Dilation
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"Am I in Labor?" 8 Ways to Tell if Labor Has Started
It is the question on the minds of most women who are pregnant. Carrying a child and giving birth are
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Cervical Dilation in Pictures
Your doctor has measured you and told you that you are 1 to 2 centimeters dilated, but what does that
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Incompetent Cervix: What it Means, What You Can Do
You can get some help if weakening has occurred. Signs of Labor
When it's getting close, it's a good idea to know the signs of labor. The Bottom Line: An Alternative Method for Checking Cervical Dilation
The standard method for birth professionals to measure cervical dilation and effacement is the vaginal examination. When a midwife or doctor checks a woman’s cervix, she reaches her gloved hand inside the vagina and measures how many finger widths the opening of the cervix is. A centimeter is approximately Understanding Effacement and Dilation
In the final weeks of pregnancy, effacement and dilation are the body's natural way of transitioning into active labor. 