What does it mean to be fully effaced?

sarahns80

So I had a Dr. appt. today and he put it down that I am 95% effaced and 2.5 cm dialated, but mentioned that I am "pretty much fully effaced". To me that sounds like I should be going into labor now. I always heard your cervix is like a candle and once it burns down (fully effaces) then you go into labor. What do you think?

princess101

It just means it's thinned all the way or just about all the way. I guess it could be like a candle, it has to thin before it starts to dilate  but even dilation doesn't mean labor is going to happen any time soon. You can stay at 3 or 4 cm dilated for some time before your body decides to go into actual labor. Good luck.