Effaced

ewochnick

Can someone please tell me what effaced means? I was in to the doctor last week at was at a 2 and 50% effaced and this week im still at a 2 but 75% effaced.  I guess I just am a little confused on what all this means.....the doctor (pa) i saw im not a big fan of her and would have asked my regular doctor but she is out of the office for the next week.  

lollipoppoop

a quick google search turned up this definition

Effacement is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix gradually softens, shortens and becomes thinner. You might hear phrases like “ripens,” or “cervical thinning” which refer to effacement.

MsCrispy

There are pictures out there that help too.

Basically your cervix looks like a turtle neck (not put on). It starts out long and closed. As you get close to birth, you can imagine putting the turtle neck on. It shortens (effaces) and then opens (dilates) to let the head through.

ewochnick

thanks! i keep having people at work tell me "a few more days....oh your ready" and stuff like that. 

DreamDisney

ewochnick said:

Can someone please tell me what effaced means? I was in to the doctor last week at was at a 2 and 50% effaced and this week im still at a 2 but 75% effaced.  I guess I just am a little confused on what all this means.....the doctor (pa) i saw im not a big fan of her and would have asked my regular doctor but she is out of the office for the next week.  

I'm sorry I don't mean to be an ass but how are you pregnant and you don't know what effaced means?????

agfox92

I don't blame her! I'm a ftm and read this just because I've wondered the same thing. It hasn't been in the books I read or anything like that so how is a ftm supposed to know besides ask or look it up?

ewochnick

DreamDisney said:

Can someone please tell me what effaced means? I was in to the doctor last week at was at a 2 and 50% effaced and this week im still at a 2 but 75% effaced.  I guess I just am a little confused on what all this means.....the doctor (pa) i saw im not a big fan of her and would have asked my regular doctor but she is out of the office for the next week.  

I'm sorry I don't mean to be an ass but how are you pregnant and you don't know what effaced means?????

I guess I wanted someone "other than a doctor" to kinda tell me in non doctor terms what it means. sorry I asked. 

2013JEM said:

If you don't understand what the dr is telling you, it is your responsibility to ask questions until you do. ' I'm not clear on effacement, would you pls explain it to me'; whether you like the dr or not. Very soon, you will be responsible for your LO's medical care---- educate yourself!! Books, classes, 'real' websites ( ie the AAP).

ewochnick

2013JEM said:

If you don't understand what the dr is telling you, it is your responsibility to ask questions until you do. ' I'm not clear on effacement, would you pls explain it to me'; whether you like the dr or not. Very soon, you will be responsible for your LO's medical care---- educate yourself!! Books, classes, 'real' websites ( ie the AAP).

This is my second pregnancy and with my first I went into labor before I was getting "checked" and had an emergency c-section so I never got to this point last time. 

lollipoppoop

agfox92 said:

I don't blame her! I'm a ftm and read this just because I've wondered the same thing. It hasn't been in the books I read or anything like that so how is a ftm supposed to know besides ask or look it up?

What I don't understand is when a doctor tells someone that and the person clearly doesn't know what it means so they wait until they get on a message board and ask.  You should ask your doctor right then and there if you don't know. 

ewochnick

I understand it means thinning of the lining.....and its a process before delivery, it was just a question to find out more peoples opinions on what they think it means,  i have had more than one person tell me "oh your going to go here soon" or "you have weeks" or "i was at that for a few weeks" just wanted to get more advice. 

DreamDisney

ewochnick said:

2013JEM said:

If you don't understand what the dr is telling you, it is your responsibility to ask questions until you do. ' I'm not clear on effacement, would you pls explain it to me'; whether you like the dr or not. Very soon, you will be responsible for your LO's medical care---- educate yourself!! Books, classes, 'real' websites ( ie the AAP).

This is my second pregnancy and with my first I went into labor before I was getting "checked" and had an emergency c-section so I never got to this point last time. 

It's even worse that it's your second pregnancy. You didn't "read ahead?" Maybe it's just me I don't know. I'd want to know what to ask and what to expect I guess.... Crazy of me.

icogburn

I don't think any question is dumb.  Sometimes the doc has you in and out so fast, that you don't think of questions until after the fact. This board should be a safe place to ask. This is my first child and I have read a TON of books, websites, etc---and am still reading. Believe it or not, I haven't seen it explained yet.  (I also jump ahead.)  But now will google and read until I understand.

ewochnick

icogburn said:

I don't think any question is dumb.  Sometimes the doc has you in and out so fast, that you don't think of questions until after the fact. This board should be a safe place to ask. This is my first child and I have read a TON of books, websites, etc---and am still reading. Believe it or not, I haven't seen it explained yet.  (I also jump ahead.)  But now will google and read until I understand.

thank you i guess i didnt think i would get so much for asking a simple question and get others opinions on what they might know thank you again.