Can you dilate without feeling contractions

1 Centimeter Dilated: When Will Labor Start?

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Medically reviewed by Kimberly Dishman, MSN, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB — By Ashley Marcin on April 6, 2016

Overview

As you near your due date, you might be wondering when labor will start. The textbook series of events usually involves:

your cervix getting softer, thinner, and opening
contractions starting and growing stronger and closer together
your water breaking

Your doctor may start checking how you’re progressing at each prenatal checkup during your last trimester. When might you go into labor if your doctor tells you you’re already 1 centimeter dilated? Here’s what to expect.

What does dilation mean?

Your cervix is the passageway from the uterus to the vagina. During pregnancy, hormones in your body cause many changes.

One change is that the mucus gets thicker in the opening of the cervix, causing a plug. This prevents bacteria and other pathogens from reaching the developing baby.

Your cervix typically remains long and closed (around 3 to 4 centimeters in length) until you get closer to delivery day.

During the first stage of labor, your cervix will start to open (dilate) and thin out (efface) to allow your baby to move through your birth canal.

Dilation starts at 1 centimeter (less than 1/2 inch) and goes all the way to 10 centimeters before there’s enough space to push your baby into the world.

Dilation and labor

You may have no signs or symptoms that your cervix has started to dilate or efface. Sometimes, the only way you’ll know is if your doctor examines your cervix at a routine appointment late in your pregnancy, or if you have an ultrasound.

The cervix of first-time moms may remain long and closed until delivery day. Moms who’ve had a baby before may be dilated for weeks leading up to their delivery day.

Contractions help the cervix dilate and efface from the beginning stages to the full 10 centimeters. Still, you may be dilated slightly without noticeable contractions.

Other signs of labor

Being 1 centimeter dilated doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll go into labor today, tomorrow, or even a week from now — even if you’re close to your due date. Fortunately, there are other signs you can look out for that might indicate your baby is on their way into the world.

Lightening

You may have heard that your baby will drop close to your due date. This process is called lightening. It describes when your baby starts to settle lower in your pelvis to prepare for delivery. Lightening may happen in the weeks, days, or hours before you go into labor.

Mucous plug

Your cervix protects your baby during pregnancy, and this includes your mucous plug. As your cervix begins to dilate, bits and pieces of the plug may start to fall out. You may notice mucus on your underwear when you use the restroom. The color can range from clear, to pink, to blood-tinged. Labor may happen the day you see your mucous plug, or several days later.

Contractions

If you feel your belly tighten and release, you may be experiencing practice contractions (Braxton-Hicks), or the real deal. The key is to time whatever tightening you’re feeling. Time if they’re coming randomly, or in regular intervals (every 5, 10, or 12 minutes, for example). Usually, if these contractions are infrequent and painless, they’re practice contractions.

Read more about Braxton-Hicks vs. real contractions.

If they grow stronger, longer, and closer together and are accompanied by cramping, it’s a good idea to let your doctor know what’s going on.

You may also feel contractions start in your back and wrap around your abdomen.

Rupture of membranes

One of the more classic labor signs is your water breaking. If this happens, you may experience a large gush, or a trickle of fluid. The liquid is typically clear and odorless.

It’s important to call your doctor if you suspect your waters have broken. Take note of how much fluid you experienced and any secondary symptoms (contractions, pain, bleeding) you have.

When to call your doctor

Preterm labor (before 37 weeks)

If you’re experiencing bleeding or leaking of fluid at any point in your pregnancy, call your doctor or midwife right away.

Also call your doctor if you’re having frequent contractions, pelvic pressure, or other signs of labor weeks (or months) ahead of your due date.

Term labor (37 weeks or more)

Let your doctor know about any symptoms of labor you’re experiencing. Contact your doctor if you think you may have dilated early (for example, if you lose your mucous plug or have bloody discharge).

Call your doctor right away if you experience contractions that are closer than three to four minutes apart, lasting 45 to 60 seconds each.

The takeaway

Being 1 centimeter dilated means that your body may be on its way to preparing for your little one’s arrival. Unfortunately, it’s not a reliable indicator of when the whole process will truly kick into high gear.

Try to remain patient, keep in close contact with your doctor, and monitor yourself for any other labor symptoms. Call your doctor if you notice changes they haven’t discussed with you before.

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Last medically reviewed on April 6, 2016

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How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Incompetent cervix. (2015, August)
americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/incompetent-cervix/
Labor and delivery. (2012, December 12)
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Am_I_Pregnant/hic_Labor_and_Delivery
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, April 3). Labor and delivery: Postpartum care
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/basics/labor-and-delivery/hlv-20049465
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, July 18). Signs of labor: Know what to expect
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/signs-of-labor/art-20046184

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Apr 6, 2016

Written By

Ashley Marcin

Edited By

Nizam Khan (TechSpace)

Medically Reviewed By

Kimberly Dishman, MSN, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB

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Medically reviewed by Kimberly Dishman, MSN, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB — By Ashley Marcin on April 6, 2016

How Far Can You Dilate Without Going Into Labor? Experts Explain

Pregnancy

PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images

But how far, exactly?

by Kelly Mullen-McWilliams

Updated: July 5, 2022

Originally Published: Aug. 30, 2017

At some point in the third trimester, Braxton-Hicks gives way to the real deal — contractions, of course. Mine came in the middle of the night, super-villain style. When I told my OB-GYN, she checked me out and announced that I was three centimeters dilated. Surely I'd go into labor any day now, right? If you're feeling the midnight pains, or if your doctor's given you a report like mine, you might wonder, how dilated can you be without being in labor?

Can you dilate without getting contractions?

You can both dilate without contractions and you can have contractions without dilation. “The definition of labor is ‘contractions that lead to cervical dilation,’” board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Barbara McLaren, M.D., tells Romper. “You must have both contractions and dilation together for it to be considered labor.” She notes that usually dilation sans “appreciable contractions” occurs in people who have given birth before. “In general,” she adds, “I would not be concerned if the cervix was mildly dilated, meaning anything less than four centimeters, unless there are also regular, painful contractions happening as well.”

How dilated can you be without being in labor?

"We consider advanced dilation to be about four to five centimeters," says Megan Schmitt, M.D., a Park Nicollet OB-GYN who delivers at Methodist Hospital Family Birth Center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. "So there are some women, who are typically moms who have had babies before, that are not in labor and walking around with a cervix of four to five centimeters. But typically after that range, labor starts."

Considering you've got 10 centimeters to dilate before you have your baby, four or five means you've come a long way, baby. It also means that you can be shopping at Safeway with a super open cervix.

What causes advanced dilation before labor?

People who dilate most before labor begins tend to be multiparous: doctor-speak for people with multiple kids. The body doesn't forget a thing like childbirth, and the cervix loses some of its rigidity after you give birth once. According to McLaren, second-time pregnant parents often feel their babies kick sooner, sport their bumps a month earlier, dilate more quickly, and experience shorter second labors. (They've earned it.) “It's often the case that the more you do it, the better at it your body becomes,” McLaren tells Romper. “It's muscle memory in a way. Your body just gets smarter at it because it's done it before.”

"We consider fully dilated to be eight to 10 centimeters, and at that range I’ve never seen a woman that does not also have contractions," says Schmitt. "But if a mom is four to five centimeters, and is also having contractions, we will keep her in the hospital and can augment labor to get her to six to seven centimeters. Once a mom is six to 10 centimeters, she is technically in labor."

As a first-time mom, my three centimeters didn't mean a whole lot, and those super-villainous contractions? They were just the trailer. The movie itself didn't start for two more weeks, and it was way more intense than advertised.

SrdjanPav/E+/Getty Images

How to get labor going when you're 4 cm dilated

McLaren’s biggest suggestion to get things going is staying active — be it walking or having sex to induce labor (though not everyone will feel up for this). “Walking, low-impact movement, and exercise help to get things into gear before labor and delivery,” she explains. “With sex, there's actually a chemical in semen that helps to stimulate contractions.”

Another trick she suggests is nipple stimulation. “When your nipples are stimulated, it can trigger the body to release a chemical called oxytocin, which helps you go into labor,” she says. Often, doctors will administer Pitocin, a synthetic version of oxytocin, to progress or induce labor, according to McLaren. “To stimulate the natural process of oxytocin, squeeze the nipples or practice using your breast pump,” she offers, suggesting getting your partner involved as well.

If you’re 37 weeks or later, McLaren suggests a natural red raspberry leaf tea to possibly encourage contractions or evening primrose oil supplements.

Moral of the story: Everyone is different. Some cervixes remain tight as a fist until the big day. Others open early (especially if it's not their first time at the rodeo). You can walk around with dilation of four or even five centimeters, but without regular contractions, you're not in labor. But don't worry. Whether you dilate a little, a lot, or not at all, baby's on their way.

Experts:

Megan Schmitt, M.D., a Park Nicollet OB-GYN who delivers at Methodist Hospital Family Birth Center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Dr. Barbara McLaren, board-certified OB-GYN and co-founder of Kushae feminine wellness products

This article was originally published on Aug. 30, 2017

On the link between reducing inequalities and realizing global citizenship

Mayor Marvin Reese. © Bristol City Council

Bristol Global City

About the Author

Marvin Reese

Marvin Reese is the mayor of Bristol, England, United Kingdom.

The British city of Bristol has developed thanks to trade, so it has always been open to the outside world and has been willing to build global connections. In this, of course, he is not unique. In the current era of globalization, all cities in the world are in one way or another in contact with other countries. But Bristol is working hard to keep abreast of both local and global developments and strive to instill a sense of global citizenship in residents, which in turn contributes to greater equality in the city. Bristol is a port city in the southwest of the United Kingdom where almost half a million people live. There are people here from 180 countries who speak more than 90 languages and practice at least 45 different religions. Modern urban industries, in particular the media, the financial sector, green technology, aerospace and the creative industry, are inextricably linked to the economies and cultures of other countries. Our two universities attract thousands of international students and faculty, as well as partners for research and innovation projects from all over the world.

I took over Bristol City Hall in 2016, becoming the first African-descended mayor in Europe to be elected directly. My father is from Jamaica, my mother's parents are from Wales and England, and my wife is American. My sister is married to a Swiss and my brother's wife was born to British Indian parents. Due to the fact that I myself and my family have such a heterogeneous background, I feel that I belong to a certain global community - this is a very multifaceted and dynamic structure, while at the same time giving me a sense of security.

This global identity seems to me to be much more in keeping with the dynamic life of my city than the superficial debates about cultural identity that sometimes take place in national political institutions. This is one of the reasons why I support initiatives to increase the representation of cities in forums where the overall direction of human development is determined.

My priority is to create a more open city where equality reigns and no one is left behind.

Bristol is a thriving city known worldwide for its sustainability, innovation and cultural diversity. It has been named the most livable city in the United Kingdom in national surveys, has won European competitions for environmental criteria and is recognized internationally as a center of innovation.

As mayor, I am proud that Bristol is one of the "cities of refuge" working with organizations that support refugees and asylum seekers, that it is the first "learning city" in England of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and culture (UNESCO) that it is recognized as a Fairtrade City, and in 2015 became the first Green Capital of Europe to be located in the United Kingdom. I am proud that in 2016, 62% of Bristol's citizens voted for the country to remain in the European Union; it reminds me that I am in charge of a city that is open to the outside world and values its international connections.

At the same time, not everyone can appreciate the splendor of our city. Our inequality is on the rise. A quarter of our children are growing up in poverty, 42 of Bristol's neighborhoods are among the 10% poorest in England, and the cost of living is making living in our city increasingly unaffordable. The northern areas of Henleese and Southmead are within walking distance of each other, but the average life expectancy in them differs by nine years. Our task is not only to ensure prosperity and international development opportunities for the city, but also to ensure that these opportunities can be used by everyone.

I want my city's success to be built on solid ethical principles, which means that all Bristolians have reason to hope for a brighter future.

Global citizenship can help spread the benefits of globalization to all people.

Global trade and opportunities to gain education or skills abroad bring wealth to cities. However, economic growth per se does not always benefit the poorest areas. Last year, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a UK-based research charity, noted that the poorest neighborhoods “still do not have access to the prosperity enjoyed by wealthier communities in the same region.” ¹ . The increase in wealth driven by the effects of globalization further marginalizes the inhabitants of the poorest areas and exacerbates inequality at the global and local levels.

Global citizenship awareness begins at a young age, as does our effort to educate global citizens in Bristol. Our schools celebrate various international days and hold joint events with our sister cities, such as participating in the mini-ambassadors program, organized jointly with the French city of Bordeaux. At the University of Bristol, a collaborative effort between faculty, students, employers and alumni has developed the Future of Bristol curriculum enrichment program to help all students acquire the skills needed to be global citizens in our changing world. By 2019this year, this program will be officially included in the curriculum and will become mandatory for every student. As young global citizens enter the labor market, they will continue to promote the global approach.

Bristol strives to realize global citizenship and participate in international affairs.

This year, we published the city's international strategy to better organize our participation in international initiatives and advance our goal of reducing inequalities. This strategy will be reflected in the agenda of the whole city only with active coordination. Taking into account the strengths of our economy, the work of two universities, the voluntary sector and international communities, the city council is mapping the international connections that are and are desired. We understand that these links are often informal, but their positive contribution must be taken into account alongside the structured global activities that we are already developing.

We know that collaborative and focused international work will bring economic benefits by stimulating trade, investment, financing, labor inflows and tourism. When Bristolians feel they share a commonality with neighbors from a wide range of cultures, social cohesion within the city increases, and joint coordination with the various organizations operating in Bristol is the only way to reduce inequalities in all parts of the city.

Urban sovereignty and intercity connections will help reduce urban inequality.

Reducing inequality and realizing global citizenship are closely linked to the notion of urban sovereignty. “Citizens” are city dwellers, and by 2030 they will make up 70% of the world's population. Cities are attracting migrants, becoming more culturally diverse and gaining a stronger sense of global belonging and responsibility. Cities serve as breeding grounds for entrepreneurship, innovative enterprises and trade. Today, city leaders are closer than ever to citizens, their daily problems and opportunities. Cities like Bristol need the freedom and space to harness global citizenship and reduce local inequalities. Therefore, a rebalancing of sovereignty is needed to enable cities to shape the national and international context in which they exist. International partnerships are the most important means for us to achieve this goal.

This is why the Global Parliament of Mayors was created in 2015 to help city leaders speak out louder on issues such as inclusion and sustainability. The Global Parliament of Mayors is committed to working with international institutions, networks and partners to ensure that global and national structures help city leaders around the world quickly address citizen concerns. We unequivocally call for the expansion of the powers of city authorities in areas that concern our residents. And it's not just about tightening control over what's going on in the city. Governments can play the role of partners in the development of the national economy, allocating powers and resources that can be used with the necessary flexibility and discretion to address key local challenges, such as affordable housing and the fight against congestion in transport networks, to achieve a truly comprehensive an economic growth strategy that will allow everyone to share in the success of our city, and to further develop international ties.

Bristol's involvement in other international networks is also a powerful factor in positive change, both in our city and elsewhere, from the Rockefeller Foundation "100 Sustainable Cities" to the EuroCities network, from the European Green Capital Network and the organization "Local Governments for Sustainable Development" to the "EU-China" program. Mayors and civil society leaders must promote a global citizenship and advocacy approach and find opportunities and systems that will enable cities to share the technical, material and financial resources they need to meet their challenges.

Learning from best practices

Connecting with cities around the world and learning how best to address urban challenges such as housing, transportation and social assistance will help us improve our own performance. We can avoid repeating the mistakes of others by applying the experience of other cities in our territory, and at the same time we are always ready to share our practice.

We recently launched the Open Cities initiative, where cities share knowledge to bring about a qualitative change in the way they integrate newcomers into urban society. Along with four other participating cities, we are led by the Center for Migration, Politics and Society at the University of Oxford, drawing on the experience of cities in the United States participating in the Welcoming America initiative. This project, based on American practice, aims to promote the integration of new residents of Bristol and can benefit the city and citizens in areas such as community cohesion, popular participation in democratic processes, public health, housing and homelessness, employment, education and training, creating conditions for children and persons in need of care, as well as assistance to unaccompanied asylum seekers.

Global Inequality

All my focus and all my actions are on reducing inequality in Bristol. In their book The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone, epidemiologists Richard Wilkinson and Keith Pickett argue that the best policy tool for improving human society is precisely the elimination of inequality, not ensuring growth ² . I believe this is true not only for Bristol, but for our entire interdependent world.

Bristol already hosts the largest network of international development agencies outside of London based in the United Kingdom. The South West International Development Network comprises 70 organizations and over 300 individuals, all of which are committed to fighting global poverty and are actively working with Bristol partners. This network intends to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Bristol's remittances support communities around the world, and I know that a stronger city's economy directly improves living standards in other countries. Money transfers between cities are one of the most important yet unrecorded ways of redistributing wealth in the world, which is made possible by the movement of citizens between cities.

Tonight, when I talk to my children before bed, they will tell me about school lessons and what they had for lunch. But they will also talk about how they interact with friends of other religions, cultures and ethnicities, their interest in American grandparents and our Jamaican heritage. I want them to strive when they grow up so that their own children can live in Bristol in conditions of equality; As mayor, I intend to help them achieve this by taking steps to ensure that our city remains open, welcoming and inclusive. I will continue to welcome all who come to visit us, whether for the purpose of tourism, trade, study or cooperation in one form or another, and I will continue to work to reduce inequality in all neighborhoods of this global city.

Notes

Alasdair Rae and others, “Overcoming deprivation and disconnection in UK cities”, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 15 August 2016. Available from https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/overcoming-deprivation -and-disconnection-u....
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone, 2nd ed. (London and Penguin, 2010).

2010).

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While less than 10 per cent of the United Nations police, justice and corrections officers represent the total number of personnel involved in peacekeeping operations, their work remains fundamental to the achievement of sustainable peace and security, as well as for the successful fulfillment of the mandates of such missions.

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Pulses in the spotlight: Roots of sustainable agriculture and food security

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experience of Barry-Wehmiller, who saved 12,000 workers during the 2008 crisis

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Material translation Marker.

Barry-Wehmiller is a 125 year old American company manufacturing equipment for the processing and packaging industry. In 2008, during the financial crisis, Bob Chapman was faced with a choice: either lay off thousands of employees or close the business.

A few years before the crisis, the company made a public commitment to measure its success by how it affects people's lives. In order not to break the promise, Chapman came up with a strategy that would allow the company to survive the recession and not lay off a single employee.

As a result, the business not only survived the crisis, but also grew, and Barry-Wehmiller is now valued at $3 billion.

The company is preparing for a new crisis, although the Covid-19 pandemic does not pose an immediate threat to its operations. The CEO is bracing for another downturn and is already developing measures to help save money and keep thousands of workers.

The story is told from Chapman's point of view.

How Barry-Wehmiller Faced the Financial Crisis

In the face of a pandemic and economic problems, companies are faced with the question of survival. In order to save money and not stop the business completely, entrepreneurs start laying off people.

This method makes it easy to calculate the money saved, but it is impossible to calculate the loss of company skills, as well as the loss of investment in downsized people. It is impossible to calculate the impact that the cuts will have on both the laid-off people and those who remained in the company.

I sympathize with the leaders who are now considering layoffs. While my company is not in immediate danger, when the manufacturing sector collapsed and layoffs began during the 2008 financial crisis, I felt the need to do the same.

At the height of the financial crisis in January 2009, I remember being at a Barry-Wehmiller board meeting and being advised to start layoffs to get the company's expenses in order.

At the same time, I assured the board of directors that we have every chance of weathering the crisis. We had many orders and opportunities that could have kept the company going for months.

But six weeks after that meeting, when one of our biggest clients put a $20 million order on hold, I knew the recession was going to hit us much faster and harder than I had expected.

As more delays and cancellations began to appear, our revenues began to disappear, and I faced the prospect of laying off thousands of team members so that our company with more than a century of history could survive.

Why you can't fire people and what you need to do

Rejecting people will not only destroy the culture we have worked so hard to create, it would be cruel to send people into an environment where there are no other jobs. But we couldn't afford to pay everyone.

I asked myself what a family that faced such a crisis would do, and I came to the conclusion that each member of the family would sacrifice something small so that someone would not have to suffer too much. And in the spirit of common sacrifice, we decided to take other measures instead of layoffs.

I cut my own salary from $875,000 to $10,500 a year, which was my starting salary as an accountant in 1968.
Suspended the payment of bonuses to managers.
Reduced travel and other discretionary expenses at the discretion of business owners.
We have implemented a generous voluntary early retirement program for employees near retirement age.
Asked each employee to take four weeks of unpaid leave at any time they choose.

For our employees, the measures taken were a great joy: they feared a possible dismissal for months, but now they could feel safe. The right to decide when to spend weeks of vacation, they used as a currency to help each other.

Employees distributed holidays in such a way that those who were in the worst situation did not have to work more. Giving employees control over their days off has been an incredible boost to morale and team spirit.

We could achieve the same financial result if we simply cut wages, but it would be wrong to ask people to work the same amount for less pay. What we offered was a trade: your time in exchange for a lost paycheck.

As a result, we came out of the recession incredibly strong and were able to expand fully as soon as possible. 2010 was the best year in the company's history, followed by record year after year.

Why is it important to think about subordinates even in a crisis

We live in a culture where most people feel that employers don't care about them, and where people would refuse a pay rise if they could fire their manager.

Before the current crisis, we had the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, but one of the highest rates of depression and anxiety. Even though people had jobs, they didn't feel valued.

One of the things I've learned in my 45 years of running a company is that management is about using others to help you succeed, and leadership is about taking care of the lives that people have entrusted to you.

The manager's responsibility is to develop a resilient business model and protect the people in the company. You must think of your people not as duty bearers, but as someone else's children who have been placed under your care.

I understand that the current situation is unprecedented and that today's crisis is not like what we faced in 2008-2009. For industries such as entertainment, food or tourism, whose revenues have fallen to 10% of pre-crisis levels, it may simply be impossible to avoid laying off people.

But cutbacks should not be a leader's first move or an easy choice.