labor question

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Ok this might be a dumb question but I'd rather know the answer than to keep wondering what they are talking about on tv. Whenever I watch a delivery on tv(and trust me I know those births are nothing like the real thing-so I've heard), after the doctor(or whoever else is allowed to do it) checks the woman, they say how much they are dialated, then two other numbers i believe. For example 80% "faced" I think and then another number. Can someone please fill me in on what it means so I'm not so clueless? Thanks!

~Kerry~

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They're talking about effacement...for example, the cervix is 80% effaced. It means how much the cervix has thinned out.

It starts out closed and thick, and dilates and effaces throughout labor.

I'm not an OB nurse, so I don't think I can elaborate much more than that. ;)

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

They are referring to:

1)dilitation of the cervix...measured between one centimeter and 10cm., which is also called "complete" or "fully dialated."

2)effacement...the thinning of the cervix. It starts out "long and closed" and progresses to 100% effacement.

3)Station...is the distance of the presenting body part from the ischial

spines, which is a landmark that can be felt during the lady partsl examination. It varies between -4 and progresses to +4, at which time the baby would be just about delivered.

Hope that helps!

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Thank you very much for making that clear! Now I'll understand what they are talking about when I watch my baby stories.Thanks again!

~Kerry~

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