I'm 40+ weeks pregnant and I am over due. Last Thursday my doctor stripped my membranes, Friday I lost my mucus plug, Sunday was my due date and I was having extreme pressure so I went to the ER. I was already 4 cm dilated and 50% effaced, when I got to the ER I was almost 5 cm dilated and 60% effaced they sent me home saying I wasn't in labor. I don't understand why they sent me home I don't want them to wait until te last minute to we're I won't be able to get pain medicine or they will have to do an emergency c-section. What should I do

What happens is that you have to have cervical change while you are in the hospital. Typically I get my patients to walk for about 2 hours. If their cervix has changed in those two hours I keep them for delivery.

Remember that with every labor there is a risk for a c/section. If you live close to the hospital, and this is your first baby, there is no reason to keep you tied to the hospital bed and have only ice chips until delivery.

Is this your first baby?

Have you discussed this with your doctor, not just the ER

have you discussed this with your doctor, not just the ER

ER doesn't handle L&D complaints Chuck. Patients go to the ER, but are sent to the L&D department. ER doesn't do babies and L&D doesn't do heart attacks.

For you to be in labor with your first baby, you will have to have contractions 2-3 minutes apart with a cervical change in 1-2 hours. If neither is happening, the patient is sent home to wait it out. Especially for a first baby.

I have walked everyday for more than 2 hours and it just seems my cervix isn't thinning out this is my first baby
What happens is that you have to have cervical change while you are in the hospital. Typically I get my patients to walk for about 2 hours. If their cervix has changed in those two hours I keep them for delivery.

Remember that with every labor there is a risk for a c/section. If you live close to the hospital, and this is your first baby, there is no reason to keep you tied to the hospital bed and have only ice chips until delivery.

Is this your first baby?

I went to the ER and they sent me to labor and delivery the doctor that checked me said she had to check with the on call doctor from my doctors office because they were thinking about keeping me but the doctor told them to send me home
have you discussed this with your doctor, not just the ER

This is your first baby, and that's okay. Remember that dating gestation is only an educated guess and nothing scientific. You may only be 38 or 39 weeks.

It will happen when it happens and there will be no mistaking it when it does happen.

Your body has never done this before. It's going to take some time.

Ok I was just worried that because I'm dilating it will be a last minute thing. They keep telling me since my water hasn't broken then I'm not in labor
This is your first baby, and that's okay. Remember that dating gestation is only an educated guess and nothing scientific. You may only be 38 or 39 weeks.

It will happen when it happens and there will be no mistaking it when it does happen.

Your body has never done this before. It's going to take some time.

What does it mean when they say the cervix is behind the baby's head? Or in back of the baby?
This is your first baby, and that's okay. Remember that dating gestation is only an educated guess and nothing scientific. You may only be 38 or 39 weeks.

It will happen when it happens and there will be no mistaking it when it does happen.

Your body has never done this before. It's going to take some time.

That's not necessarily true. Most of my patients have to have their water broken by the doctor. Although I am a L&D nurse, I will give you a personal example... I have had 4 children. With all 4 of them the doctor had to break my water.

Labor is defined by regular contractions that increase in strength and intensity along with cervical change. If your cervix is not changing at least every couple of hours, you are not in active labor.

Oh OK because I'm dilating my cervix is changing at a slow pace
That's not necessarily true. Most of my patients have to have their water broken by the doctor. Although I am a L&D nurse, I will give you a personal example... I have had 4 children. With all 4 of them the doctor had to break my water.

Labor is defined by regular contractions that increase in strength and intensity along with cervical change. If your cervix is not changing at least every couple of hours, you are not in active labor.

What does it mean when they say the cervix is behind the baby's head? Or in back of the baby? That means that your cervix is positioned more towards your back. As labor progresses the cervix will slowly move toward your vagina.

Think of your uterus and cervix looking like a lightbulb tilting to the back. As labor progresses, the part of the lightbulb that screws in to the light gets shorter and shorter, it also spreads out and gets wider and wider. This is what is called dilation and effacement.

Oh OK thank you
That means that your cervix is positioned more towards your back. As labor progresses the cervix will slowly move toward your vagina.

Think of your uterus and cervix looking like a lightbulb tilting to the back. As labor progresses, the part of the lightbulb that screws in to the light gets shorter and shorter, it also spreads out and gets wider and wider. This is what is called dilation and effacement.

I hope I helped you understand what is going on with your body. Good luck to you. I can't wait to see pictures of your beautiful baby!

Yes you did thank you very much
I hope I helped you understand what is going on with your body. Good luck to you. I can't wait to see pictures of your beautiful baby!