Some herbal remedies such as red raspberry leaf tea, black and blue cohosh, and evening primrose oil have been known to help soften the cervix and prepare the body for labor.
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.
In summary, cervical ripening is the result of realignment of collagen, degradation of collagen cross-linking due to proteolytic enzymes. Cervical dilation results from these processes plus uterine contractions. This is a complicated series of events in which many changes occur both simultaneously and sequentially.
Pineapple contains an enzyme known as bromelain which is believed to cause cervical ripening. Cervical ripening is the first step towards cervical dilation which could eventually lead to labour. It is believed that the highest concentration of bromelain is present in the core of the pineapple.
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.
Your cervix can ripen in just a few hours. This fast cervix ripening, however, more commonly happens in women who have had previous babies, as the cervix have already been through the softening and dilating process and it's easier for it to open up faster in future pregnancies.
Early dilation often feels like menstrual cramps as the cervical changes cause pain and cramping noticed in the lower part of the uterus. It is the same sensation and location as menstrual cramps. Active labor tends to be felt in a larger area but can be a similar sensation as cramping (with more intensity of course).
Can you feel your cervix dilating? As your cervix starts to thin and soften, you may or may not notice twinges and sensations in that area of your pelvis. This can be as much you trying to convince yourself something is happening though!
Another study showed that pregnant women who ate 6 dates a day for 4 weeks before their due date had a shorter first stage of labor and their cervix was softer before delivery. Eating dates in late pregnancy has also been shown to lessen the need for oxytocin, the medication used to start or speed up labor.
Evening primrose oil (Oenethera biennis) is used widely during the last month of pregnancy by midwives in the Unites States for cervical softening. It is a rich source of omega-6 fatty acids. It is typically administered as two capsules intravaginally at bedtime.
According to Brichter, sitting on an exercise or birthing ball in neutral wide-legged positions prepares the body for labor by increasing blood flow, opening the pelvis, and encouraging cervical dilation. You can also try birth ball exercises such as circular hip rotations, rocking, and gentle bouncing.
On the flip side, it's also normal for the cervix not to be dilated at all before labor. So don't worry if you're 40 weeks along and still measuring at 0 centimeters; your body could still be preparing for labor and delivery in other ways. Dilation is just one piece of the puzzle in the laboring process.
Cervix Softening Symptoms
Discharge: During effacement, you may have an increase in cervical mucus coming from your vagina. As effacement progresses, you may lose your mucus plug, which is mucus that collects in the cervical canal during pregnancy.
Is it possible to dilate and not lose your mucus plug? You can dilate to a certain degree and not lose the mucus plug, but it will come out eventually. All pregnant people will have a mucus plug protecting the uterus from bacteria. It will always fall out before the baby is delivered.
The cervix generally needs to be dilated to 10 centimeters before it's ready for the baby to pass through. Your cervix can be dilated to a couple of centimeters for a few weeks before delivery. This softening can cause the mucus plug to be dislodged and come out.
In some women, the foetal head is not in the right position and doesn t apply aptly to the cervix, which is why the cervix doesn t open. This can lead to difficulty in dilation.
Insert your index and middle finger and push your fingers deep inside as far as you can to reach your cervix. Be as gentle as possible to prevent bruising or complications. Assess dilation. You're considered 1 centimeter dilated if one fingertip fits through your cervix, or 2 centimeters if you can fit two fingers.
In figure D, the cervix is 90% effaced and 4 to 5 cm dilated. The cervix must be 100% effaced and 10 cm dilated before a vaginal delivery.
Near the end of the third trimester, the cervix will soften in order to begin the process of effacing (thinning and stretching) and dilating (opening up) in preparation for your baby's birth. An open cervix allows the baby to pass through the birth canal—but cervical ripening doesn't always happen as it should.
When pregnancy occurs, the cervix will rise up and become soft, yet the uterine is will remain tightly closed. This occurs at different times for different people– as early as 12 days after ovulation or well after the pregnancy has been confirmed by a home pregnancy test or doctor.
If a woman is performing self-massage, she may wish to place her fingertips just outside the areola, then massage inward toward the nipple. It is best to massage the nipple gently, in a rolling motion. Massaging one breast at a time to avoid overstimulation. Limiting the duration of the massage.