Medical interventions can speed up labor, but there are other ways to encourage dilation. They include moving around, rocking on an exercise ball, using relaxation techniques, and laughing. Dilation is a term that describes the widening of the cervical opening.
"Pressure from the baby's head produces prostaglandins, which signals to your body that it's time to go and start contractions," says Brichter. These prostaglandins also soften and open up the cervix.
It is not uncommon for the cervical ripening to take up to 24-36 hours!! It is also not uncommon to use different techniques to ripen the cervix. You may feel contractions during this process. If the contractions become painful, you will be able to request medication to relieve your discomfort.
Try to achieve a deep squat with your legs in a “V” position. This position can really help to open up your pelvis, move your baby down, which can also help to dilate your cervix.
Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix. People may also find swaying or dancing to calming music effective.
If your cervix is open, your midwife or doctor will insert their finger into the opening and gently stretch your cervix. They will then sweep their finger around in a circular movement to try to separate the membranes from the wall of your uterus.
"Lying on your side, standing, sitting, walking, rocking—anything that keeps you active can help decrease pain and speed up labor," says Dawley. Other benefits of upright labor positions include: Reduced need for medication. Help in dilating your cervix and widening your pelvic opening.
Treatment of Cervical Stenosis
Then, the cervix may be widened (dilated) by inserting small, lubricated metal rods (dilators) through its opening, then inserting progressively larger dilators. To try to keep the cervix open, doctors may place a tube (cervical stent) in the cervix for 4 to 6 weeks.
Having Sex: Myth
Both the oxytocin (also known as the love hormone) released during sex and female orgasm can cause uterine contractions. But even if having sex does cause a few contractions, it doesn't mean that it will bring on consistent contractions or full-fledged labor.
At this point, your cervix will be dilated 3 to 10 centimeters. (Dilating one centimeter an hour is textbook, but like in early labor, it's different for everyone.)
Cervical Opening
The opening is tiny—no more than a thin slit. It will open again just before and during menstruation. 4 However, during your period, the cervix will be lower in the vagina (and not higher, like it is before ovulation). If your cervix always feels slightly open, don't worry.
On knees leaning over ball, or on hands and knees
These movements open the pelvis to allow the baby to rotate into an anterior position. Also try: sitting backwards on a chair or toilet seat, leaning into a pillow.
Side Lying
Since it is gravity-neutral, it may work to slow down your labor or birth. It can also be used for taking pressure off the perineum and lowering the risk of perineal trauma. This position may be used in conjunction with epidural anesthesia or other medications.
It's performed once your cervix has begun to dilate and can't be done if your cervix is still closed.
During sexual arousal, the vagina will elongate, which pulls the cervix up and out of the way. As a result, cervical stimulation cannot usually be achieved with just the fingers and requires penetration by the penis or a sex toy.
Pineapple is therefore consumed by pregnant women often in the last weeks of pregnancy in a bid to aid cervical ripening. It is believed that dates can help with the process of cervical ripening while also improving the spontaneity of labour & reducing the chances of postpartum hemorrhage.
In one study, researchers found that women who ate 6 dates a day for the 4 weeks before delivery had the following results: higher cervical dilatation and ripening at hospital admission. lower c-section rate. less need for certain medications.