gestational diabetes and started having contractions at 28 weeks. Doc put her on meds and made her start work. When she finally went off the meds three weeks before her due date, she was packed and ready to go to the hospital. Hah! She was induced a week before her due date because the baby was getting a little large.

Babies come when they darn well want to, a fact I must have repeated 10 times a day to my daughter.

Good luck, Grammy!

[NJNursing]

I can only add to what the others have said. I started to dilate and efface at 28 weeks (seems to be the magic # in this thread). They put me on Brethine (evil drug!) and told me to stop work and be on bedrest. I went off the Brethine at 36 weeks and was ready to have the baby (by then I was miserable). I ended up being induced the day before my due date because the baby was measuring 9+ pounds at my last ultrasound. She was 7 pounds, 8 ounces. lol