Dilation is the process of opening the cervix in preparation for labor and a sign that labor is approaching. Dilation can begin weeks before the day of delivery, which is known as early or latent dilation, then leading to active dilation, which is the one that occurs at the time of giving birth.
Towards the end of the pregnancy, there are some signs that tell us that the dilation process has begun . The cervix begins to blur (shorten) and dilate little by little to prepare for delivery. These are the symptoms you will feel.
Contractions
From approximately week 20, the uterus begins to “train” for the labor process thanks to “false”, physiological or Braxton Hicks contractions. The uterus contracts its muscles in preparation for the actual contractions that will help the baby through the birth canal.
In this way, by starting the previous processes of cervical or cervix effacement and dilation, you are helping labor before it actually begins. The tummy gets hard, but unlike true labor contractions, they are not bothersome contractions. In the latent phase, the cervix is effaced and dilated 2-3 centimeters. Once the active phase of dilation begins, the contractions become rhythmic, regular and increasingly intense until they reach 10 cm of dilation. This process has a variable duration, but the average time is approximately one centimeter per hour.
Back pain
A very characteristic pain of this phase is pain that radiates to the lower back. It is a stabbing pain that can appear at the same time as a contraction or constantly.
Cramps and pain in the lower abdomen
You may feel a pain in your belly similar to cramps that occur before or during menstruation. They occur low, just above the pubic bone, and this may be a sign that the cervix is dilating. The pain can be accompanied by other symptoms such as indigestion, diarrhea, and a feeling of warmth in the abdomen .
Loss of mucous plug
During pregnancy, a thick mucous plug protects the cervical opening from the entry of germs and other infectious agents. When the cervix begins to thin and dilate, the mucous plug is expelled. This substance is usually transparent or yellowish or brown in color , which sometimes appears tinged with blood, with pinkish or reddish tones.
Ejecting the mucous plug is a sign of imminence of labor, which can occur in hours or days, perhaps weeks. But not all women notice that they have expelled him.
Belly drop
In the last few weeks, you will begin to have the sensation that the baby has descended or has latched onto the pelvis, and it will appear that your tummy is lower and more prominent.
On the one hand, when descending, it will relieve the pressure on your diaphragm and make it easier for you to breathe. But on the other hand, the weight of the baby puts more pressure on the pelvis, which can cause pain and cramps in this area, and the bladder, resulting in frequent visits to the bathroom.
Pain in the vaginal area
Some women experience sharp, stabbing pains in the vaginal area. It is an unmistakable pain caused by the pressure of the baby’s head as it descends into the pelvis. This presses on the nerves in the area and causes pain that looks like electric shocks.
The purple line
It does not occur in all women, but the purple line is a visible physical sign that dilation is occurring. It is a purple line that rises from the anus to the rump as dilation progresses.
When the woman is about 2-3 centimeters, a little purple stripe is appreciated, at the moment she is 4-5 the line is approximately halfway and at the moment of dilation it completes the line, which measures about 10 cm ., it is appreciated whole.
In Babies and more | The five phases of labor: what will happen at each moment explained step by step
