32 Weeks Pregnant: Understanding Baby Station, Effacement & Labor Timing

Question
I'm 23, first child, lmp 05/03/05. Im 32 weeks and my baby is at -2 station and I'm 50% effaced. I have been experiencing irregular contraction, sometimes painful;loose, frequent bowel movements and sharp pains in my vagina. When do you think I will go into labor? If my baby is born will he likely survive and with what problems?
Thank You.

Answer
Usually, for your first pregnancy, you will not go into labor until you reach your due date or, sometimes, up to two weeks later. It is normal to be -2 station and 50% effaced at this time. You can also be up to 1-2cm dilated. You will have irregular contractions (Braxton-Hicks contractions) but these irregular contractions will not dilate the cervix. When you start to have contractions at the level of your belly button that occur eveery 3 minutes (from the betinning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) and each contraction remains hard for at least 45 seconds, and this continues for a full hour, contact your obstetrician and get checked. When your cervix is greater than 3-4cm dilated, you will be admitted to the hospital.Why do not think your baby will have any problems. It is common to have frequent bowel movements and pains in your vagina, and you did not mention any other problems.If you start to have regular contractions at 32 weeks that occur more than 10 minutes apart, you should call your doctor. The baby's lungs are not mature until 36 weeks gestation, so it would be better if you did not deliver before then. However, the irregular contractions, station, and effacement that you have are fine at this time.