Effacement and Dilation of Cervix

Thisarticlehasinformationabouteffacementanddilationofcervixanditsimportanceforchildbirth.Readerswillalsogettoknowaboutvariousmethodsandexercisesthatcouldenhancethisprocess.Rumaisgettingworriedaboutherlabourwhichisdueinfewdays.Shehasgotmanyquestionshowherbodywouldreactduringactivelabour.Shehasundergonefrequentcheckupsandherdoctorhasexaminedforthesignsoflabour.ThedoctordidaninternalexaminationtofindoutifbabyhasdroppedandalsotocheckifEffacementanddilationofCervixhashappened.InthisarticlePreparingforChildBirthWhatisEffacementofCervix?WhatisDilationofCervix?MethodsforFasterCervicalDilationWalkingSexBirthBallsPreparingforChildBirthDuringthefinalweeksofpregnancy,bodyofwould-bemomsstartpreparingforlabourandultimatelychildbirthhappens.Theearlysignsshownbythebodyareeffacementanddilationofcervixsothatbabygetswaytocomeoutoftheuterussmoothly.WhatisEffacementofCervix?Anormalcervixisabout3-5cminlength.Duringmostofthepregnancyperiod,would-bemomshave3-5cmlongcervixanditisthick.Duringthefinalweeksofpregnancyperiod,cervixbecomesshorterandatthesametimeitbecomesthinner.ThisiscalledeffacementofCervix.Finallycervixalmostdisappearsanditappearsasaportionofloweruterus.EffacementofCervixismeasuredinpercentage.Whennoeffacementofcervixhappens,itis0%.WhenEffacementofcervixis100%,completethinningofcervixhappens.Duringtheentirepregnancyperiod,cervixofwould-bemomsremainsclosedandablockofmucusprotectsthebaby.Wheneffacementofcervixhappens,thisblockofmucusbecomeslooseanditcomesoutthroughvagina.Thisblockofmucusmayhaveatingeofbloodanditisalsoreferredtoas‘bloodyshow’or‘show’.WhatisDilationofCervix?Alongwitheffacementofcervix,thecervixstartsstretchingandopeningandthisprocessiscalleddilation.Ascervixbecomeswide,thebaby’sheadandrestpartofthebodycouldeasilycomeoutfromtheuterusintothevaginaltubeanddeliveryhappens.DilationofCervixismeasuredincentimetres.Duringactivelabour0-4cmdilationhappens.Dilationof7-10cmhappensduringtransitionphaseoflabouri.e.whenwould-bemomsareshiftingfromactivelabourtothefinalstage,delivery.Whenabout10cmdilationofcervixhappens,would-bebecomesreadyforthechildbirth.MethodsforFasterCervicalDilationTherearecertainmethodswhichhelpinthefasterdilationofcervixsothatlabourcouldhappensmoothly.Itisimportanttotalkwiththedoctorormidwifebeforeapplyingthemethodsoffastercervicaldilation.Naturalmethodsforcervicaldilationarepreferableandtheyshouldbetriedoutfirst.Medicinesorothermechanicaltechniqueshavelittleamountofrisksassociatedwiththem.Heresomemethodsoffastercervicaldilationaregivenwhichshouldnotbepracticedwithouttheapprovalofyourobstetrician.WalkingDuringlabour,walkingwillhelpthefasterdilationofcervix.Butasmentionedearlieryoumustdoitonlyifyourobstetricianallowsyoutodoso.Movementofbodyduringwalkingandgravitywillworktogetheranddroppingofbabyintothebirthcanalwouldbecomeeasier.Whentheheadofthebabypressurizesthecervix,effacementanddilationofcervixbecomeseasier.SexIfitisallowedbyyourobstetrician,havingsexduringlaststagesofpregnancyhelpinbetterdilationofcervix.Hormonespresentinsemen(prostaglandins)helpinfastereffacementanddilationofcervix.Havingsexisasafeoptionforeffacement.Insomewomen,thesehormonesareinjectedtoencouragelabour.Afterorgasm,oxytocinisreleasedfromthebodyandithelpsindilationofcervix.BirthBallsBirthballsarealsousedforfastercervicaldilation.Pregnantwomencouldsitonthisballandkeeptheirlegsapart.Squattingontheballwouldhelpinrelaxationofpelvicmusclesanddilationofcervix.Butthismethodshouldonlybepracticedunderthestrictsupervisionofacertifiedtrainer.EffacementandDilationofCervixisanimportantstageofpregnancy.Thecervixbecomessoftanditstartsdilatingtogetpreparedforthechildbirth.Effacementanddilationofcervixcanhappenevenbeforelabourpainstarts.DilationandeffacementofCervixcanhappennaturallyoritcanbedonebyinducingmedicinesorothermethodsunderthestrictsupervisionofobstetrician.

Ruma is getting worried about her labour which is due in few days. She has got many questions how her body would react during active labour. She has undergone frequent checkups and her doctor has examined for the signs of labour. The doctor did an internal examination to find out if baby has dropped and also to check if Effacement and dilation of Cervix has happened.

Preparing for Child Birth

During the final weeks of pregnancy, body of would-be moms start preparing for labour and ultimately child birth happens. The early signs shown by the body are effacement and dilation of cervix so that baby gets way to come out of the uterus smoothly.

What is Effacement of Cervix?

A normal cervix is about 3-5 cm in length. During most of the pregnancy period, would-be moms have 3-5 cm long cervix and it is thick. During the final weeks of pregnancy period, cervix becomes shorter and at the same time it becomes thinner. This is called effacement of Cervix. Finally cervix almost disappears and it appears as a portion of lower uterus.

Effacement of Cervix is measured in percentage. When no effacement of cervix happens, it is 0%. When Effacement of cervix is 100%, complete thinning of cervix happens. During the entire pregnancy period, cervix of would-be moms remains closed and a block of mucus protects the baby. When effacement of cervix happens, this block of mucus becomes loose and it comes out through vagina. This block of mucus may have a tinge of blood and it is also referred to as ‘bloody show’ or ‘show’.

What is Dilation of Cervix?

Along with effacement of cervix, the cervix starts stretching and opening and this process is called dilation. As cervix becomes wide, the baby’s head and rest part of the body could easily come out from the uterus into the vaginal tube and delivery happens.

Dilation of Cervix is measured in centimetres. During active labour 0-4 cm dilation happens. Dilation of 7-10 cm happens during transition phase of labour i.e. when would-be moms are shifting from active labour to the final stage, delivery. When about 10 cm dilation of cervix happens, would-be becomes ready for the childbirth.

Methods for Faster Cervical Dilation

There are certain methods which help in the faster dilation of cervix so that labour could happen smoothly. It is important to talk with the doctor or midwife before applying the methods of faster cervical dilation. Natural methods for cervical dilation are preferable and they should be tried out first. Medicines or other mechanical techniques have little amount of risks associated with them. Here some methods of faster cervical dilation are given which should not be practiced without the approval of your obstetrician.

Walking

During labour, walking will help the faster dilation of cervix. But as mentioned earlier you must do it only if your obstetrician allows you to do so. Movement of body during walking and gravity will work together and dropping of baby into the birth canal would become easier. When the head of the baby pressurizes the cervix, effacement and dilation of cervix becomes easier.

Sex

If it is allowed by your obstetrician, having sex during last stages of pregnancy help in better dilation of cervix. Hormones present in semen (prostaglandins) help in faster effacement and dilation of cervix. Having sex is a safe option for effacement. In some women, these hormones are injected to encourage labour. After orgasm, oxytocin is released from the body and it helps in dilation of cervix.

Birth Balls

Birth balls are also used for faster cervical dilation. Pregnant women could sit on this ball and keep their legs apart. Squatting on the ball would help in relaxation of pelvic muscles and dilation of cervix. But this method should only be practiced under the strict supervision of a certified trainer.

Effacement and Dilation of Cervix is an important stage of pregnancy. The cervix becomes soft and it starts dilating to get prepared for the childbirth. Effacement and dilation of cervix can happen even before labour pain starts. Dilation and effacement of Cervix can happen naturally or it can be done by inducing medicines or other methods under the strict supervision of obstetrician.