Cervical dilation and effacement can take place for several hours, days or even weeks before you actually give birth. Once the process is complete, you’re ready to deliver your baby.
Cervical dilation
During pregnancy, your cervix is closed to protect your baby.👶 Dilation is the opening of the cervix which is measured in centimeters. It takes hours, days, or even weeks for your cervix to reach full dilation. When you’re fully dilated up to 10cm, you are ready to enter labor.😃
Cervical effacement
Effacement is the thinning of the cervix which is measured in percentages. The cervix shortens and becomes thinner and softer in preparation for your labor. When your cervix is fully thinned out like a sheet of paper, you’re 100 percent effaced.😃 Effacement and dilation must happen simultaneously and completely before you can begin going into labor.🤗
Cervical effacement symptoms
🤰Braxton Hicks contractions
These fake alarms of irregular contractions are the first signal of the cervical effacement. These may cause some discomfort but no pain, and they come and go.🧐
🤰Loss of mucus plug
A plug of mucus at the entrance of the cervix that used to seal the uterus from the external world begins to be torn down. You may notice a gradual trickle or a large lump of bloody mucus coming out of your vagina.🩸
🤰Baby drop
Your baby is descending into the pelvis and resting the head on your cervix.👶 You may notice the shape of your belly might change a little bit too.
🤰Greater need to pee
You may find yourself visiting the bathroom more often these days because your baby’s descent is putting more pressure on the bladder.🚽 Despite the increasing need to urinate, you may find it easier to breathe deeply once your baby moves down.😮💨