Help! How Will I Know I'm Dilating?

The age old question...how will I know I'm dilating? Well ladies, the ugly truth of the matter is, you won't. You may lay in bed having some contractions for hours and assume that certainly you must be opening that cervix away by now right? It's not a reality many like to discuss but it does happen more often than not. No two cervixes are the same and that means no doctor can candidly tell you why your cervix contracts, but doesn't dilate itself. Let me give you an example, myself for instance. I'm pretty healthy, in my thirties pregnant with my 4th yes my 4th son...yes I am done ha! My first son, he had to be induced at 35 weeks due to being duress, had his cord wrapped around him so pitocin was used. Second son was a preemie, my water broke but no dilation at a scary 32 weeks (he's a healthy 9 year old now!) they administered pitocin yet again to get him out as he had no fluid in there to survive. Third baby, now he stayed in there until 38 weeks yeah! Get to the hospital after about an hour of decent pains, and I was 4 cm at that time. Once again, they let me try to dilate on my own, and my cervix was sleeping on the job as usual...pitocin all over again. Currently, I've been 3 cm for weeks now and I'm 37 weeks along. So there you have it, by the time I can deliver (which hopefully it will be sooner than later since I've had so many complications this pregnancy) I will probably need pitocin yet again to dilate! As you can see, some ladies can dilate all on their own with very little if any complications or medications needed from the hospital. Others less fortunate like myself cannot. It becomes all too frustrating when you know you have been contracting and cannot get dilated. If you are not at least 35 weeks along, you should contact you doctor as something serious such as preterm labor may be onset. After the 35 weeks women seem to experience these contractions more frequently and it isn’t as severe with the baby so close to being term. The baby is considered term at 37-38 weeks. Even though you stay pregnant for 40 weeks, he or she can be born during this time usually with very little complications. If you were in true labor, you could certainly be induced in most cases once that 37 week marker has hit. Is your doctor going to induce you simply because you are uncomfortable, not a chance. If you do have valid concerns such as the baby is measuring too big, you have high blood pressure, or any other ailment during your pregnancy they can induce you if they feel it is deemed medically necessary.