Cm for birth
Cervix Dilation Chart: Stages of Labor
The cervix, which is the lowest portion of the uterus, opens when a woman has a baby, through a process called cervical dilation. The process of the cervix opening (dilating) is one way that healthcare staff track how a woman’s labor is progressing.
During labor, the cervix opens to accommodate the passage of baby’s head into the vagina, which is around 10 centimeters (cm) dilated for most term babies.
If your cervix is dilated with regular, painful contractions, you’re in active labor and getting closer to delivering your baby.
The first stage of labor is divided into two parts: the latent and active phases.
Latent phase of laborThe latent phase of labor is the first stage of labor. It can be thought of more as the “waiting game” stage of labor. For first-time moms, it can take a while to move through the latent phase of labor.
In this stage, contractions aren’t yet strong or regular. The cervix is essentially “warming up,” softening, and shortening as it prepares for the main event.
You might consider picturing the uterus as a balloon. Think of the cervix as the neck and opening of the balloon. As you fill that balloon up, the neck of the balloon draws up with the pressure of the air behind it, similar to the cervix.
The cervix is simply the bottom opening of the uterus drawing up and opening wider to make room for the baby.
Active stage of laborA woman is considered to be in the active stage of labor once the cervix dilates to around 5 to 6 cm and contractions begin to get longer, stronger, and closer together.
The active stage of labor is characterized more by the rate of regular cervical dilation per hour. Your doctor will expect to see your cervix opening at a more regular rate during this stage.
How long does stage 1 of labor last?There’s no scientific hard and fast rule for how long the latent and active phases last in women.
The active stage of labor can range from a woman dilating anywhere from 0.5 cm per hour up to 0.7 cm per hour.
How fast your cervix dilates will also depend on if it’s your first baby or not. Mothers who have delivered a baby before tend to move more quickly through labor.
Some women will simply progress more quickly than others. Some women may “stall” at a certain stage, and then dilate very quickly.
In general, once the active stage of labor kicks in, it’s a safe bet to expect a steady cervical dilation every hour. Many women don’t start really dilating more regularly until closer to around 6 cm.
The first stage of labor ends when a woman’s cervix is fully dilated to 10 cm and fully effaced (thinned out).
The second stage of labor begins when a woman’s cervix is fully dilated to 10 centimeters. Even though a woman is fully dilated, it doesn’t mean that the baby is necessarily going to be delivered immediately.
A woman may reach full cervical dilation, but the baby may still need time to move down the birth canal fully to be ready for birth.
Once the baby is in prime position, it’s time to push. The second stage ends after the baby is delivered.
In this stage, there’s again a wide range for how long it can take for the baby to come out. It can last anywhere from minutes to hours. Women may deliver with only a few hard pushes, or push for an hour or more.
Pushing occurs only with contractions, and the mother is encouraged to rest between them. At this point, the ideal frequency of contractions will be about 2 to 3 minutes apart, lasting 60 to 90 seconds.
In general, pushing takes longer for first-time pregnant people and for women who have had epidurals. Epidurals can reduce the woman’s urge to push and interfere with her ability to push. How long a woman is allowed to push depends on:
- the hospital’s policy
- the doctor’s discretion
- the health of the mom
- the health of the baby
The mother should be encouraged to change positions, squat with support, and rest between contractions.
Forceps, vacuum, or cesarean delivery is considered if the baby isn’t progressing or the mother is becoming exhausted.
Again, every woman and baby is different. There’s no universally accepted “cut-off time” for pushing.
The second stage ends with the birth of the baby.
The third stage of labor is perhaps the most forgotten phase. Even though the “main event” of birth has occurred with the birth of the baby, a woman’s body still has important work to do. In this stage, she’s delivering the placenta.
A woman’s body actually grows an entirely new and separate organ with the placenta. Once the baby is born, the placenta no longer has a function, so her body must expel it.
The placenta is delivered the same way as the baby, through contractions. They may not feel as strong as the contractions that are needed to expel the baby. The doctor directs the mother to push and the delivery of the placenta is typically over with one push.
How long does stage 3 of labor last?The third stage of labor can last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.
Putting the baby on the breast for breastfeeding will hasten this process.
Postpartum recovery
Once the baby is born and the placenta has been delivered, the uterus contracts and the body recovers. This is often referred to as the fourth stage of labor.
After the hard work of moving through the stages of labor is finished, a woman’s body will need time to return to its nonpregnant state. On average, it takes about 6 weeks for the uterus to return to its nonpregnant size and for the cervix to return to its prepregnancy state.
Stages of labor and what to expect
During labor, the cervix changes from a tightly closed entrance to a fully open exit for the baby.
Looking at a cervix dilation chart can help people to understand what’s happening at each stage of labor.
Each woman experience labor differently. In this article, we discuss in detail how the cervix is likely to change throughout the stages of labor, and what to expect at each stage.
Most of the time, the cervix is a small, tightly closed hole.
It prevents anything from getting into or out of the uterus, which helps to protect the baby.
During labor, intense contractions of the uterus help move the baby down and eventually out of the pelvis, and into the vagina. These contractions put pressure on the cervix and cause it to expand slowly. Contractions tend to get stronger, closer together, and more regular as labor progresses.
Most medical guides divide labor into three stages:
- Stage one: early, active, and transition labor. Contractions begin, the cervix dilates, and the baby moves down in the pelvis. Stage one is complete when the cervix has dilated to 10 centimeters (cm).
- Stage two: The body begins pushing out the baby. During this stage, women often feel a strong urge to push. This stage ends with the birth of the baby.
- Stage three: Contractions push out the placenta. This stage ends with the delivery of the placenta, usually within a few minutes after the birth of the baby.
However, many women in labor may feel that they are experiencing many more stages than this.
Stage one: early labor
In the early stages of labor, the cervix dilates to the following sizes:
- 1 cm, about the size of a cheerio
- 2 cm, the size of a small to medium-sized grape
- 3 cm, the size of a quarter
Late in pregnancy, the cervix may have already dilated several centimeters before a woman experiences any symptoms of labor.
Some women, particularly those who are giving birth for the first time, have difficulty telling whether labor has begun. This is because contractions in early labor are often mild and irregular, growing steadily more intense as the labor progresses and the cervix dilates.
This increase in intensity may take just a few hours or can take many days. Knowing whether this is actual labor can help people to prepare.
During true labor, a person’s contractions:
- are not just on one side of the body
- begin at the top of the uterus, and feel like they are pushing down
- get more intense and regular with time
- do not stop with rest or taking a warm shower
Some women may benefit from resting or eating a snack at this stage to ensure they have enough energy for the more tiring stages ahead.
Stage one: active labor
During the active stage of labor, the cervix dilates to the following sizes:
- 4 cm, the size of a small cookie, such as an Oreo
- 5 cm, the size of a mandarin orange
- 6 cm, the size of a small avocado or the top of a soda can
- 7 cm, the size of a tomato
Labor contractions become more intense and regular during active labor. Many women find that the main characteristic of active labor is that the contractions are extremely painful rather than uncomfortable.
At this stage of labor, some women may choose medication, such as an epidural to cope with the pain. Others prefer to manage the pain naturally. Changing positions, moving, and remaining hydrated can help with the pain of active labor.
Stage one: transition phase
During the transition phase of labor, the cervix dilates to the following sizes:
- 8 cm, the size of an apple
- 9 cm, the size of a donut
- 10 cm, the size of a large bagel
For many women, transition is the most challenging stage.
However, it is also the shortest. Some people begin feeling an urge to push during the transition stage. It is also common to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or unable to cope with the pain. Some women vomit.
Some women find that the coping strategies that worked well in the earlier stages of labor are no longer useful. Transition tends to be short and is a sign that the baby will soon arrive. Moving, changing positions, and visualization exercises can help.
The cervix continues dilating during transition, and transition ends when the cervix has fully dilated.
Stage two: full dilation and pushing
Once the cervix has reached 10 cm, it is time to push the baby out. Contractions continue but also produce a strong urge to push. This urge might feel like an intense need to have a bowel movement.
This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. It is often longer for those giving birth for the first time.
Historically, doctors told women to push according to a schedule, to count to 10, and to remain on their backs.
Today, the advice is very different, and research says it is safe for women to push according to their body’s cues and for as long as feels comfortable.
Pushing from a standing or squatting position may also help speed things along. Allowing people to push from a range of positions gives the medical staff better access to the woman and baby should they need to assist with the delivery for any reason.
As a woman delivers the baby, she may feel an intense burning and stretching as her vagina and perineum stretch to accommodate the baby. This sensation typically lasts just a few minutes, though some women tear during this process.
Stage three: after the birth
Share on PinterestAfter delivery, the cervix will start to contract to its previous size.
A few minutes after the birth, a woman may experience weaker contractions. After a contraction or two, the body should expel the placenta.
If the body does not entirely expel the placenta, a doctor or midwife may have to help deliver it.
Sometimes, they will give a woman an injection of synthetic oxytocin to speed up delivery and prevent excessive bleeding.
Shortly after delivery, the cervix begins contracting back down to its previous size. This process can take several days to several weeks.
As the uterus and cervix shrink, many women will feel some contractions. Most women bleed for several weeks after giving birth.
Labor is different for each woman. It typically lasts longer with a first birth, but the length and type of labor vary greatly between individuals.
Some people experience labor that consists of a weaker type of contraction for days or weeks before giving birth. Others give birth in a matter of minutes, while some labors take days. Most fall somewhere in the middle.
Labor often starts slowly, becoming progressively more intense. It may also start and stop, or slow during moments of stress or intrusion.
Visualizing the cervix expanding might help some people understand the source of labor pain, offering a sense of control and deeper insight into the processes of labor.
Baby height and weight norms
Newborns come into this world completely unadapted to the environment. Therefore, your care and care will help the kids become strong and strong. During the year, the child acquires many new skills, becomes mobile and inquisitive, and also increases the mass and length of the body more than twice.
Each person on Earth is individual, but despite this, there are general patterns and principles for increasing the weight and length of the body of children. And every mom can rely on them. But you don’t need to check to the gram and centimeter!
The average birth weight for girls is 2800 - 3300 grams, and for boys 2900 - 3500 grams. The average body length for both sexes is 48-51 centimeters. But if your child does not meet these parameters, this is not a reason to panic.
In the first few days of life, a newborn can lose up to 10% percent of the mass, but by 10-14 days he should restore the parameters that he had at birth.
During the first month, the child adds 25-30 grams every day, and in a month the total increase is about 600 grams. Then the monthly weight gain is 800 grams for up to six months and 400 grams monthly for up to 1 year. In a year, the average weight of your baby should be approximately 10 kg.
How do you know if your baby is gaining enough weight?
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the well-being of the child. It is also necessary to note the rate of absorption of food. If he eagerly sucks milk or formula, requires feeding every 20-30 minutes, then it is worth counting the amount of food eaten by the baby.
If your baby is bottle-fed, you can easily determine how much he eats at a time. But how to understand how much a child receives at one meal if you are breastfeeding? The answer is very simple - weigh it before and after eating. The difference in weight is the amount of food eaten. You can find the approximate volume of feeding a child in the first year of life in table No.
1. If your child is not eating enough, do not try to adjust the diet yourself, it is better to contact a pediatrician.
To measure the baby's body weight, conventional scales will not work, since accuracy is very important for your child in the first months of life.
It is better to use special children's scales, which are specially adapted for the smallest. It is convenient to put the baby on them, and they are accurate to the gram, which is very important for newborns.
| Child's age | Amount of milk eaten per feeding, ml | Number of milk eaten per day. |
| 3-4 days | 20-60 | 200-300 ml |
| Week 1 | 50-80 | 400 ml |
| 2 weeks | 60-90 | 20% of the child's weight |
| 1 month | 100-110 | 600 ml |
| 2 months | 120-150 | 800 ml |
| 3 months | 150-180 | 1/6 of the child's weight |
| 4 months | 180-210 | 1/6 of the child's weight |
| 5-6 months | 210-240 | 1/7 of the child's weight (800 ml -1 liter) |
| 7-12 months | 210-240 | 1/8 - 1/9 of the child's weight |
As for the length of the body of the baby.
For the first three months, children grow on average by 3 cm per month, from the third to the sixth month by 2.5 cm. After six months, the growth rate slows down a little, and the child begins to add 1-1.5 cm per month. The average body length per year is approximately 75-80 cm. The correct measurement of height in children of the first year of life is carried out in a supine position using a horizontal stadiometer in the form of a board eighty centimeters long with a fixed bar in the upper part. The child is laid so that the top of the head is pressed tightly into the fixed bar. The legs of the crumbs are straightened by light pressure on the knees.
If your baby differs from the average norms for weight and body length, do not panic, but be sure to contact your pediatrician! After all, the lag or, conversely, the acceleration of development can have many reasons. And also remember that every person on Earth and every child is individual and has its own pace of physical development.
Weight and height of a child by months up to a year - Table of weight norms for babies
A young mother often worries about whether her baby is developing correctly. And the weight of the child is one of the “sick” questions that often comes up on the playground.
Undoubtedly, how much a newborn is gaining weight is really important to know. But remember that the height and weight of the child are individual indicators. And they may not always fit into beautiful statistics. Although the approximate norm for the weight of a newborn is calculated based on general values. Doctors who carry out regular weighing of a newborn also have their own guidelines.
The table below shows the height and weight of the newborn by month. The figures take into account statistical data and recommendations of pediatricians (the discrepancy, by the way, is only 3%).
| Child's age, months | Boy, weight, g | Boy, height, cm | Girl, weight, g | Girl, height, cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 3 600 | fifty | 3400 | 49. 5 |
| 1 month | 4 450 | 54.5 | 4 150 | 53.5 |
| 2 month | 5 250 | 58 | 4 900 | 56.8 |
| 3 month | 6050 | 61 | 5 500 | 59.3 |
| 4 month | 6 700 | 63 | 6 150 | 61.5 |
| 5 month | 7 300 | 65 | 6 650 | 63.4 |
| 6 month | 7 900 | 67 | 7 200 | 65.3 |
| 7 month | 8 400 | 68. 7 | 7 700 | 66.9 |
| 8 month | 8 850 | 70.3 | 8 100 | 68.4 |
| 9 month | 9 250 | 71.7 | 8 500 | 70 |
| 10 month | 9 650 | 73 | 8 850 | 71.3 |
| 11 month | 10,000 | 74.3 | 9 200 | 72.6 |
| 12 month | 10 300 | 75.5 | 9 500 | 73.8 |
To use the table, you should know how to weigh a newborn correctly.
