![]() No two birthing women are alike.īut both dilation and effacement have to happen before baby will come out. Sometimes, moms will efface and dilate at the same time, sometimes they will begin to efface first and then dilate later. As the baby comes down the birth canal during contractions, the pressure of the baby’s head on the cervix effaces – or thins out – the cervix. ![]() The cervix is about 4 cm long and is the opening to the womb, in between the vagina and the uterus. Here, in Quebec, it is quite a common word that we use a lot in French. So what is effacement exactly? Its origin comes from the French word ‘effacer’ which means to erase. Almost everyone knows one thing about dilation: ‘When you dilate to 10 cm, you can push your baby out!’ This is reinforced during the usual prenatal class, which informs parents about the importance of dilation, but omits to tell them that she has a twin sister who is just as important!īecause without a fully effaced cervix, you will not fully dilate. ![]() Enough to jump for joy! Unfortunately, it is always overshadowed by dilation. What I want to share with you is the magic of EFFACEMENT. Now there are few things during that exchange that got me all riled up, but in this blog post, I don’t want to discuss the discouraging tone and language of the caregiver, or even her seemingly lack of knowledge regarding the cervix. Nurse (looking at me as if I had two heads): But she’s still only at 4 cm…. Me: That’s great!! You’re almost fully effaced! Yay! Me (interjecting quickly): Can you please tell us how effaced the cervix is now? Nurse (with a look of pity) : Oh, you’re still at 4. The conversation went something like this: Three hours later, after hours of long and strong contractions, it was time to evaluate her progress (aka examine her). When mom was admitted to the hospital she was 4 cm dilated and 40% effaced. This downloadable chart, together with our information on how to time contractions, should make preparing for labor a bit easier.Birth is not just about dilation – don’t forget effacement This will help you collect accurate information about your contractions that you can share with your healthcare provider. You might want to track them using this handy, printable contraction tracking chart. In many cases, contractions will start sometime soon after you lose the mucus plug. If you notice what looks like the mucus plug before 37 weeks of pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider, because this may be a sign of preterm labor. If your pregnancy goes to full term, you’ll most likely lose your mucus plug in the ninth month of pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different, so contact your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns. Or, your mucus plug might want to wait until the last moment and appear at the very onset of labor. The mucus plug can come loose several days or even one or two weeks before labor starts. How Long After Losing the Mucus Plug Does Labor Start?Īlthough losing the mucus plug can be a sign of labor, it doesn’t always mean it’s baby time in the near future. Increased vaginal discharge is common throughout pregnancy, whereas the mucus plug acts like a barrier and typically isn’t expelled until later in your pregnancy. The mucus plug is thick and jelly-like, whereas vaginal discharge tends to be thinner or lighter in texture and consistency. Vaginal discharge, on the other hand, is usually light yellow or white. As you read above, the mucus plug is typically clear or off-white, but might appear red, brown, or pink if it mixes with blood in your cervix. So, if you’re wondering if it’s the mucus plug you see or normal vaginal discharge, here’s how you can tell:Ĭolor. Is It the Mucus Plug or Vaginal Discharge?īecause vaginal discharge is common during pregnancy, it’s easy to mistake this for the mucus plug, especially as you near labor. Thick, jelly-like, and slightly sticky and/or stringyĪnywhere from one to two inches in lengthĪnywhere from one to two tablespoons in volume The overall look and texture of a mucus plug will vary from person to person, but most commonly the plug will be:Ĭlear, off-white, or slightly bloody with a pink, red, or brown hue You might notice it on the toilet paper after you wipe, or you may not see it at all! If you notice bleeding that’s heavy, like a menstrual period, contact your healthcare provider, as this might not be the mucus plug coming out but something else that may require medical attention. The mucus can come out in one thick string, one big glob, or in smaller segments. The discharge you might see in a mucus plug can be clear, pink, a little bloody, or brownish in color.
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