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 progress even as contractions intensify. This fleeting stage challenges both ...

Epidural analgesia initiated early in labor (when the cervix is less than 4.0 cm dilated) has been associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery. It is unclear, however, whether this increase ...