Cervical dilation - wikipedia Cervical dilation Cervical dilation ( or cervical dilatation ) is the opening of the cervix, the entrance to the uterus, during childbirth, miscarriage, induced abortion, or gynecological surgery. Cervical dilation may occur naturally, or may be induced by surgical or medical means. Contents 1 Childbirth 1.1 Symptoms 1.2 Induced dilation in childbirth 2 In hysteroscopy 3 References Childbirth In the later stages of pregnancy, the cervix may already have opened up to 1 -- 3 cm ( or more in rarer circumstances ), but during labor, repeated uterine contractions lead to further widening of the cervix to about 6 centimeters. From that point, pressure from the presenting part ( head in vertex births or bottom in breech births ), along with uterine contractions, will dilate the cervix to 10 centimeters, which is `` complete. '' Cervical dilation is accompanied by effacement, the thinning of the cervix. General guidelines for cervical dilation : Latent phase : 0 - 3 centimeters Active Labor : 4 - 7 centimeters Transition : 8 - 10 centimeters Complete : 10 centimeters. Delivery of the infant takes place shortly after this stage is reached ( although the mother does not always push right away. ) Symptoms During pregnancy, the os ( opening ) of the cervix is blocked by a thick plug of mucus to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. During dilation, this plug is loosened. It may come out as one piece, or as thick mucus discharge from the vagina. When this occurs, it is an indication that the cervix is beginning to dilate, although not all women will notice this mucus plug being released. Bloody show is another indication that the cervix is dilating. Bloody show usually comes along with the mucus plug, and may continue throughout labor, making the mucus tinged pink, red or brown. Fresh, red blood is usually not associated with dilation, but rather serious complications such as placental abruption, or placenta previa. Red blood in small quantities often also follows an exam. The pain experienced during dilation is similar to that of menstruation ( although markedly more intense ), as period pains are thought to be due to the passing of endometrium through the cervix. Most of the pain during labor is caused by the uterus contracting to dilate the cervix. Induced dilation in childbirth Prostaglandins ( P2 and PGE2 ) contribute to cervical ripening and dilation. The body produces these hormones naturally. Sometimes prostaglandins in synthesized forms are applied directly to the cervix to induce labor. In women who have had a previous cesarean section, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a bulletin that misoprostol never be used for this purpose. ACOG 's findings conclude that the collagen softening properties of misoprostol could be absorbed through the cervix and vaginal vault up into the low transverse scar of a typical cesarean section, and significantly increase the risk of uterine rupture. Prostaglandins are also present in human semen, and sexual intercourse is commonly recommended for promoting the onset of labor, although the limited data available makes the effectiveness of this method uncertain. Other means of natural cervical ripening include nipple stimulation, which produces oxytocin, an organic hormone which is necessary for uterine contractions. Nipple stimulation can be performed manually, by use of a breast pump, or by suckling. Henci Goer, in her comprehensive book, The Thinking Woman 's Guide to a Better Birth, details how this practice was researched in two separate studies of 100 and 200 women in the mid nineteen - eighties. Women were assigned randomly to two groups. In one group, nipples were stimulated for one - hour sessions, three times per day. In the other group, women were to avoid any form of nipple stimulation or sexual intercourse. The researchers concluded in both studies that nipple stimulation could indeed ripen the cervix and in some cases induce uterine contractions. Goer further notes that in the smaller study, an external fetal monitor was used, and no uterine hyperstimulation was noted. Cervical dilation may be induced mechanically by placing devices inside the cervix that will expand while in place. A balloon catheter may be used. Other products include laminaria ( made of dried seaweed ) or synthetic hygroscopic materials, which expand when placed in a moist environment. In hysteroscopy In hysteroscopy, the diameter of the hysteroscope is generally too large to conveniently pass the cervix directly, thereby necessitating cervical dilation to be performed prior to insertion. Cervical dilation can be performed by temporarily stretching the cervix with a series of ( cervical ) dilators of increasing diameter. Misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy for cervical dilation appears to facilitate an easier and uncomplicated procedure only in premenopausal women. References ^ Jump up to : Rai, Jodie ; James R. Schreiber ( 5 December 2007 ). `` Cervical Ripening ''. EMedicine.com. WebMD. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 04. Jump up ^ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice ( August 2006 ). `` ACOG Committee Opinion No. 342 : induction of labor for vaginal birth after cesarean delivery '' ( -- ). Obstet Gynecol. 108 ( 2 ) : 465 -- 8. PMID 16880321. doi : 10.1097 / 00006250 - 200608000 - 00045. Jump up ^ Tenore JL ( May 2003 ). `` Methods for cervical ripening and induction of labor ''. Am Fam Physician. 67 ( 10 ) : 2123 -- 8. PMID 12776961. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 04. Jump up ^ The Thinking Woman 's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer, 1999, ISBN 0 - 399 - 52517 - 3 Jump up ^ Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy. A Guide for Patients, Revised 2012. From the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Patient Education Committee Jump up ^ Polyzos, N.P. ; Zavos, A. ; Valachis, A. ; Dragamestianos, C. ; Blockeel, C. ; Stoop, D. ; Papanikolaou, E.G. ; Tournaye, H. ; Devroey, P. ; Messinis, I.E. ( 2012 ). `` Misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy in premenopausal and post-menopausal women. A systematic review and meta - analysis ''. Human Reproduction Update. 18 ( 4 ) : 393 -- 404. PMID 22544173. doi : 10.1093 / humupd / dms014. Pregnancy and childbirth Planning Birth control Natural family planning Pre-conception counseling Conception Assisted reproductive technology Artificial insemination Fertility medication In vitro fertilisation Fertility awareness Unintended pregnancy Testing 3D ultrasound Obstetric ultrasonography Pregnancy test Home testing Prenatal diagnosis Prenatal Anatomy Amniotic fluid Amniotic sac Endometrium Placenta Development Fundal height Gestational age Human embryogenesis Maternal physiological changes Postpartum physiological changes Care Nutrition Environmental toxicants In pregnancy Prenatal Concomitant conditions Drinking Diabetes mellitus Smoking Vaping SLE Sexual activity during pregnancy Procedures Amniocentesis Cardiotocography Chorionic villus sampling Nonstress test Abortion Childbirth Preparation Adaptation to extrauterine life Bradley method Hypnobirthing Lamaze Nesting instinct Roles Doula Men 's roles Midwife Obstetrician Perinatal nurse Delivery Bloody show Childbirth positions Home birth Multiple birth Natural childbirth Pelvimetry / Bishop score Cervical dilation Cervical effacement Position Presentation Breech Cephalic Shoulder Rupture of membranes Unassisted childbirth Uterine contraction Water birth Postpartum Child care Congenital disorders Sex after pregnancy Obstetric history Gravidity Parity TPAL Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cervical_dilation&oldid=794773054 '' Categories : Childbirth Obstetrics Midwifery Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from March 2009 All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from August 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 9 August 2017, at 23 : 46. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: another name for opening up of the cervix during childbirth is
Answer: cervical dilatation