effaced meaning in pregnancy
Dilated and effaced â What they mean in Labor. Labor And Birth No comments. Dilation and effacement refer to the condition of the cervix during pregnancy and labor. Dilation refers to the opening of the cervix, while effacement refers to the ripening (thinning and softening) of the cervix. Dilation is measured in centimeters, from 0 to 10. Your cervix is fully open and you should be able to push when it is dilated to 10 centimeters. Occasionally, a physician will measure dilation in fingers.. Dilation often begins days or weeks before labor actually begins.