I am 36 weeks pregnant...went to the dr today and he said I am 80% efaced but not dialated yet. How long before I go into labor do you think?

Maggie - posted on 02/18/2009

Thanks for everyone's replies!! I wasn't sure if being efaced meant he was going to come sooner rather then later. I know everyone is different and the baby will come when he is ready. I'm just ready! lol His head is so low that it hurts when I walk or move my legs around at all. But I will be his incubator as long as he needs:) Thanks again! And good luck to everyone else that is prego!

Missy - posted on 02/18/2009

Nobody can answer that.  Obviously you will have the baby within 6 weeks.

Jen - posted on 02/18/2009

I was effaced for about a month before my daughter came. I was dialted 2 cms. for 2 weeks before I had her. All that's happening is that your body is getting ready. It doesn't mean the baby is getting ready. Your baby will be here in a few weeks though. Good luck with everything.

Brenda - posted on 02/18/2009

Efacement just means the cervix is thinning out.  You could go another four to six weeks before you go into labor.  Sometimes women will begin to eface before their dialation begins, and even when the dialation begins you can go two or three weeks at two to four CM before actual labor begins.  I would just keep an eye on Braxton Hicks contractions, and you may lose your mucus plug before too long as well. Even if you do, though, it could be up to a couple weeks before you actually start labor.

Michelle - posted on 02/18/2009

Oh, I remember these days!!!! This is a tricky thing! You dont even have to be all the way effaced to begin dialating or when you are in labor...this is the thining of the cervix...so you need to be 100% effaced and 10 cm dialated to have the baby.... usually things start happening when you are effaced and begin to dialate...but it is always different...with my daughter I was 80% and 2 cm and they told me it could be days and I went into labor that night, with my son I was 100% effaced and 3cm dialated for 3 days before anything happened and that was my second pregancy....ugh...its so annoying huh?

Hang in there! It will happen...I promise!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!

Sarah - posted on 02/18/2009

I was 2 cm dilated for 5 weeks, so there is no telling when you will go into labor.  With my 2nd baby I was efaced for 2 weeks before I went into labor.  Both girls came late.  The first one was almost a week late.  I was one day shy of 41 weeks, and the 2nd was 4 days past 40 weeks.  Keep the baby in there as long as you can.  I know you are excited and likely sick of being pregnant, but the baby will come when he/she is ready.  Plus if you're like me, you will miss being pregnant after you deliver.

Melissa - posted on 02/18/2009

I was 100% effaced from 36wks on and I gave birth at 39wks. It just depends onwhen the baby is ready. You can't predict from effacement.

Lori - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi efaced and dilated are two different things.  effaced is the thinning of the cervix and dialtion is the opening.  I was 1 cent dilated at (I think) 35 weeks and stayed that way for 2 weeks then was 2 cent for another two weeks.  I was 60% effaced til the day i went into labor.  I know ur not interested in my story you are just anxious.  But the point is that every woman is different.  There is no way to tell.  You have to hang on for another week at least.   Then if you are desperate you can start walking.  That is what helped me progress.  I started working out also.  I went into labor 6 days early.  I know it doesn't seem that way but the end is near. I promise.  Good Luck.  I wish you a happy, healthy and short labor. 

Hanna - posted on 02/18/2009

Quoting Maggie:

I am 36 weeks pregnant...went to the dr today and he said I am 80% efaced but not dialated yet. How long before I go into labor do you think?

hi im bit confused by that as i thought effaced meant dilation!!! you are still only 36 wks tho so hang on they say babys can be born safe and healthy at 37 wks so dnt be to worried,if you are not experianceing any contractions then chances are u may go to term but many babys are born a wk or so early now.xx