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xsbnix · Nov 24, 2009, 11:01 AM

So I'm 38 weeks pregnant and I have been to the hospital twice now because I'm contracting every 1-2min ALL DAY LONG I have been for about a week now. They sent me home because I'm not dialating and they said there isn't anything they can do until it starts. Its very frustrating because one I don't know when I should go back to the hospital because I feel weird going back every day and all they do is keep sending me home! However the dr said that my cervix was soft. Is that a good thing? And if so does that mean that it can happen soon now and what can I do to speed things up? Is there anything? Someone please help. Thank you!

J_9 · Nov 24, 2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by xsbnix

so im 38 weeks pregnant and i have been to the hospital twice now because im contracting every 1-2min ALL DAY LONG i have been for about a week now. They sent me home because im not dialating and they said there isnt anything they can do until it starts. its very frustrating because one i dont know when i should go back to the hospital because i feel weird going back every day and all they do is keep sending me home! however the dr said that my cervix was soft. Is that a good thing?? and if so does that mean that it can happen soon now and what can i do to speed things up?? is there anything?? someone please help. thank you!

I am a labor and delivery nurse, if you came to my hospital, I would be the one sending you home. So, I think I am qualified to answer your questions.

Is this your first baby? If so, these "contractions" you are feeling can go on for a week or more before you start dilating.

We don't keep women in the unit who are not dilated because you will be strapped to the bed and on the monitors for eternity... until you deliver. You won't be in a comfortable bed and you will only be able to eat ice chips. SOOO we send gals home, who are not dilated, to labor in the comfort of their own beds and they can eat and drink whatever they wish.

Your cervix being soft IS a good thing. It means that dilation is around the corner. Not today or tomorrow, but at least within the next 2 weeks.

You see, most facilities are not allowed to induce or augment labor until the patient is at least 39 weeks. Unfortunately, you are a week too early for that.

Is there anything you can do? YES! Walk... walk... walk. Drink lots of water and walk some more.

xsbnix · Nov 24, 2009, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by J_9

I am a labor and delivery nurse, if you came to my hospital, I would be the one sending you home. So, I think I am qualified to answer your questions.

Is this your first baby? If so, these "contractions" you are feeling can go on for a week or more before you start dilating.

We don't keep women in the unit who are not dilated because you will be strapped to the bed and on the monitors for eternity...until you deliver. You won't be in a comfortable bed and you will only be able to eat ice chips. SOOO we send gals home, who are not dilated, to labor in the comfort of their own beds and they can eat and drink whatever they wish.

Your cervix being soft IS a good thing. It means that dilation is around the corner. Not today or tomorrow, but at least within the next 2 weeks.

You see, most facilities are not allowed to induce or augment labor until the patient is at least 39 weeks. Unfortunately, you are a week too early for that.

Is there anything you can do? YES!! Walk...walk...walk. Drink lots of water and walk some more.

Thank you that helps knowing that if its soft then its good. They didn't tell me whether that was a good thing or not and I've been drinking TONS of water and walking a whole bunch so thanks for letting me know I'm doing the right thing! Thanks so much*

J_9 · Nov 24, 2009, 12:14 PM

You are very welcome!

Just so you know, I would rather send a mom home a hundred times with false labor, than to have her deliver at home. So don't worry about bothering the nurses, that's why we work 24/7/365.

Here are a few of my facilities labor precautions. This is when to go to the hospital

* When your water breaks... it feels like a gush of fluid. This does not stop until the baby is born. You will most likely have to wear a pad, or even a towel. Be sure to bring the pad or towel to the hospital for testing.

* Contractions don't let up. There is no rest period between contractions. It is just one long contraction.

* Vaginal bleeding. Now, you have been checked so you might get some spotting. When I say vaginal bleeding I mean bright red period-like blood and you will have to wear a pad.

* Contractions that increase in strength and intensity.

These are only a few of my precautions, I'm not at work right now, so can't remember them all... but these are the important ones.

Now, I doubt (not to say you are wrong) that your contractions are 1-2 minutes all day every day, or most likely the hospital would have either kept you or given you terbutaline to stop the contractions.

Drink up to a gallon of water a day. This should slow or stop the contractions if indeed it is false labor.

Do you know how to time your contractions?

dnaakrs · Nov 24, 2009, 01:15 PM

It's hard but be patient. Cherish the rest you can still get because there will be some sleepless nights ahead. From my experience right at or just after the onset of real labor the plug to your cervix will losen. When you go to the bathroom and wipe you will notice a stringy discharge (sounds gross I know but it's part of it) tinged pink or red with blood. You will notice this discharge for a day or so or maybe just a few hours but is usually the sign of real labor. Also the baby seems to have a tendency to slow down it's movement. Maybe it knows what lies ahead and is resting for the labor to come. Walk, lot's of walking always seemed to help me. Good luck!

LearningAsIGo · Nov 24, 2009, 01:31 PM

I just want to wish you luck! I hope your baby comes soon and you're both happy and healthy through it all :)

Keep us posted

xsbnix · Nov 24, 2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

You are very welcome!!

Just so you know, I would rather send a mom home a hundred times with false labor, than to have her deliver at home. So don't worry about bothering the nurses, that's why we work 24/7/365.

Here are a few of my facilities labor precautions. This is when to go to the hospital

* When your water breaks...it feels like a gush of fluid. This does not stop until the baby is born. You will most likely have to wear a pad, or even a towel. Be sure to bring the pad or towel to the hospital for testing.

* Contractions don't let up. There is no rest period between contractions. It is just one long contraction.

* Vaginal bleeding. Now, you have been checked so you might get some spotting. When I say vaginal bleeding I mean bright red period-like blood and you will have to wear a pad.

* Contractions that increase in strength and intensity.

These are only a few of my precautions, I'm not at work right now, so can't remember them all...but these are the important ones.

Now, I doubt (not to say you are wrong) that your contractions are 1-2 minutes all day every day, or most likely the hospital would have either kept you or given you terbutaline to stop the contractions.

Drink up to a gallon of water a day. This should slow or stop the contractions if indeed it is false labor.

Do you know how to time your contractions?

Yes.. I time them all the time and they are usually between 3-5min and then they go back to 1-2min and the back to 3-5. the first time iwent they did give me a shot of that and it helped but they didn't give it to me again. And the nurse said the reason was because I wasn't dialating and they did some test to see if I would go into pre-term labor and it came back negative. So they just told me to go home and wait it out.