what does effaced mean?

Question

ive been reading about it in women who are close to giving birth, im 6 weeks pregnant with my first and was wondering what it was
thanks

Answer 1

2 things happen before a baby is delivered vaginally, dialation and effacement.

Dialation is the opening of the cervix up to 10cm, at 10cm the mother is considered fully dialated and ready to give birth.

Effacement is the thinning of the cervix. Effacement is measured in percentages. For example, your health care provider may tell you that you are effaced 50%, which means you are half way to being completely effaced. When you are 100% effaced or completely effaced, your cervix is paper-thin and labor is right around the corner.

Your OB-GYN will monitor your effacement and dialation late in the pregnancy to help predict when you may go into labor. However, all women do not dialate/efface at the same rate. Your doctor or nurse-midwife would be happy to discuss these terms with you in the office. It is good that you are thinking ahead and researching this now. The more prepared you are, the smoother the transition into motherhood will be.

Answer 2

Effacement is the shortening and thinning of the cervix before labour. The cervix is usually long and tightly closed until it starts preparing for labour. Then the cervix effaces and dialates to make it possible for the baby to pass through.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Effacement is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix gradually softens, shortens and becomes thinner. You may hear phrases like "ripens," or "cervical thinning" which refer to effacement.

Answer 4

effaced means the thinning og the cervix..the cervix must thin and also dilate (open) in order for a baby to be delivered through the birth canal...good luck!!

Answer 5

It's when your cervix is thinning so you can dilate and push your baby out.

Congratulations by the way !