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Questions and Answers

Q. My daughter-in-law is due any day now. The doctor said she is dilated to almost a 3 and is 70% efaced. What does that mean?

A. Cervical dilation is the actually opening of the cervix. A women must get to ten centimeters to be completely dilated.

Effacement is the thinning of the cervix. Normally the cervix is about 2 inches long, so a cervix that is 70% effaced is less than 3/4 of an inch.

Effacement and dilation go together, not on over the other. However, just becaues she is dilating and effacing doesn't mean that labor will begin within the hour, or the day, or even the week. Nor does it mean that the woman who is not effaced or dilated will be pregnant for another week as some would have you believe. I've even had students walk around at five cetimeters for about 2 weeks.

Have a great birth!

Cyndi Klausing, RN, ACCE, has been a childbirth educator and breastfeeding counselor for over 18 years. She currently works as a newborn nursery nurse and is the mother of four sons.

Cyndi will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.