Open palace pictures

Many women who have never experienced childbirth, including first-time pregnant women, may often hear the term "cervical dilation" and know that it is closely related to childbirth, but they may not be clear about what it is. Let’s take a look at what the opening of the palace means.

What is opening the palace?

The technical name for dilation of the cervix is ​​actually "dilation of the cervix". The "cervix" is a step that the baby in the belly must go through before coming out of the mother's belly. But the baby is so big, how much should the cervix be dilated for a perfect delivery?

How much does the cervix have to be dilated to allow for childbirth?

Under normal circumstances, a woman's uterus is only the size of a finger. As the labor progresses, uterine contractions gradually intensify, and the cervical opening gradually opens and expands until it opens to allow a normal-sized fetus to pass through, about 10 cm in diameter (the legendary "ten fingers open"). The pregnant mother has entered the rhythm of giving birth.

When does the cervix open?

Dangerous period (from original to 3 fingers open).

That is, the cervical dilation period. This process is relatively slow, taking an average of about 8 hours. This stage is much faster for a primipara (a pregnant woman who has given birth to a baby before) than for a primipara (a pregnant woman giving birth for the first time). When the cervix is ​​dilated to 3 fingers, the pregnant mother can enter the delivery room. If the time exceeds 20 hours, it is considered abnormal.

Active stage (from 3 fingers to 10 fingers).

After entering the active phase, the cervix begins to dilate faster than in the critical phase, with an average of about 4 hours, because the cervix becomes looser, softer, and more elastic at this time. Of course, due to individual differences, the actual time may vary, ranging from tens of minutes to several hours. Likewise, a first-time mother will make better progress at work than a first-time mother. During this stage, the doctor may use appropriate medications for the pregnant woman's pain to speed up the delivery process.

Pregnant women tend to be nervous when they are about to give birth. In fact, both the physical condition and mental and psychological state of the expectant mother will have a certain impact on the opening of the cervix. The more anxious you are, the less likely you are to choose a natural birth. Therefore, pregnant mothers should keep their mind and body relaxed, fully master the knowledge of childbirth in advance, and be able to face the situation calmly when it happens.