2007-10-24 15:05:15 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
or what is effacement?
2007-10-24 15:09:29 · update #1
Effacement is what takes place in pregnant women right before giving birth. That part of the uterus called the cervix is usually elongated somewhat, but gets softer and thinner right before a woman goes into labor. This whole process is a noun called Effacement.
2007-10-24 15:17:42 · answer #1 · answered by Richard S 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Effacement is the thinning or stretching of the cervix in preparation for labor.
My midwife described it like the neck of a turtleneck sweater. Imagine the baby's head coming out of the turtleneck. That's sort of what it looks like when the cervix starts thinning and stretching "back."
Dilation refers to how wide the mouth of the cervix actually is.
2007-10-25 18:17:29 · answer #2 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Effacement is when the cervix shortens. It starts out at about 4cm, and as it thins they refer to it in terms of percentages. . . 50% effaced is 2cm, for example.
That's all it refers to, it does not refer to how firm or soft (the cervix needs to soften in order to efface and dilate, it does not get firmer as labor nears).
2007-10-24 22:20:33 · answer #3 · answered by Take A Test! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As labor progresses, the cervix stretches and becomes thinner, as the baby's head presses against it, forcing the 'mucus plug' out of the cervix that has been helping to protect the baby throughout the pregnancy.
more detailed information available in my sources.
2007-10-24 22:24:13 · answer #4 · answered by samantha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
effacement is the softening of the cervix
2007-10-24 22:08:03 · answer #5 · answered by Mrs.K 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋