Is she in labor?

My daughter is 36 weeks pregnant. She has made 3 trips to L&D and has been having contractions. First trip 3 shots of Brethine, 2nd trip 2 shots, 3rd trip (just last week) 1 shot. The shots seem to stop the contractions, but only for a week or so. Last trip she was told that she was -2, 2 cm dilated, and 50% effaced. However, they did the swab test to determine if she would go into labor in the next 2 weeks and it was negative. Yesterday.....she started having back pain AGAIN, which continued through the night and into today. She was told at the last hosp. trip that they would probably not try to stop the labor next time. Anyone out there who has had this experience and if so....what exactly does all this mean.....50% effaced, -2......I know it means her cervix is thinning and the baby is moving down......any guesses as to how much longer she will go?

Re: Is she in labor?

It's so hard to say. With my first DD I was 2 cm and 50% effaced for two weeks! You just never know...

Good luck either way!

Re: Is she in labor?

Thank you. I am hoping, at this point, she goes earlier than two weeks. Poor girl, she is miserable. Said during the night last night her legs were hurting so badly that she couldn't sleep. I'm going to take her shopping today for baby shower cake.....maybe we'll start something significant!!!

Re: Is she in labor?

I don't think she is but you may want to have her checked out to be sure.

With my first I was 99%effaced and 2 cm dialted for 2 weeks.

This pregnancy I had lots of tightening and contractions and was given the swab test twice. My Dr told me that if it is POSITIVE there is a 1 in 7 chance of going into labor in the next two weeks. If it is NEGATIVE (which it was both times for me ) there is a 99% chance you WON'T go into labor.

She explained the test to me. When your body starts to get ready to go into labor the walls (or something in there) start to break down. IF you have a chance of going into labor in the next two weeks the swab will pick up some of that and show things are happening. If you are NOT getting ready for labor the swab won't pick up anything b/c everything is still intact.....hope that makes sense!!

Re: Is she in labor?

I was 1cm and 50% effaced 2 days before I went into labor with my 2nd. He came 3 weeks early.

Re: Is she in labor?

I started having contractions at 28 weeks. I had the shot three different times, and my FFN (thats the test you are talking about) always came up neg. After 34 weeks, they didnt give me the shot again) I ended up delivering my son on his due date.