37 weeks and dilated!

I just hit 37weeks yesterday and found out Friday I'm about 1 1/2 to 2 cm dilated. I know this sounds crazy but I'm hoping my son is late, that way I don't have to use all of my leave and I can go back to work at the begining of the new year. So my question is, what's the likelyhood of me lasting another 3-4 weeks if I'm already dialted? I'm not showing any signs of preterm labor, I have cramping and back pain but that's a given. Anything I can do to prevent him from coming early???

Really good. I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced at 30 weeks and lasted until 36 weeks. Bed rest, try not to walk a lot or have sex that will help keep him in longer unless he's really ready to come out.

bedrest and no other activites. Its really up to your body and if that baby is curious to see who is all around him.

IMO since it's your first, you will probably make it to 40 weeks. But who knows, everyone is different! Good luck 

Quoting Chassity Michele:“ I just hit 37weeks yesterday and found out Friday I'm about 1 1/2 to 2 cm dilated. I know this sounds ... [snip!] ... signs of preterm labor, I have cramping and back pain but that's a given. Anything I can do to prevent him from coming early???”

I don't know if Iam dilated as yet but i also want to get my leave all into the new year. So am trying tow ork as long as possible. When do they start checking to see if you are dilated? I am 36wks.

Quoting Kyrie & Dominic:“ Really good. I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced at 30 weeks and lasted until 36 weeks. Bed rest, try ... [snip!] ... 36 weeks. Bed rest, try not to walk a lot or have sex that will help keep him in longer unless he's really ready to come out.”

What does it mean to be 80% effaced? Honestly when she checked my cervix it was so uncomfortable for me I think I annoyed her and she gave up, that's why my measurement isn't precise and it's about 1 1/2 to 2cm.

Quoting KayDay:“ I don't know if Iam dilated as yet but i also want to get my leave all into the new year. So am trying tow ork as long as possible. When do they start checking to see if you are dilated? I am 36wks.”

you should be checked this week. I was told 36 weeks and now I have to go in every week and they check every week if I've made any progress.

Quoting frgqnh:“ bedrest and no other activites. Its really up to your body and if that baby is curious to see who is all around him.”

Yea but I just can't request bedrest?!?! or can I? My docs said bedrest is really only when there's a problem. They keep telling me pregnancy is not a handicap. They wouldn't bed rest me for severe back pain ( and I have pre-existing back pain from a car accident) so I don't think they will put me on bed rest just for the sake of it.  

Quoting Chassity Michele:“ What does it mean to be 80% effaced? Honestly when she checked my cervix it was so uncomfortable for ... [snip!] ... for me I think I annoyed her and she gave up, that's why my measurement isn't precise and it's about 1 1/2 to 2cm.”

Effaced is how thin your cervix is. When you're pregnant your cervix is hard and closed. The closer you get to labor it thins out (100% is paper thin and labor) then it can dilate (open). It's not precise because it's done with fingers. Fingertip 1/2 cm, finger 1cm, 2 fingers 2cm, etc... When I was at the hospital the nurse with skinny hands said I was 2cm at 31 weeks and my doctor said 1.5 cm because he has bigger fingers.

Quoting Chassity Michele:“ Yea but I just can't request bedrest?!?! or can I? My docs said bedrest is really only when there's ... [snip!] ... I have pre-existing back pain from a car accident) so I don't think they will put me on bed rest just for the sake of it.  ”

thats funny becasue they dont want to put m,e on bedrest and I have a condition that requires them to put me on bedrest. And when I asked about it the doctor laughed. And I asked to be sent on maternitiy leave and he laughed and said , a week before my due date, So Iam srcewed.

Quoting Chassity Michele:“ Yea but I just can't request bedrest?!?! or can I? My docs said bedrest is really only when there's ... [snip!] ... I have pre-existing back pain from a car accident) so I don't think they will put me on bed rest just for the sake of it.  ”

You don't have to be told to go on it. You just rest. Don't lift a lot of heavy things, don't exercise, don't walk a lot, don't have sex (semen helps soften and dilate your cervix), etc... just lay back and watch tv at home or stay on BG all day like I did

I was 3 cm with each of my boys at 37 weeks. We helped things along with each of them at 39 weeks or I probablly would've gone a little longer. (With the first we started with cytotec which I wouldn't have had I researched it, and the second I had my membranes stripped.) I had BH all the time and was to 5 cm with baby #1 and 6 cm with baby #2 before labor.
You can easily go overdue being dilated what you are. Some people will sit for weeks at 3 or 4.