Many women find that the main characteristic of active labor is that the contractions are extremely painful rather than uncomfortable. At this stage of labor, some women may choose medication, such as an epidural to cope with the pain. Others prefer to manage the pain naturally. Changing positions, moving, and remaining hydrated can help with the pain of active labor.
During the transition phase of labor, the cervix dilates to the following sizes :. For many women, transition is the most challenging stage. However, it is also the shortest. Some people begin feeling an urge to push during the transition stage. It is also common to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or unable to cope with the pain. Some women vomit. Some women find that the coping strategies that worked well in the earlier stages of labor are no longer useful. Transition tends to be short and is a sign that the baby will soon arrive.
Moving, changing positions, and visualization exercises can help. The cervix continues dilating during transition, and transition ends when the cervix has fully dilated. Once the cervix has reached 10 cm, it is time to push the baby out.
Contractions continue but also produce a strong urge to push. This urge might feel like an intense need to have a bowel movement. This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. It is often longer for those giving birth for the first time.
Historically, doctors told women to push according to a schedule, to count to 10, and to remain on their backs. Researchers have examined the relationship and determined that the more effaced or thinned out the cervix is before and during labor, the faster the process of dilation might be. Related: Cervix dilation chart: The stages of labor. You may or may not have symptoms as your cervix effaces. Some people feel nothing at all. Others may experience irregular contractions that are uncomfortable, but not necessarily as painful as labor contractions.
Related: Labor and delivery signs. Effacement is measured in percentages ranging from 0 to percent. During these checks, they can tell you how effaced and dilated you are. If you do choose to check your own cervix, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly. It may also be a good idea to clip your nails first. Again, this can be very difficult to understand on your own without years of practice.
Your healthcare provider has more training to determine exactly how effaced you might be. Related: What to expect during a vaginal delivery.
Cervical effacement generally begins in the later weeks of pregnancy. You may even remember your healthcare provider measuring the length of your cervix from time to time via ultrasound — this is the very reason. Both effacement and dilation are the result of your uterus contracting. The two go hand in hand. Semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins that may help it soften and thin out.
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For everything from what to eat during pregnancy to how to plan for birth and what comes after, check out these best pregnancy books! Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What does dilation mean? Dilation and labor. Other signs of labor. Lightening You may have heard that your baby will drop close to your due date. Mucous plug Your cervix protects your baby during pregnancy, and this includes your mucous plug.
Contractions If you feel your belly tighten and release, you may be experiencing practice contractions Braxton-Hicks , or the real deal. 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. When to call your doctor. Once labor begins, contractions and the descent of the baby will usually cause your cervix to dilate fully, allowing your baby to enter the birth canal and, ultimately, be delivered.
This may not happen for every woman, even after they go into labor. Cervical dilation may occur naturally or may be induced by a medical professional. Progress in labor is measured by how much the cervix has opened and thinned to allow your baby to pass through the vagina.
Cervical dilation is measured in centimeters, and your cervix must dilate from zero to 10 centimeters to enable vaginal delivery. As you get closer to your due date, your cervix may start to dilate without you realizing it. Your healthcare provider or midwife will be able to tell if this is happening during your regular checkups by doing a cervical exam.
At one centimeter dilated, the cervical opening is approximately the width of your index finger. When it gets to 10 centimeters, with the help of contractions during active labor, it will be about the width of a large bagel.
Effacement and dilation are different processes that happen at the same time. Effacement refers to the thinning, softening, and shortening of the cervix. The more effaced the cervix is, the faster dilation happens. Fresh, red blood is usually not associated with dilation, but rather with serious complications such as:. There are three phases of dilation:. There are three stages of labor:. Every labor is different, but the first stage of labor is the longest stage.
For the first pregnancy, it can last from up to 20 hours. Sometimes, there may be medical reasons to speed up the process of dilation and kickstart labor. Medical intervention may be a good idea if:.
They may use one of the following methods:. Cervical insufficiency—also called incompetent cervix—is when the cervix dilates painlessly without any contractions.
When this premature dilation is not detected in time, cervical insufficiency can cause a pregnancy loss or birth of a preterm infant.
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