Dilation and effacement are terms that doctors and other birth professionals use to describe the changes in the cervix that are required for vaginal birth. Even if you've heard these terms, you may ...

As your due date approaches, you may be wondering how dilated your cervix is and if you are making progress toward delivery. While only your doctor can confirm cervical dilation, you can do a ...

Near the end of the third trimester, a woman's cervix will soften in order to begin the process of effacing (thinning and stretching) and dilating (opening up). An open cervix allows the baby to pass ...

Near the end of the third trimester, the cervix will soften in order to begin the process of effacing (thinning and stretching) and dilating (opening up) in preparation for your baby's birth. An open ...

Your body undergoes a tremendous amount of changes during pregnancy. While many of these transformations are easy to see (hello, growing belly!), others aren’t. The position of your cervix is one of ...

The cervix changes in early pregnancy and throughout the menstrual cycle. Here's how to check your cervix for pregnancy. Medically reviewed by Renita White, MD Checking your cervix at home can help ...