once again... about effacement

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I came across some information on the net that I thought would really help me in assessing effacement. Because most of what I've come across is really vague and really not that helpful. Even a friend of mine told me, "my fingers just know...." :mad:

So the information that I came across on the internet said to use your finger joint, beginning of your fingernail, and end of your fingernail to assess effacement at 75, 50, and 25.... i dunno. I'm not sure what your supposed to be resting your finger against (considering the baby's head could be at different stations) in order to use that method. :cool:

I then asked her if I could just pinch the edges of the cervix with my "checking fingers" to guage how thick it is and she said yes. :idea:

So then I went and checked someone and callled them 3-4/50/-2. The cervix felt relatively thick so.... :confused:

And I know the comments about how effacement is objective and just knowing thick or thin are out there but when I report off... they want percentages... :uhoh3:

what do u all think about the "pinch test"? :up: :down:

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I think it would hurt!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I can't imagine being able to get a thumb and finger in there at such an angle that it would be doable.

As far as what to rest your finger against - if baby's head is well applied, you rest your finger on that. If not, you just try to line up the tip of your finger with the inner os.

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I think it would hurt!

I am just beginning nursing school and I know absolutely NOTHING about this but yeah, pain is the first thing that came to my mind!!! :eek:

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Specializes in L&D.

Eventually the light bulb moment will happen, trust me. In the meantime, don't sweat it! If you are really concerned about it, or absolutely need to have an accurate effacement for whatever reason, have someone more experienced check behind you. As far as the pinch test goes, I really don't think it would be accurate b/c you want to determine the effacement as is, not as pinched....similar to a truly accurate dilation, you don't stretch the cervix to as far as you can and call it that number, you call the dilation what it is when the cervix is not stretched. As I read over this, I realize it is probably more confusing than I meant it to be. Take home message is you WILL get it eventually.

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i didnt mean pinch as in pinch... but just using your checking fingers to guage how thick it is by kinda y' know..."pinching" it.... okay nevermind!

but to klone, that is what i needed to know, i think! i will try it and see how it works!

and to redbeads... i am sure u are right... thats the way everything else has come:)

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