As with 1 cm dilated, being 2 cm dilated doesn't mean that labor is imminent. Some women who are 2 cm dilated may go into labor within hours. Others will remain 2 cm dilated for a few days or weeks until labor progresses. Once your cervix reaches 3 cm dilation, you've probably entered the early stage of labor. During this stage, your cervix gradually dilates to about 6 cm.
This is the longest part of labor and can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, although between 8 to 12 hours is common. Once you reach about 6 cm dilation, you're in the active stage of labor. At this point your contractions become very regular, longer lasting, and more painful. You probably won't know when you're precisely 6 cm dilated. However, as a general rule, you'll want to call your provider and possibly head to the hospital or birth center when you've had regular, painful contractions that each last about 60 seconds and occur every 5 to 7 minutes for at least an hour.
During the active stage of labor, your cervix dilates from around 6 cm to the full 10 cm. The last part of active labor, when the cervix dilates fully from 8 to 10 cm, is called transition. This process takes about 5 to 7 hours if you're a first-time mom, or between 2 and 4 hours if you've had a baby before. The exact duration of this stage is different for everyone. Once your cervix is 10 cm dilated and percent effaced, you're ready to start pushing.
You'll probably feel a strong urge to push at this point. When your cervix is 50 percent effaced, it's about 2 cm long. At this point, it's halfway to becoming short and thin enough to allow your baby to pass through the uterus and into the vagina. Most effacement usually happens during the first stage of labor, when your cervix is dilating to 6 cm.
This process can take several hour or days, and will likely be accompanied by early signs of labor such as Braxton Hicks contractions and losing your mucus plug. When your cervix is 60 percent effaced, it's 60 percent of the way toward becoming short and thin enough to allow your baby to pass through the uterus. Most of the effacement process happens during the early stage of labor when your cervix is dilating to 6 cm, and may take several hours or even days.
A cervix that's 70 percent effaced is 70 percent of the way toward becoming short and thin enough to allow your baby to pass through the uterus.
This process typically happens during the early stage of labor when your cervix is dilating to 6 cm, and may take several hours or even days. Once your cervix reaches 80 percent effacement, it's almost short enough to allow your baby through the uterus, assuming it is accompanied by dilation. You may reach 80 percent effacement or higher during the early stage of labor, or this may happen once you reach active labor. The same is true for 90 percent and percent effacement. When contractions start to occur regularly and cause pain, let a healthcare provider know.
When pregnancy begins, a mucus plug seals the opening of the cervix. This plug will break apart and fall away as dilation progresses. When the plug falls away, it may look like discharge.
The color can range from clear to pink, and the plug may be slightly bloody. When labor is about to start, the membrane surrounding the baby can break and fall away. The water breaking is one of the most commonly recognized signs of labor. It can result in a sudden gush of liquid, or only a trickle. Some women may not notice because there is so little fluid. The medical community calls this lightening, and it can occur anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks before active labor begins.
Contact the doctor about any signs of labor, such as regular contractions, cramping, or the water breaking. Depending on the extent of dilation, the doctor may recommend resting in bed or avoiding strenuous activity. In a review , researchers studied the outcomes of 82 women admitted to the hospital for preterm labor. They found that 48 percent of the women who arrived with 0—2 cm of dilation delivered within the first 48 hours of admission.
For the women to qualify, they had to be between 24 and 34 weeks pregnant. Though the study was small, it suggests that dilating to 1 cm before the 37th week may be a risk factor for preterm labor. Anyone experiencing signs of labor before the 37th week should speak to a healthcare provider as soon as possible. In most cases, having 1 cm of dilation for a few weeks before delivery will cause no complications.
It does not necessarily mean that a woman will go into labor immediately or even the next day. Dilation is just one of many ways that the body prepares for labor. It alone does not mean that labor is imminent.
Maybe you love to cook and can prepare several meals that can be frozen and eaten once you and the baby are back at home. Has she repeatedly asked you to put the crib together or finish painting the nursery? Perhaps there is another household chore she would like you to do or needs your assistance with. What changes are occurring with your body at 37 weeks pregnant?
How big is your baby at 37 weeks? What is happening with your baby? What should you plan for pregnancy week 37? Tips for making your pregnancy better: Basically, you are in a waiting game from this point on. Want to Know More? Can I get pregnant if…? Share this post:. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. By Nicole Harris. Comments 1. Sort by: Newest. Newest Oldest. Nice read Read More. Load More Comments. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Add your comment
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