In preparation for the birth of your baby, your cervix effaces (thins and stretches) and dilates (opens) so your baby can fit through the birth canal. This cervical ripening can begin days or even ...

At 9 centimetres, the cervix is almost, but not fully, open. The small remaining edge, called the cervical rim, can slow ...

Being 1 centimeter dilated means that your body is preparing for childbirth. However, it’s not a reliable indicator of when your labor will actually begin. Your cervix is the passageway from the ...