What does it feel like for a pregnant woman to have her cervix opened? When is the best time to have her cervix opened?

The baby needs to pass through the cervix to come out of the mother's belly, and many mothers are afraid of it. So what is the cervix opening? What does it feel like? When does the cervix open? How to check the cervix opening? What should I do if the cervix does not open after spotting? The following editor will give you a detailed introduction.

What is a palace opening?

Opening of the cervix is ​​professionally called dilation of the cervix. The cervix of a woman is a muscular tube about 2 cm long, connected to the vagina on the outside and the uterine cavity on the inside. When a pregnant woman is about to give birth, the uterus contracts regularly, pulling the uterine muscles and surrounding fibers of the internal cervical os. In addition, the amniotic fluid sac in front of the fetal presenting part is wedge-shaped, causing the internal cervical os to expand upward and outward, and the cervical canal gradually shortens until it disappears. The external cervical os is usually only the size of a fingertip. As the labor progresses, the external cervical os expands to a diameter of 10 cm, allowing the full-term fetal head to pass through. This process is called opening of the cervix. The process of opening the cervix is ​​relatively slow. Usually, the cervix gradually flattens in the second week after the 9th month of pregnancy, which is also the process of cervical achievement. Your cervix will open to 10 cm when the baby is born. It is relatively slow at the beginning. It takes an average of 8 hours from labor to 3 cm opening of the cervix, and an average of 4 hours from 3 cm opening to 10 cm opening. Under normal circumstances, some drugs will not be used for pain until the cervix is ​​opened to 3 cm. It indicates that the active stage of labor has begun. The cervix has opened to 3 cm, the cervix has become soft, thin, and elastic, and each contraction is 2-3 cm apart. After labor, the cervix will gradually open with regular contractions. The first stage of labor is divided into two stages according to the degree of cervical dilation, namely the latent stage and the active stage. The latent stage is from regular contractions to the cervix opening 3 cm, and the active stage refers to the period when the cervix opens 3-10 cm. It should be noted here that the speed of cervical dilation is different for primiparas and multiparas. For primiparas, the cervix first shortens and flattens, and then the cervix dilates; while for multiparas, the cervix shortens, flattens, and dilates at the same time. Therefore, multiparas are obviously faster than primiparas, which is also the main reason for the different speeds of the first stage of labor between primiparas and multiparas. The cervix opens slowly during the latent period, while it is significantly faster during the active period. The latent period of a primipara is about 8 hours, and that of a multipara is faster than that of a primipara, but there are large differences between individuals, and the length of the latent period varies from person to person, ranging from tens of minutes to several hours. The active period of a primipara is about 4 hours, and a multipara should prepare for delivery after entering the active period, because the cervix of a multipara will generally be fully dilated soon after entering the active period.

What does it feel like to open your uterus?

At the beginning of labor (the interval between contractions is 5 to 10 minutes), you will not feel much pain. The uterus will contract regularly and the cervix will open slightly. The most time-consuming period (the interval between contractions is about 4 to 5 minutes) is when you can feel the contraction of the uterus strongly. It is also the most time-consuming period. At this time, the cervix is ​​half open. You want to push but you can't (the interval between contractions is about 2 to 3 minutes). The contractions become more and more intense. This is the most difficult period. No matter how hard you try, you feel that you can't do anything. But you can't give up. You must keep pushing. The baby is about to be born (the interval between contractions is about 1 minute). The cervix is ​​fully open, and the cervix to the vagina has become one, becoming a channel for the birth of the fetus. You must keep pushing and cooperate with the birth of the baby. Victory is just around the corner.

When does the palace open?

The process of cervical dilation is relatively slow. Usually, the cervix gradually flattens in the second week after the 9th month of pregnancy, which is also the process of cervical dilation. Your cervix will dilate to 10 cm when the baby is born. It is relatively slow at the beginning. It takes an average of 8 hours from labor to cervical dilation of 3 cm, and an average of 4 hours from cervical dilation of 3 cm to 10 cm.

Generally, medications for pain are not used until the cervix is ​​dilated to 3 cm. This indicates that the labor has entered the active phase, the cervix has dilated to 3 cm, the cervix has become soft, thin, and elastic, and each contraction is 2-3 cm apart. After labor begins, the cervix will gradually dilate with regular contractions.

The degree of cervical dilation divides the first stage of labor into two phases: the latent phase and the active phase.

The latent period is from regular uterine contractions to the cervix dilating 3 cm, and the active period refers to the period when the cervix dilates 3-10 cm. It should be noted here that the speed of cervical dilation is different for primiparas and multiparas. For primiparas, the cervix shortens and flattens first, and then the cervix dilates; for multiparas, the cervix shortens, flattens, and dilates at the same time. Therefore, multiparas are obviously faster than primiparas, which is also the main reason for the different speeds of the first stage of labor between primiparas and multiparas. The cervix dilates more slowly during the latent period.

The active phase is significantly faster. The latent period of a primipara takes about 8 hours, and the speed of a multipara is faster than that of a primipara, but there are large differences between individuals. The length of the latent period varies from person to person, ranging from tens of minutes to several hours. The active phase of a primipara takes about 4 hours, and a multipara should prepare for delivery after entering the active phase, because the cervix of a multipara will generally be fully dilated soon after entering the active phase.

How to check cervical dilation

After the fetus enters the pelvis, the birth canal is prepared and the mother's vagina will naturally relax and open.

The doctor can observe the degree of dilation of the cervix.

The doctor can also use the digital examination method to explore the condition of the cervical opening. Usually, an anal or vaginal examination is performed. The doctor wears sterile gloves and inserts his fingers into the vagina. He places his fingers on the cervical opening and uses his fingers to measure the opening of the cervical opening. An anal examination is only done when delivery is imminent, because the vagina is not far from the cervical opening, and there is a relatively thin peritoneum in the middle. An anal examination is to explore the opening of the cervical opening through this place. Regardless of whether the cervical opening is open before delivery, repeated vaginal exploration will cause iatrogenic infection, so the digital anal examination method is used to judge.

What to do if you can't open your mouth after seeing blood

Delivery according to specific circumstances: Due to the influence of hormones, the cervix gradually softens, and the pressure of the fetal head causes the cervix of the parturient to expand. However, the physical condition and mood of the parturient will affect the opening and closing of the cervix. The most important thing is that the parturient should understand that the strong labor pain and the opening and closing of the cervix are mutually reinforcing.

The cervix is ​​open but the labor pain is weak: If the labor pain becomes stronger but the cervix is ​​not open, the fetus will not be born. Only when both aspects are carried out at the same time can the birth of the fetus be promoted. Muscle tension will make the muscles hard. The simplest example is that if you clench your fist, your palm will become hard, and if you loosen your fist, your palm will become soft. In the same way, if you keep your mood comfortable and your body relaxed, the cervix will open easily. In fact, tension is not good for normal delivery. The mother should welcome the delivery with a relaxed mentality. In general, the delivery of sisters will be very similar. If the mother has sisters, she can consult them about their delivery experience.