The body goes through amazing changes during childbirth in order to facilitate the birth of a baby. The dilation, or opening, of the cervix, is a crucial step in this process. As labor goes on, the cervix gradually opens wider.
A common question is how much the cervix must open in order for childbirth to occur. The response is a precise measurement in centimeters that medical practitioners use to track the onset of labor.
An awareness of the way the cervix opens during childbirth can make expectant parents feel more prepared and assured when giving birth. It is a normal aspect of giving birth that lets the body know the baby is almost ready.
| Stage of labor | Cervical dilation |
| Early labor | Up to 3 cm |
| Active labor | 4-7 cm |
| Transition phase | 8-10 cm |
| Full dilation | 10 cm |
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- What does the finger method mean?
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Dilation – assessment time and the essence of what is happening
The need to assess the degree of dilation of the cervix arises only in certain situations – during preparation for childbirth, as well as directly in the birth process. For the first time, the doctor may be interested in the degree of dilation and readiness of the cervix after 35-36 weeks of pregnancy. From this period, this part of the female reproductive organ, like the entire female body, actively prepares for the upcoming process of childbirth. During the entire period of bearing a baby, the cervix was assigned important duties to preserve the fetus – it reliably protected the entrance "gates" to the uterine cavity from viruses, bacteria, fungi and other uninvited "guests" that could harm the fetus. Inside the cervix in the cervical canal from the very beginning of pregnancy there is a mucous plug (a cervical secretion thickened by progesterone). And how tightly the cervix is closed determines whether a woman carries her baby to term.
A round muscle makes up the cervix. For the baby to emerge from the uterus on the scheduled day, the cervix needs to open up and allow it to pass through.
The fact that the cervix is preparing for opening is indicated by its softening and shortening. From 3 centimeters it decreases to 1 centimeter, and then completely smooths out. Only after this does the divergence of the round muscle begin, opening. The baby himself actively contributes to this process. As the birth approaches, he descends lower, begins to press his head on the internal os of the cervix, and this internal effect helps the cervix to decrease in length faster and become softer. With the onset of labor, contractions are nothing more than the process of opening the cervix. When the cervix reaches its maximum opening, contractions will stop and pushing will begin – the baby will begin its journey along the mother"s birth canal. During contractions opening occurs gradually, smoothly, while the intensity of contractions increases, their duration increases along with the pain of the woman in labor. At the very beginning, contractions are rare, about once every half hour or less, and their duration usually does not exceed 20 seconds. At this stage, the woman feels quite easy, and it is too early to go to the maternity hospital. This period lasts up to 5-10 hours, after which the contractions become more noticeable, frequent. You need to go to the maternity hospital when the frequency of contractions reaches one in 5 minutes. Usually by this time the dilation of the cervix in a woman is about 3 centimeters. During the active period of contractions, the intensity of contractions increases, but the opening itself becomes faster. Literally in 4-5 hours, the opening can reach 7 centimeters, and in the stage of transitional contractions (when the duration of each contraction is maximum, and the break between them is minimal in time), the opening can literally reach the maximum in half an hour or an hour. This is 10-12 centimeters (depending on the size of the small pelvis).
A reduction in contractions coincides with full opening, but there is also an overwhelming urge to push and use the restroom immediately. Obstetricians already oversee this stage of labor; they know when a woman should breathe and strain and when to relax and hold her breath.
In order for the baby to pass through the birth canal, the cervix normally opens to a width of roughly 10 fingers during childbirth, or about 10 centimeters. The mother can start pushing at this point, indicating that the labor is nearing its end, once her dilation is complete.
What does the finger method mean?
During labor, the width of the dilation can be determined in different ways, for example, by conducting an ultrasound examination in real time with the appropriate measurements. But this is associated with significant time costs and physical inconveniences – it is scary to imagine that a woman will have to spend quite a few hours on a chair under an ultrasound sensor. Obstetricians all over the world use the finger method for simplicity – the same dilation of the uterus by a certain number of fingers. There are no standard fingers, and therefore each specialist uses their own. After arriving at the maternity hospital, there is no great need to constantly monitor the rate of dilation. Therefore, an examination in the admissions department is usually the first and the only one for the next few hours. Already in the stages of active and transitional uterine contractions, a repeated finger examination is carried out. Technically, it is quite simple – the obstetrician inserts several fingers into the vagina in a sterile medical glove, after which he checks by touch, how many fingers can overcome the cervical ring. This is the dilation in fingers.
The cervix may already have one or one and a half fingers when the doctor performs a gynecological examination prior to childbirth. This indicates that labor may start at any time and that the cervical ring is prepared to open. This kind of opening is usually seen in the 39th and 40th weeks of pregnancy.
Because different health workers have different fingers, it can be more difficult than it seems to translate fingers into centimeters. However, one finger is generally measured as 1.5–2 cm. A woman typically needs to open her cervix with two fingers to a maximum of three centimeters, which is the size at which she enters a maternity hospital. The expansion that follows an active contraction reaches 7 centimeters, or 3-3.5 in fingers. More than four fingers indicate a full opening.
Crucial! Since the doctor is only physically able to insert four fingers into the cervix, dilation of five, six, or more fingers does not occur. Instead, they talk about four fingers, and "more" refers to the freedom of insertion. The number of fingers the uterus should open during labor is determined by this. The mother starts pushing, and the baby emerges from the birth canal shortly after.
The cervix gradually opens during childbirth and usually reaches full dilation, or about 10 centimeters, for a safe delivery. This is regarded as the typical width required to allow the baby to pass.
It is crucial to keep in mind that each labor is unique and that individual differences may exist in the rate at which the cervix dilates. While some people might progress more quickly than others, others might take longer.
Doctors may step in to help the process along and make sure the mother and unborn child are safe if the cervix isn’t opening as planned. Understanding how dilation operates can reduce anxiety and better prepare expectant mothers for the realities of childbirth.
