Labor? Not labor? What is going on with my body?

Being in an upright position rather than laying down is more likely to encourage dilation. Walking can also help. But, you don't know how long until the baby is born, so don't exhaust yourself walking everywhere or not napping if needed. You need to be well-rested.

The uncomfortable stage of labor can drag out for a while. My most recent labor was 26 hours, but the vast bulk of it was in the regular but uncomfortable stage. They were only more difficult to handle for the last 5 hours or so. With my second child, I also had weeks of on and off contractions that were very uncomfortable for several hours every day, but it'd stop at bedtime. So, I know where you're coming from.

Follow their advice. You really don't want to go into the hospital and be only a couple centimeters dilated. The longer you're there, the more likely you are to have interventions and the complications that can come with them. Wait until the pain is more severe, like you feel as if you can't handle the contractions well. And about the spotting, she said if bleeding was severe. Spotting is not bleeding. It could be from the cervix check, but it could also be spotting from your cervix dilating. Baby will come soon enough.

I'm 39 weeks too, spent 24 hours contracting, the hospital kept me in overnight with the expectation that I'd be further dilated in the morning and I'd deliver the next day, but the next day, they stopped, so I got sent home again. I'm contracting again but no sign of baby. I feel like I've been doing abdominal crunches non stop of days now, I'm worried that I'll be too exhausted to go through true labour when it hits! Yes, it is so frustrating. Try walking around, having the baby resting on your cervix during contractions might help move things along a little, other than that, you're going to have to wait it out, just like me I'm afraid! It's a good sign that things are moving along though, I wouldn't be surprised if both our babies were here in the next few days!

Good luck!

I know how you feel love, i was in labour for 38 hours, and didnt dialate till the last hour, and i was in full on labour for about 25 hours of it, strong pains every 2 mins, i ended up having a c-section because the reason i didnt dialate was bubba was stuck and wouldnt move down, just keep pushing them to check you and make them take you, i just pushed and pushed and said your not bloody sending me home again!!!! Good luck hun, hope your bundle arrives safetly! X

go back to the hospital, even if the spotting is fron the internal exam, your still bleeding, you dont know for sure what has caused it, your just guessing its from the internal, they should hopefully break your waters for you, good luck hun x

My advice to you is to google this word........doctor. Find out what it is and where you can find one in your area.