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I thought the same thing. Maybe your little one isn't low enough yet? I have my 37 weeks check tomorrow and am hoping to be dilated and effaced atleast a little. Last week I was 0 and 0%, and my little man was still way up there. I have since been walking a lot more and I bought an exercise ball to help bring him down. I think it may have worked, just based on where I feel his bottom now. I guess we will find out at 9am tomorrow morning. Good luck to you too.

Thanks mjvdec01! I hope your appointment goes well today. Let me know if you are E or D any, if you don't mind. I am going to start walking today, hoping that will bring her down some more. Maybe that is all it is....she has dropped but not enough. Thanks so much again!!!

Hey, I had my appointment and I am 2cm and very, very soft but not dilated at all. He also told me that my plug is gone. If I were you I would go buy an exercise ball. You just sit on it and bounce and roll around, and you can move side to side. I really feel that is what has helped me so much. I spend anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour a day on the ball at one time. They aren't expensive either. I got mine at Fred Meyer for $16.99, and it comes with a pump and an ab workout dvd for later. If you get one, put a towel on it before you sit. It keeps you from sticking to it and it is a lot more comfortable. Also, don't inflate it as much as it tells you to. I found it too hard, so my hubby let some of the air out so it was more spongy, and bouncy. Anyway, my OB told me he is very comfortable with inducing me, so, it looks like my day will probably be the 17th. That is exactly 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY!! We have a 28 month old daughter who we have been trying to prepare for the change. I just hope she doesn't feel left out. My hubby will be home for 2 weeks after Nathaniel is born, and his main job is to make Madalyn feel included and included. Good luck to you, when is your next check??

I think it's an increase in a certain hormone that makes the cervix soften and dialate, oxytocin maybe?. It is brought on by the when the body and baby are getting ready for labour. It sounds like your body is in the early stages of pre-labour. I never dialated with all 3 of my pregnancies until I was actually in labour. And then it happened quite quickly after that. So I can't really tell you when, but I can tell you it will be soon if your back is sore and you're having a lot of Braxton-hicks.

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions! I wonder if it is the oxytocin (?) that may help to bring the baby lower as well. I go back to the doc next wednesday, so hopefully I will have had some "improvements" in the area :) mjvdec01- thanks so much for letting me know about your appointment. That is so exciting! Did you think you had lost your plug already? I bet your little girl will be excited when he arrives!

I had no idea it was gone. With our daughter I didn't see it either. I really think it was the ball that helped him to drop and me to dilate. I am so excited. When is your actual due date?

I am pulling out my exercise ball tomorrow! My due date is July 18. So, I am right there with you :)

I love the thing right now. I spend as much time as I can on it. I can even be on it while playing with our daughter. She likes to sit on my leg while I am on it and go for a ride. I figure I am getting something done and she is having fun, the extra 30 pounds can't hurt at this point. When is your next OB check? Mine is next thursday, and I think it will be my last.

Wow! It is hard to believe that this will be your last visit! My next one is next Wednesday (July 9). I really hope that something will have changed by then :)

Okay, so you go on wednesday and I go on thursday. I am sure your OB will have some news for you. Spend as much time as you can on your ball and walk as much as possible. If you can manage it without too much discomfort, then try s_x. There is prostoglandin (sp) in s____n that can help the cervix to soften and dilate. I also do squats when I can, usually about 20 at a time, a couple of times a day. Think positive and keep yourself moving. The worst thing you can do is lay around all day, unless your OB has ordered it. I'll be sending you good thoughts!

Hey mjvdec01! My appointment still did not go well. I have been bouncing like crazy and have been very active. I am not effaced or dilated still. Contractions were even more frequent this time when they did the nonstress test than last and more intense. I guess I will just be going back again next Wednesday.

Don't get discouraged, it will happen. If you go in to labor, and you aren't dilating, but are atleast at 1cm, they can insert a balloon to help you get to 3cm. That is what my OB had to do for me with my first. I don't really have much more news myself. I am still at 2cm, very soft and he said I am effaced "a little bit". He couldn't even give me a percentage. I don't have any other appointments scheduled because the induction is in less than a week. Keep walking and using your ball, it can't hurt. No matter where you are today, that doesn't change the fact that the baby will come out. You can only do what you can do.

thank you so much for your encouragement. I wish you the best with your labor!

I can't say I know what causes it, I only know that it can happen pretty much all at once very quickly. That happened to me. Good luck!

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