Effacement

Re: Effacement

• izzybella member

  June 2010

  Effacement is the thinning of the cervix-- think of the cervix as a long tube. When the baby's head starts to come down, it puts pressure on the internal area of the cervix, and thins out that tube. When you're 100% effaced, the cervix is stretched like a balloon around your baby's head. You could be slightly dilated, or more. Effacement usually happens before dilation.

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• brookemarie1025

  June 2010

  izzybella:

  Effacement is the thinning of the cervix-- think of the cervix as a long tube. When the baby's head starts to come down, it puts pressure on the internal area of the cervix, and thins out that tube. When you're 100% effaced, the cervix is stretched like a balloon around your baby's head. You could be slightly dilated, or more. Effacement usually happens before dilation.

  I had an internal yesterday and she said I was 1cm dilated and 50 effaced :0) So small progress! Thanks!!!
  

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• CamFam member

  June 2010

  Imagine that your cervix is a lifesaver candy. The candy eventually dissolves and becomes thinner and thinner while the hole in the middle gets bigger and bigger. That is how your cervix is "supposed" to work. Effacement is the thinning of the cervix.

  

  

  

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• CoastieWife08

  June 2010

  I found this photo diagram to be helpful:

  

   

  Bunny 05.2008//mc 9.2009//Bubba 07.2010//mc 10.2011//
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• brookemarie1025

  June 2010

  CamFam:

  Imagine that your cervix is a lifesaver candy. The candy eventually dissolves and becomes thinner and thinner while the hole in the middle gets bigger and bigger. That is how your cervix is "supposed" to work. Effacement is the thinning of the cervix.

  I liked your analogy! Easy to picture :0) Thanks!
  

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• CoastieWife08

  June 2010

  CamFam:

  Imagine that your cervix is a lifesaver candy. The candy eventually dissolves and becomes thinner and thinner while the hole in the middle gets bigger and bigger. That is how your cervix is "supposed" to work. Effacement is the thinning of the cervix.

  That's actually a great way to put it!
  

  Bunny 05.2008//mc 9.2009//Bubba 07.2010//mc 10.2011//
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• macaroni1979 member

  June 2010

  izzybella:

  Effacement is the thinning of the cervix-- think of the cervix as a long tube. When the baby's head starts to come down, it puts pressure on the internal area of the cervix, and thins out that tube. When you're 100% effaced, the cervix is stretched like a balloon around your baby's head. You could be slightly dilated, or more. Effacement usually happens before dilation.

  This sounds like a great explanation, I can actually visualize this!

  For second time moms, dilation usually happens before effacement. At least that is what my OB said, and it's true for me!

  Josie Cailin 7/25/08 Asher Mason 7/19/10

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• brookemarie1025

  June 2010

  CoastieWife08:

  I found this photo diagram to be helpful:

  

   

  Thanks! That's interesting :0)
  

  If you knew how lonely my life has been And how long I've been so alone And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along And change my life the way you've done

  

  
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• bone2595

  June 2010

  

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• brookemarie1025

  June 2010

  bone2595:

  

  LOVE that digram as well! Thanks!
  

  If you knew how lonely my life has been And how long I've been so alone And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along And change my life the way you've done

  

  
  Make a pregnancy ticker

  

  

  

  

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