what does it mean to be dilated and effaced. Im 36wks and 6cm.?

Answer 1

It means 4 more cm and your ready to push that baby out. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Cervical effacement and dilatation
As labor nears, the cervix begins to thin or stretch (efface) and open (dilate) to prepare for the passage of the baby through the birth canal (vagina). How fast the cervix thins and opens varies from woman to woman. In some women, the cervix may efface and dilate slowly over a period of weeks. A first-time mother often will not dilate until active labor begins.

Late in your pregnancy, your health professional will manually check (wearing sterile gloves) how much your cervix has effaced and dilated.

Effacement

As the baby's head drops down into the pelvis, it pushes against the cervix and causes the cervix to relax and thin out, or efface.

See an illustration of cervical effacement.

Throughout your pregnancy your cervix has been tightly closed and protected by a plug of mucus. When the cervix effaces, the mucus plug is loosened and passes out of the vagina. The mucus may be tinged with blood. This passage of the mucus plug is called "show" or "bloody show." You may or may not notice when the mucus plug passes.

Effacement is described as a percentage. For example, if your cervix is not effaced at all, it is 0% effaced. If the cervix has completely thinned, it is 100% effaced.

Dilatation

After the cervix begins to efface, it will also begin to open (cervical dilatation).

Cervical dilatation is expressed in centimeters from 0 to 10. Zero means that the cervix is closed, and 10 means that it is completely dilated.

Answer 3

Cervical dilation is the dilation (opening) of the cervix during childbirth. In the early stages of pregnancy, the cervix may already have opened up to 1-3 cm (or more in rarer circumstances), but during labor, repeated uterine contractions lead to further widening of the cervix to about 6 centimeters. From that point, pressure from the presenting part (head in vertex births or bottom in breech births), along with uterine contractions, will dilate the cervix to 10 centimeters, which is "complete." Cervical dilation is accompanied by effacement, which is the thinning of the cervix.

General guidelines for cervical dilation:

Early Labor: 0-3 centimeters
Active Labor: 4-7 centimeters
Transition: 8-10 centimeters
Complete: 10 centimeters. Expulsion of the fetus takes place shortly after this stage is reached (although the mother does not always push right away.)
During pregnancy, the os (opening) of the cervix is blocked by a thick plug of mucus to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. During dilation, this plug is loosened. It may come out as one piece, or as thick mucous discharge from the vagina. When this occurs, it is an indication that the cervix is beginning to dilate, although not all women will notice this mucus plug being released.

Bloody show is another indication that the cervix is dilating. Bloody show usually comes along with the mucus plug, and may continue throughout labor, making the mucus tinged pink, red or brown. Fresh, red blood is usually not associated with dilation, but rather serious complications such as placental abruption, or placenta previa.

Prostaglandins contribute to cervical ripening and dilation. The body produces these naturally. Sometimes prostaglandins in synthesized forms are applied directly to the cervix during labor induction to soften the cervix, though these medications have been linked to an increase in uterine rupture risk especially for those with previous cesarean sections.

The pain experienced during dilation is similar to that of menstruation (although markedly more intense), as period pains are thought to be due to the passing of endometrium through the cervix. Most of the pain during labor, if there is any experienced, is caused by the cervix dilating, not the uterus contracting.

Answer 4

Um dilated means your cervix is opening up to help pass your baby through it. 6cm i have never heard of unless you are in labour. Effaced is the cervix thinning out. Again to help your baby pass through it. I would be more worried if you asked about Station!!! But if your 6cm what havent you been admitted yet? You only have 4cm to go and there is baby. Go to the hospital.

Answer 5

If they said you were 6CM dilated I cant imagine a Hosp. or a Dr. sending you home. You only have 4 CM to go before having a baby. You need to go back to the Hosp.

Answer 6

dilated means that the cervical os is opening up to accept the fetal head from the uterine side
effaced means that the cervix is thinning out to a paper thin membrane to allow easier passage of the fetus from the uterus to the outside world
you will be close to 10 cm and 100% effaced when that happens
good luck

Answer 7

I was looking at your other questions and I do not think the hospital would have sent you home if you were 6cm. 6cm means labor is emminent, You would be in active labor and almost to trasition. If you are serious you really need to call your doctor!!!

Answer 8

i am assuming you are using a lap top from the hospital. i dont know of any dr that will send you home at 6cm. just injoy the ride. you must be in at least a little pain. relax as much as possible and you will have your baby soon. lots of luck

Answer 9

Wow 6cm already, I am surprised you aren't in labor yet!! I didn't 6 till I had been in labor for hours.

Answer 10

it means that you a few more hours, and 4 more centemeters from meeting your baby. Congrats!!! BTW if you water hasn't broken yet, you may want to get to the hospital, they may have to break it for you. My water never broke naturally, the drs had to do it both times