2cm Dilated in Second Pregnancy: What to Expect

Question
How long can you be 2cm dilated during your second pregnancy? Especially if you feel contractions every so often?

Answer
Shelly,


The truth is that you can be 2cm dilated for minutes or months, with or without noticeable contractions.  In a second (or subsequent) pregnancy, it's common for the cervix to start dilating during the last 6 weeks and even stay at that level until labor begins.


For example, with my second child, I was 4cm dilated at 34 weeks and stayed there for a month until she was born at 38 weeks.  I had consistent Braxton-Hicks contractions every day for the last 8 weeks with her. With my first I'd had no dilation until labor and still had Braxton-Hicks daily for the last 8 weeks.


Truly, dilation before labor isn't on a timetable.  All it tells you is that some of the work is already done before labor begins so that your overall labor time may be shorter than with your first.  It's truly not a reliable indicator of when labor will begin.



Best,
Catherine