Cervical dilation and labor During labor, intense contractions of the uterus help move the baby down and eventually out of the pelvis, and into the vagina. These contractions put pressure on the cervix and cause it to expand slowly.
Medical interventions can speed up labor, but there are other ways to encourage dilation. They include moving around, rocking on an exercise ball, using relaxation techniques, and laughing. Dilation is a term that describes the widening of the cervical opening.
For instance, these factors are maternal body mass index (BMI), age, height and race, constitutional factors, parity, gestational age, fetal head position, fetal weight, labor augmentation or induction of labor, the use of epidural anesthesia and a longer first stage of labor [9, 10, 15, 18–24].
As you get closer to delivery, your uterine muscles will contract (or tighten) to help drop or engage your baby's head into your pelvis. This pressure causes your cervix to go from hard and long to soft and short. By the time your cervix is completely or fully effaced, it's as thin as a piece of paper.
Medications also can be given to help induce softening and dilatation of the cervix. Oral or vaginal suppository drugs, such as misoprostol and other prostaglandins, are also commonly used to ripen the cervix.
Typically, when we sit on the toilet, we are using the bathroom; so, naturally, we are accustomed to relaxing our pelvic floor while sitting on the toilet. A relaxed pelvic floor in combination with a supported squat can really help put that needed pressure on your cervix to help encourage dilation.
Prodromal labor is a type of false labor contraction. It happens in the third trimester of pregnancy and can feel a lot like real labor. Unlike real labor contractions, prodromal labor contractions never get stronger or closer together and don't lead to cervical dilation or effacement.
Checking for dilation does not induce labor unless the exam is used in conjunction with one or more common labor induction methods. A common intervention that may be offered during a cervical exam is called a “membrane sweep,” which is a procedure that can be performed if you are at least one centimeter dilated.
The cervix generally needs to be dilated to 10 centimeters before it's ready for the baby to pass through. Your cervix can be dilated to a couple of centimeters for a few weeks before delivery. This softening can cause the mucus plug to be dislodged and come out.
Early dilation often feels like menstrual cramps as the cervical changes cause pain and cramping noticed in the lower part of the uterus. It is the same sensation and location as menstrual cramps. Active labor tends to be felt in a larger area but can be a similar sensation as cramping (with more intensity of course).
Insert your index and middle finger and push your fingers deep inside as far as you can to reach your cervix. Be as gentle as possible to prevent bruising or complications. Assess dilation. You're considered 1 centimeter dilated if one fingertip fits through your cervix, or 2 centimeters if you can fit two fingers.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.
The hormones estrogen, progesterone, relaxin, and prostaglandins are responsible for softening the cervix. The hormone oxytocin is responsible for promoting uterine contractions that help to shorten and also dilate the cervix.
"Lying on your side, standing, sitting, walking, rocking—anything that keeps you active can help decrease pain and speed up labor," says Dawley. Other benefits of upright labor positions include: Reduced need for medication. Help in dilating your cervix and widening your pelvic opening.
It is not uncommon for the cervical ripening to take up to 24-36 hours!! It is also not uncommon to use different techniques to ripen the cervix. You may feel contractions during this process. If the contractions become painful, you will be able to request medication to relieve your discomfort.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) explains that the cervix can begin dilating a few days before labor truly begins. At this point, most women won't notice any physical cervix dilation symptoms.
At this point, your cervix will be dilated 3 to 10 centimeters. (Dilating one centimeter an hour is textbook, but like in early labor, it's different for everyone.)
Toward the end of pregnancy, vaginal tissue becomes more sensitive, so a cervical exam (which is not known for being gentle) can feel uncomfortable or even painful. Second, a cervical exam introduces foreign bacteria inside your vaginal canal and near your cervical opening, which increases the risk of infection.
Try herbal remedies
Some herbal remedies such as red raspberry leaf tea, black and blue cohosh, and evening primrose oil have been known to help soften the cervix and prepare the body for labor. But before trying an herbal remedy, talk to your doctor or midwife to ensure it is safe for you.
You can't feel your cervix thinning, but you might pick up on a few cervical effacement symptoms. When your cervix effaces, you may feel pressure down there, Thiel says. You might also notice an increase in cervical mucus or discharge.
Maintaining a regular exercise routine, including low-impact cardio like walking, has many benefits throughout pregnancy. But walking can also be used as an exercise to induce labor since it helps with cervical effacement and dilation and allows the baby to drop in the pelvis.
Labor contractions usually cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen, along with pressure in the pelvis.
Movement and Kicking in the Pubic Area
You might expect those fetal kicks to happen against your growing belly throughout pregnancy, but that is not always the case. You may be surprised to find that you can feel your baby kicking your cervix and even your bladder.