Community› The Bump Message Boards› 3rd Trimester
3rd Trimester
New Discussion

Effacement vs Dilation progress...

michdancemichdance member
in 3rd Trimester

I'm 38 weeks, 3 days. My cervix has thinned out 75%, but I'm only a fingertip dilated and have been this since 36 weeks! Anyone else experiencing more effacement progress than dilation progress?  Does a thinned out cervix help with dilation?  In other words...do I have any hope that I may start dilating soon?

TIA!!

Report Reply to Post

Re: Effacement vs Dilation progress...

  • AmyLee11AmyLee11

    Ha! I have this exact same question, so thanks for asking :)

    I am not dilating at all, but am 50% effaced, and have NO idea what this means! (If anything... lol).

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Pocky873Pocky873 member
    I'm a couple of weeks behind you, but I've been wondering the exact same thing.  I had my 1st internal this week, and I'm 90% effaced and she's at station 0 to -1, but 0 cm dilated.  I don't know what that means, if anything, other than my cervix is super soft.  I am very interested in hearing the responses...
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • wildfloweragainwildfloweragain member

    my labor coach was impressed when I was reportedly at 50% (the nurse practitioner was wrong, though.)

    She seemed more impressed by effacement than dilation if that helps!

    Report Reply
  • WildcatPrincessWildcatPrincess member
    I read first timers tend to efface before dilating where subsequent pregnancies the cervix dilates first, then effaces.  Thought that was interesting.
    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers

    image
    Report Reply
  • crittermamacrittermama
    I've read that it's easier for the cervix to dilate when it it more effaced.
    Report Reply
  • SweetiePSweetieP
    I'm exactly opposite - -- I 'm dilating but my cervix is still long.
    Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
    imageimage
    imageimage
    image
    Report Reply
  • charmgalcharmgal

    imageWildcatPrincess:
    I read first timers tend to efface before dilating where subsequent pregnancies the cervix dilates first, then effaces.  Thought that was interesting.

    This is what I've always understood too. With first babies, you'll mostly thin out before you start to really dilate.  The opposite is true for subsequent pregnancies--you'll dilate first, then start to thin.  

    A much more predictive sign of impending labor is when your cervix becomes soft and anterior (basically in line with the vagina) 

    Report Reply
  • lesalia217lesalia217
    I've got the same thing going.  very thinned out, but only fingertip dilated.   Still doesn't mean much.  I could take another two weeks or another two days.   no good way to predict. 
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"