Cervical Dilation and Effacement During Pregnancy Learn about cervical dilation and effacement — and what causes your cervix to start opening and thinning at just the right time in your pregnancy. Cervical Dilation and Effacement — What It Is Dilation, the opening of the cervix (measured in centimeters), and effacement, the thinning of the cervix (measured in percentage), occur in a pregnant woman as labor and delivery get closer. The timing is different in every woman: For some, dilation and effacement is a gradual process that takes weeks, or even a month; others can dilate and efface overnight. (Sorry, but wishing wont make it so.) Cervical Dilation and Effacement — What Causes It During dilation and effacement, your cervix is preparing for delivery by providing an opening from the uterus to the birth canal — unblocking the path to your babys exit route. Cervical Dilation and Effacement — What You Need to Know Your practitioner may give you an internal exam to check how far youve dilated, and based on that he or she may make an educated guess as to when youll deliver. But dont go racing to the delivery room just yet if that guess is soon. For every practitioner whos been right on the money, there are a hundred women who were still pregnant — and impatient — a week later. The cervix continues to dilate throughout early and active labor. Full cervical dilation (10 centimeters) occurs at the end of the transitional phase (the last of the three phases of labor.) Once the cervix is completely open, it will be time to start pushing your baby out. Cervical Dilation and Effacement — What You Can Do About It Not a thing. Your body is in charge here. But if your practitioner determines theres a reason that labor induction is necessary, there are steps he or she can take to move the process along.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:18:18 +0000
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