I'm in my 37 th week(just started), doctor said that i 'm 1 1/2 cms dialated .when can i except the ?labor to start?what r the symtoms to look for archie replied. Dear sre,
You could deliver anytime in coming 2-4 weeks. I know many who dilate 2 cm and does not progress further so dilation is not measure to consider labor.
If in next visit your dilation is progressing and that your cervix is more effaced than last visit then one can imagine you would deliver in a week or so.
However, look for followings
contractions those begin and last for 20 to 40 seconds and are spaced 10-15 minutes apart.
If the contractions last more than 2 hours and regardless you changing activity, or drinking water then you could have a labor sign. If bag was not ready then get ready for hospital and get your support person with you if he/she was not home.
On the other hand if you change your activity for example started walking if when contractions were started when you were sleeping and by changing activity they disappeared then it's called false labor.
If contractions last for 40 seconds to 1 minutes and pain grows more and more as the time between two contraction reduces say becomes 7-8 minutes and not 10-15 minutes, then you sure are in labor. But still no need to rush to hospital.
The contractions may continue with same pain or more and time between contractions will come closer to 5 minutes and may be you won't bear contraction, this is time you give a call to your OB and see whether s/he want to see you in hospital.

The contractions will get intense and they will last more than a minutes and the gap between two contractions will get closer and closer say 2-3 minutes, at this time you must be in hospital.

Archie