What is dilation?

During labor, the cervix changes in length, firmness, position and openness. Both anatomy and physiology play a role in cervical change. Physiologically, hormones like oxytocin increase, allowing the cervix to shorten, thin, and stretch. Anatomically, baby’s head or bottom sit above the cervix and apply pressure with each contraction.

These changes in your cervix and baby’s position are known as effacement, dilation, and fetal station.

•Effacement how much the cervix has thinned and shortened in a percentage from 0-100%

•Dilation how much the cervix has opened in centimeters from 1-10cm

•Station how far down baby has descended through the pelvis from -3, -2, -1, 0, +1,+2,+3 in relation to the pelvic bones. 0 station means the top of baby’s presenting part(the head or bum) is in line with your Ischial spines or about the same level as the bottom of your pubic bone.

Evaluating and Assessing your Cervix-How to know how dilated you are?

You and your birth team can gather information about your potential dilation by observing changes in your labor pattern, the way you are choosing to or intuitively navigating labor, your vocalizations, fetal position, your posture, bloody show and other indicators of fetal descent and cervical changes.

Whether you’re working with an OB/GYN or a Midwife, your provider will gather information directly about effacement, dilation and fetal station during an internal vaginal exam.

What does your dilation tell you?

This information sheds light on two main factors- YOUR CERVIX & YOUR BABY’S POSITION.

1. Understanding how effaced and dilated your cervix is can tell us how well the hormones are working. How well your hormones work depends on factors like how safe you feel, how tired you are, how nourished or supported you are.

2. Understanding fetal station can tell us how low and engaged your baby is and, in some cases, what position their head is in. This lets us know if we need to facilitate optimal fetal positioning by doing things like position changes or exercises to keep labor progressing smoothly and safely.

Labor is a hormonal, or physiologic, process as much as it a physical, or anatomical, process.

What your dilation doesn’t tell you!

Dilation gives you so much information about how far you’ve come in your labor journey but it does not predict how long you have left.

Knowing your dilation during your labor does not tell you how much longer you have to go!

Frequent dilation checks can increase your risk of infection. Dilations checks are considered a form of intervention, as it can stimulate the cervix, disrupt your focus and even introduce fear and doubt; both which lead to stress and prohibit a steady flow of oxytocin thereby further disrupting your labor progress.

It is important to consider when and why you’re choosing to get a vaginal exam. It’s important to find clarity on how the information will make you feel and how the information can change your labor plan moving forward before accepting or requesting a vaginal exam.

Celebrate the time you’ve invested in learning and understanding your cervix and your body. Wisdom is empowering. You and your birth team can make informed choices about getting a vaginal exam. Understanding what dilation is can help you determine if vaginal exams are right for you when you’re in labor. Knowing how the information from a vaginal exam, beyond just dilation, affects your labor moving forward empowers you to reclaim sovereignty over your own body and reclaim autonomy in the well being of both you and your baby. You are the protagonist of your journey and you can make informed choices about receiving or declining vaginal exams throughout your labor.

These adjustments can be

If you decide to receive a vaginal exam you now know there is so much more to consider than just dilation and how to use that information. Once you know your effacement, dilation, and fetal station, you can use the information to make adjustments that support your labor progress or confidently decide on what to do next during labor.

1. changes in the environment that make you feel grounded and safe can support hormones that soften and relax you and help with your dilation

2. changes in position or exercises that support good baby positioning to help with fetal descent and rotation.

3. Nourishing your body with food and hydration to support your energy levels, mood and hormones.

4. Breathwork, deep breathing can stimulate the body to relax and increase oxytocin, all while getting good oxygen flow to your baby.

Thank you for taking the time to learn something new about your CERVIX I hope this information was helpful and that it empowers you with the wisdom and tools that you need to have a safe smooth labor and birth of your dreams.