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Cervical Effacement

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Head of fetus down near cervix before birth, with detail of cervix not effaced and detail of effaced or thinned cervix as delivery nears.

Effacement (thinning)

slide 1 of 2, Effacement (thinning),

As labor nears, the fetus's head drops down into the pelvis and pushes against the cervix. The cervix begins to thin (efface), sometimes over a few weeks.

Head of fetus down near cervix before birth, with detail of cervix closed and detail of cervix open (dilated) as delivery nears.

Dilation (opening)

slide 2 of 2, Dilation (opening),

At the same time, the cervix also begins to open (dilate).

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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