Understanding Late-Term Discomfort: No Dilation & Baby Position at 28 Weeks

Question
Hi I am 28 and pregnant with my first child and the first day of my last menstrual cycle, I cant remember but, my due date is 05/14/06. I am just a little concerned,  I  had a Dr. appt. today and my Dr said that it was a little disconcerning that there was no dilation and the baby was still up high and had not dropped, They have scheduled an ultrasound at my next appt next friday, to check how big the baby is. Should I be concerned that I am 2 weeks away from my due date and theres no dilation and she hasn't dropped? My Dr. said she may be big and is not able to drop. is there anything else that could cause that, and should we be concerned? her heart rate was good 138 and I can feel her quite a bit. Thank you for your help
Heather


Answer
It is not unusual to have no dilatation or effacement of the cervix at 37 weeks geestation. However, it is a bit unusal not to have "dropped" at this point.  If a sonogram  shows the estimated fetal weight (EFW) to be over 9,5kbsm you may decide to have an elective cesarean section to deliver the baby, in order to avoid the risk of shoulder dystocia and neurological problems with a large infant. However, if the EFW is less than 9lbs, you can safely wait and see when you go into labor. There is no reason why you would have already dilated your cervix at all, at this point. Be patient.