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Dilation of the cervix during childbirth. Video
A pregnant woman should find out in advance about how the childbirth is going in order to be ready for this process. Particular attention should be paid to the issues of cervical dilatation, which should occur at the first stage of the child’s birth. This will help you understand when labor begins, what symptoms accompany this process and how it should occur.
Dilation of the cervix during labor
How to determine the dilatation of the cervix
The cervix is an extension of the uterus. It is through her that the baby comes out during childbirth, which means that it must open up so that the baby can be born without hindrance. The cervix consists of the cervical canal, the external os facing the uterus, and the internal os facing the vagina. Usually it is tightly compressed, but during childbirth, it gradually begins to open, i.e. increase in size. The fact is that the cervix consists of smooth muscle cells, elastic and collagen fibers, as well as connective tissue, which allows it to easily stretch without tearing.
It is very important for a pregnant woman to understand this point: with the correct passage of childbirth, there will be no injuries
Dilation of the cervix is one of the first signals that labor is in progress. The obstetrician can determine the beginning of this process “by eye”, but it is better for a pregnant woman to remember its symptoms.
Particular attention should be paid to the following signs:
- pulling pain in the lower abdomen
- gradual increase in pain
- prolapse of the mucous plug, which is located in the cervical canal and protects the uterus from possible infections
- regular contractions, the interval between which is constantly decreasing
On average, the rate of dilatation of the cervix is about 1 cm per hour. Full disclosure is considered to be 10 cm. Obstetricians measure this indicator themselves, but a pregnant woman should remember a simple rule: the more intense the contractions, the more the neck opens.
Preparing the cervix for childbirth
The cervix opens 10 cm on average in 10-12 hours, but this process is uneven. In the first 4–5 hours, it changes, prepares for years. At this time, the cervix is gradually shortened and smoothed, and then merges with the uterus. The preliminary preparation is completed when the cervix opens up to 4 cm. After that, the process accelerates, the uterus begins to contract more and more, pushing the fetus, and the birth canal expands under this pressure.
When the neck becomes soft and opens 1 cm, it becomes a sign that the woman is ready for childbirth. Unfortunately, however, it happens that the neck remains immature and opens very slowly. As a result, the process of giving birth to a baby is greatly delayed.
If the birth went according to the wrong “scenario”, the cervix did not open up to the end, and the water had already departed and the placenta detachment began, you have to use a cesarean section
Physiological preparation of the cervix for childbirth is a very complex process in which several systems of the female body are involved at once. That is why most often the cervix opens too slowly in the presence of health problems: for example, malfunctions of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders, gynecological diseases. Also at risk are women over 35 who give birth for the first time.
Phases of cervical dilatation
The cervix opens in three stages. The first stage begins with the first contractions. The cervix gradually smoothes, merges with the uterus and opens up to 4 cm. It is at this stage that the main structural changes occur. At this time, the woman feels normal, since the contractions are still weak. However, if obstetricians notice that the uterus is relaxing and dilating too slowly, they may resort to additional medications. This will help prepare your cervix for labor.
At the second stage, the tone of the uterus increases, contractions become more frequent and painful, the rate of cervical dilatation increases to an average of 1,5 cm per hour for those who give birth to a child for the first time, and up to 2-2,5 cm per hour for women who give birth again.
At this time, it is very important to breathe correctly and try to relax in between contractions.
If this does not help and the pain becomes too severe, it is appropriate to use special medications that will ease it. However, the pain reliever is often used already at the third stage, i.e. at a time when the cervix opens completely and the child passes through the birth canal.
If the cervix does not open for too long and labor is delayed because of this, stimulation may be the best solution. However, the decision on the use of special drugs should be made by doctors, taking into account the state of health of the woman, the peculiarities of the course of childbirth and much more. To achieve rapid dilatation of the cervix, prostaglandins are often used. They contribute to the quick preparation of the cervix for childbirth, make it softer and more elastic, and accelerate the change in its structure.
Prostaglandins are hormones that directly affect reproductive function
To open the cervix with their help, it is not necessary to resort to the help of doctors. For example, sexual intercourse will be sufficient to stimulate labor at home. Sperm accelerates the opening of the cervix and prepares it for childbirth, and the released hormones increase the tone of the uterus.
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