What is cervix dilation?
The cervix is a thick walled canal about 2 cm long and is normally firmly closed. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, hormones will be softening your cervix in preparation for birth. The intense contractions of first stage labour are needed to dilate and thin the cervix enough for your baby’s head to pass through it. Your cervix will dilate about 4 cm during the latent phase, 8 cm in the active phase and then pain increases as it becomes fully dilated during transition. Eventually the whole cervix opens to become one with the body of the uterus, creating a continuous canal through which your baby can emerge.
