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Confused- cervical length vs. dilation

karebearmccroarkarebearmccroar member
in Multiples

Hi, I'm confused and am having trouble researching on Dr. Google, maybe you knowledgeable MoMs can help clear this up for me. I will do my best to explain my question, sorry if it comes out as jumbled as I am right now.

I was led to believe that having cervical length meant that you are not dilated. Meaning that cervical length reaches 0, then you start to dilate.

But now I've been told that is wrong, that you can start to dilate even when you still have cervical length. Is that true? How is that possible?

 Is this referring to dilation of one side, like on the side of the uterus which is known as funneling?

Or is it actually saying that you can truly dilate, symmetrically, while you still retain cervical length?

I was reassured that my bedrest and meds were working (even though I still have contractions every hour, just fewer) since my cervix is still long and closed despite the fact that it is now very soft instead of firm. So should I not take cervical length to be as reassuring if it can still dilate?

Thanks and I hope that makes a bit of sense! 

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Re: Confused- cervical length vs. dilation

  • LadyNikonLadyNikon member

    USUALLY as your cervix shortens in length it starts to open.  You sometimes hear the terms effaced and dilated.  I have heard of funneling though. 

    https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM03897

    https://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/cervical-effacement-and-dilatation- 

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  • karebearmccroarkarebearmccroar member
    SO they could operate separately, like you COULD have a cervix that is still 2 cm long because it hasn't thinned or effaced yet, but it could start to dilate at that time? So length doesn't have to be 0 before dilatation happens?
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  • tma1685tma1685 member
    Exactly. Like as of last week I was 3cm and 60% effaced. I've been like this since 28 weeks. You don't have to be 100% effaced to be dilating.
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  • jessican08jessican08 member
    You can have a 4cm cervix and start to dilate or you can have a 1cm cervix that's completely closed. As the PPs said though, usually you don't start to dilate until your cervix shortens and softens. Funneling occurs when the cervix starts to open from the top side (e.g., the side the OB can't see/feel). Funneling is usually only discovered when a transvaginal ultrasound of the cervix is done.
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  • leneae10leneae10 member
    And if your cervix is dynamic, it can make changes in minutes.  My former cervix was crap!  All an OB can feel is the tip of your cervix to know if it's open or closed.  TVU is the only way to really get an accurate measure.
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