2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

With DS, my water broke at 40w1d and I was still 1cm 50% effaced, just as I had been at 36w6d, and ended up being induced because I wasnt progressing on my own.

My SIL is due on Thursday and was 2cm 80% effaced yesterday. Her doctor also stripped her membranes. She mentioned that she was having contractions 15 minutes apart last night...

Does that mean labor is imminent or can it still be a few days? I predicted that she was going to have the baby tomorrow AM and as far as I know she's not at the hospital yet, so I guess I might still be right! We are all very excited and I will become an aunt once this baby is born

Edit: I hope I didnt jinx her. She just texted me that the contractions stopped.

Message edited 9/17/2013 10:31:00 AM.

Re: 2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

Is this her first DC? If so, I'd think yes, she could have the baby sooner rather than later.

If this is her 2nd or 3rd, I think it could be longer. For my first, I was 2cm for a few days but only 50% effaced and had no contractions for just a few days after they stripped my membranes. I self-induced with castor oil. For my second, I was 2cm, more than 50% effaced and had several false alarms because contractions were 5-15min apart for about a week - it was torture. Then for #3, forget it - I had contractions <5min apart for WEEKS - I really thought I'd have the kid at home in my living room. My body just labored in a different way with #3 - he was out in less than three pushes, though, when he finally decided he was ready to come out.

Re: 2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

Thanks! This is her first... so... I guess we just wait and see

Re: 2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

With my SIL's 2nd, she walked around for about a week at 3 cm. She was having contractions on and off. But the night she finally did go, it happened VERY quickly.

Re: 2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

I was 2cm and 100% effaced for a week before I went into full blown labor. During that week I had several episodes of having contractions that went on for hours and then stopped. For her sake, I hope she goes quickly because I was miserable!

ETA: When I did go into labor, it happened quickly as a PP said. I woke up at about 7am with contractions. It took me about 30 minutes to figure out that they were "real" and different from the contractions I had earlier in the week. I got to the hospital and was checked about 9am and was already 6cm, still 100% effaced of course, and the baby was at 0 station.

Message edited 9/17/2013 2:23:03 PM.

Re: 2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

Her OB just scheduled an induction for Sunday. I'm not sure why, it's only 3 days past her due date and she's progressing on her own. I guess we wait and see

Re: 2cm and 80% effaced with contractions 15 minutes apart?

With DS, I was 1 cm and 90% effaced at 37 weeks and didn't have DS until 39+2. Also had contractions for weeks before he was born. So sometimes it means it's imminent and sometimes not... I don't think you ever know.

ETA: Similarly to previous poster, once in labor I progressed super fast. Woke up at 2:45am with painful contraction, again at 3:00, 3:10, then 7 min later, 5 min, 2.5 min... I was at 2.5 within an hour, painful in abdomen and back. By noon I was ready to push and never went on Pitocin. Too bad DS had the cord wrapped around him in three spots and was stuck bc I had to push for FOUR HOURS! If it hadn't been for that, labor would've been fast.

Message edited 9/17/2013 8:52:49 PM.