1cm Dilated at 21 Weeks: What to Expect & Hospital Monitoring

Question
The first day of my last menstrual period was estimated at January 20th, 2006.  I am 21 weeks pregnant. This is my first child. Two days ago I went to my midwives office to be checked over some light brief spotting (which has happened a few times but never concerned them before) and a midwife checked my cervix and said that I was dilated to 1 cm and she was sending me to the hospital.
At the hospital, they monitored my baby's heart (which was great) and also monitored me for contractions and bleeding (I had none.) Then they did an ultrasound which showed normal amniotic fluid, normal cervix length (3 c.m with no funneling, I'm assuming), and a completely healthy baby in breech position that was moving regularly. The OB nurse was surprised that the midwife had also told me that I was effaced, as she felt I was not. She also expressed some uncertainty over my dilation, but did not manually check me.
They released me and made an appointment with a perinatoligist, but I have to wait until this coming Tuesday (almost one full week) before I see him.
I am on strict orders for no sex or work, although one of the midwives felt that based on my test results I didn't need full bed rest. To ease my own mind I have tried to be very careful and pretty much stay in bed the whole time.
I know this has been a long winded, but my question is this: based on my test results and apparent situation, I am wondering if my midwife could have been wrong. I seem to be fairly symptom free during bedrest (no bleeding or major symtptoms) but I find myself on high alert wondering if labor is eminent, and if I would even know if I was going into it?


Answer
As long as the sonogram showed your cerviix to be at least 3cm long with no funneling, you need not be on bedrest. Bedrest has always been recommended if you have cramping, or shortened cervix,ot any signs of preterm labor (more than  six contractions per hour). However, it  has been found that bedrest does not help reduce the risk of preterm and you do not have to be on bedrest.  There is no need to worry. You do not need to see a perinatologist right away. It is o.k. To wait until your apointment on Tuesday. The midwife could have been wrong or the OB nurse could have beeb wrong. I would trust the midwife more. Until you are more than 4 cm dilated with contractions every  5 minutes (at the level of your belly button) and each contraction lasts (remains hard) for at least 1 minute, you are not in labor.