Why wont i dilate

How to dilate faster during labor: Safe methods

There are ways to induce labor medically, but a person can often encourage dilation by keeping the body relaxed and loose. This can help ease the delivery.

Dilation is a term that describes the widening of the cervical opening. Dilation of the cervix is one sign that a pregnant woman is going into labor.

During the final stages of pregnancy, doctors perform cervical exams to track the progress of the pregnancy and the extent of dilation of the cervix.

In the first stage of labor, the cervix will dilate to 10 centimeters (cm) in width.

Dilation is typically gradual, but the cervix can widen rapidly over 1 or 2 days. A few different factors can influence how quickly dilation occurs.

In this article, learn how to dilate more quickly before and during labor.

The following methods can help in dilation without using medication:

Move around

Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow.

Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation.

This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix.

People may also find swaying or dancing to calming music effective.

Use an exercise ball

A large inflatable exercise ball, called a birthing ball in this case, may also help.

Sitting on the ball and rocking back and forth or moving in circles can help keep the muscles in the pelvis loose and relaxed for delivery.

Relax

It is easy to become tense during the last stages of pregnancy, but learning to relax can have a range of benefits.

Stress and muscle tension and can delay labor by making it harder for the cervix to dilate. These issues can also keep the baby from descending.

Many women benefit from practicing breathing exercises or meditation before and during labor. Even dimming the lights can help.

Laugh

Laughing can keep stress and fear at bay. Even momentary relief can relax the body and aid dilation.

Joking around, or watching funny movies or stand-up comedy may help to keep spirits up before and during labor.

Have sex

Sexual stimulation can relax the body.

Also, a hormone called prostaglandin in semen can promote dilation.

Share on PinterestMedical intervention may be necessary during labor.

While labor is a natural process, there are times when a doctor needs to intervene.

Medical intervention may be necessary if:

a woman has an infection in the uterus
the baby is more than 2 weeks overdue, and active labor has not begun
the water has broken, but there are no contractions
underlying medical conditions will complicate delivery for the mother or baby

A doctor may apply a medication that contains prostaglandin to soften the cervix and promote dilation.

A process called membrane stripping may help. It involves a doctor or midwife rubbing their fingers against the membranes of the amniotic sac to release prostaglandin into the uterus and help the cervix dilate.

Women interested in unmedicated or “natural” birth may avoid medical intervention until it is necessary.

There are three distinct stages:

Stage one

Share on PinterestThere are three distinct stages of labor.

This stage has three phases.

In the first phase, the cervix dilates to 3 cm. The baby drops lower into the pelvis, and this increases the levels of prostaglandin in the body, which stimulates dilation.

The mucus plug that has sealed the opening of the uterus during pregnancy will fall away.

Capillaries in the cervix can rupture during this stage and cause bloody discharge known as the bloody show. This is normal.

The next phase is active labor, when the cervix will dilate further. Some doctors mark the end of this phase when the width of the cervix reaches 7 cm. Others use contractions as a guideline.

The final step in this stage, called the transition phase, lasts until the cervix dilates to 10 cm.

Stage two

The second stage of labor begins when the cervix dilates to 10 cm and ends with delivery. The length of time can vary from woman to woman, and a variety of factors influence it.

Stage three

In this stage, the doctor will deliver the placenta and cut the umbilical cord.

In some situations, a doctor may use medical methods to encourage dilation.

However, there are a number of natural ways to promote dilation before and during labor. It is often a good idea to find ways to relax.

Why Is My Cervix Not Dilating? (In the First Stages of Labor)

Cervix dilation is one of the earliest signs that the birth of your baby is imminent. As you approach your due date, your doctor will check your weekly visits to see if you are dilated. Dilation begins once you have lost your mucus plug and cervical effacement has occurred. You may also experience a bloody show, a mix of blood and mucus when you lose your mucus plug.

There are three stages of labor: latent labor, active labor, and the delivery of the placenta, which is often glossed over when discussing labor.

As labor progresses, so will cervical dilation, from 1 cm, roughly the size of a blueberry, to 10 cm, the size of a bagel.

More: Labor Complications

Dilation During The 3 Stages of Labor:

Latent Labor (the first stage of labor 1- 9 cm dilated)
Active Labor (the second stage of labor 10 cm dilated)
Placenta Delivery (the third stage of labor)

The first stage of labor could take several weeks, and you may stay dilated at only 1 or 2 centimeters for several ob-gyn visits in a row! When dilation fails to progress, women often wonder why is my cervix not dilating? Fortunately, there are many reasons why it may seem there is a failure to progress in labor. We will break down the various reasons for the cervix not dilating in the coming sections.

Failure to Progress in Labor

When labor fails to progress, it means your cervix is not dilating, and your baby is not descending. When this happens, your health care provider will likely assess what are known as the Three Ps.

The Passenger (the size of the baby and his position in the uterus)
The Powers (the efficiency of your contractions)
The Passage (the size and shape of your pelvis)

In early labor, these three elements work together to progress towards the active phase of labor. If one of these elements is not aligned, the latent phase of labor may not progress as quickly or smoothly as mom and doctor would like.

More: Labor Complications

Cephalopelvic Disproportion (The Passenger)

Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) occurs when the baby’s head is too large to fit through the women’s pelvis. The condition is considered rare and can only be fully diagnosed during labor, and 70% of pregnant women are able to deliver vaginally and without major complications.

Sometimes Cephalopelvic Disproportion may be suspected before labor in late pregnancy if your doctor’s measurements indicate the baby will be large.

If CPD is suspected, but the baby's head has engaged, you can still attempt a vaginal birth. Your doctor and nurses will monitor the labor with a labor graph, and if there are signs that the baby is in distress, an emergency cesarean may be performed. Likewise, a planned cesarean may be offered if the head hasn't engaged toward the end of labor or your doctor suspects CPD may be a concern before labor.

Inefficient Contractions (The Power)

Another reason your labor may not be progressing could be because your cervix is dilating slowly or has stopped dilating. Once labor begins, regular contractions will occur every 2 to 3 minutes. Your doctor will also assess how strong the labor contractions are by palpating your abdomen: the firmer it feels during contractions, the more likely they are to be effective.

If your contractions become too intense, you can request an epidural to help with the pain. Keep in mind; however, it could be an hour or more after you request it before you are able to receive pain relief. Additionally, not all women and pregnancies can receive an epidural, so be sure to discuss the specifics with your doctor long before labor starts.

If you have begun having contractions but they are widely spaced, and their strength indicates they're unlikely to be effective, your doctor may use one or two techniques to speed up labor, known as augmenting labor.

First, they may artificially rupture the membranes if it hasn’t happened naturally. The rupturing of the membranes is also known as when your water breaks.

If this procedure fails to further dilation and the cervix opens only minimally. In that case, you may be given the drug oxytocin to increase the strength and frequency of contractions, also known as labor induction. It is more common for first-time moms to need an induction to produce uterine contractions than those who have experienced labor before.

Initially, a small dose is given and then increased over time until you're having three or four moderately strong contractions every 10 minutes. You’ll have continuous electronic fetal monitoring to ensure that the baby is not distressed by the sudden onset of stronger contractions if this is done.

If your labor is still not progressing several hours after the drugs have been started, then a cesarean may be recommended.

More: Cesarean Sections

Posterior Presentation (The Passage)

The best position for your baby in labor is an occiput-anterior position with the back of the head (occiput) facing your front. If the back of the head faces your back (occipito-posterior), this can make it hard for the baby to turn and move down the birth canal and can prolong labor. The doctor may suggest that you change positions to encourage the baby to turn. If the baby fails to rotate, forceps or vacuum may be needed to aid the delivery.

A gynecoid pelvis is a name given to a pelvis that has a circular shape. The generous proportions of this more typical "female-shaped" pelvis provide room for the head to pass through during birth.

An android pelvis is a term used to describe a pelvis with a more triangular shape. This reduces the room available for the baby's head to pass through and is more likely to cause problems during vaginal delivery.

The good news is that the obstetrics community states that the shape and size of your pelvis have no bearing on fertility or your ability to become pregnant.

Sources

Cervix Dilation Chart: Stages of Labor (healthline.com)
The 5 P’s of Normal Labour and Birth - Kiwi Families
Cephalopelvic Disproportion: Signs, Causes, and Potential Risks (flo.health)
Epidural Pros and Cons: Should I Get One During Labor? (healthline.com)
Premature rupture of membranes: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Do you know what your pelvis type is? (modernfertility.com)

A gynecoid pelvis is the name given to a pelvis that has a circular shape. The generous proportions of this more typical "female-shaped" pelvis provides room for the head to pass through during the birth.

Android pelvis

An android pelvis is the term used to describe a pelvis that has a more triangular shape. This reduces the room available for the baby's head to pass through and is more likely to cause problems during vaginal delivery.

How do you expand your horizons?

How do you broaden your horizons?

09/10/2021 9:20 341 0

Valeria GULAROVA, freelancer:
– For me, the most convenient source of new knowledge is the Internet. I am interested in many topics - from travel to candle making, and it is Internet resources that help me delve into them: blogs, podcasts, online courses. Of course, fiction plays an important role in broadening one's horizons. It opens the reader to new events, situations, characters that may be unknown to him from personal experience.

Yuri GAMAONOV, veterinarian:

– I broaden my horizons with the help of mass media. I learn about the news in the republic, about how its economic, social and other problems are being solved, from the newspaper "North Ossetia". I trust these publications, because they are backed by officials, comments by government agencies, and the responsibility of the journalists themselves.

Lately I have been browsing the Internet, where there is a lot of information on the situation in the country, in the world, the opinions of people, specialists in various industries on a particular topic. In general, there is no shortage of information in our time. You just need to be able to use it and not be lazy, but show interest in what is happening, in life itself in all its manifestations.

Julia AFANASIEVA, psychologist, Vladikavkaz:

- Traveling and meeting new people. I am filled with impressions of new places, plots and stories heard on the road. You can also expand your horizons by reading books and searching for interesting information on the Internet. Enriches visits to poetic or musical evenings, theaters, museums, time spent with people close to me.

Evgeny SAMODUROV, tourist:

– Usually, when I travel, I communicate with more than just friends or family. I'm always eager to talk to guides, hotel staff, or locals I come across. It's amazing how much you can learn about another culture just by interacting with those who have lived there all their lives. Well, traveling alone is generally a full-fledged opportunity to plunge into the local culture. In addition, being well-rounded means interacting with new groups of people. Therefore, I am sure that getting out of your comfort zone contributes significantly to this.

Alina BUTAEVA, student of secondary school No. 5, Alagir:

– A year ago I found some books in a bookcase called "What? Where? When? How? Why? Why?" Dad said that these were his books, his mother gave them to him when he was still a schoolboy, and he re-read each one several times. And now I read, because these books are a real source of knowledge. They have a lot of things that I would like to know about. I love the volumes "Unknown about the Known", "Questions and Answers", "Riddles and Secrets". Such books develop and broaden one's horizons, and distract one from the Internet.

Zarina DZHIOEVA, young mother:

– Before my decree, it was much easier to replenish the store of knowledge: activities in the media sector implied constant work with information. However, becoming a mother, I also learned quite a lot of new things: about the basics of modern education, about proper nutrition, and about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. I learned a lot in the field of arts and crafts and cooking. Why don't you broaden your horizons? And now, when the children have grown up a little and I can sometimes leave them with my grandmother, I began to go to games such as "Brain Slaughter". This is an intellectual and entertaining leisure, which not only trains your brain activity and memory in a special way, but also allows you to learn a lot of new things. It also introduces you to very interesting people, communication with which also contributes to broadening your horizons to some extent.

How to hear and understand the interlocutor | ConsultantPlus

Active listening is a communication technique that involves total concentration on the interlocutor in order to hear and understand him. This is a universal skill that will help build effective and trusting communication with colleagues, family and friends, improve the quality of relationships with other people, and avoid common mistakes and conflicts. Like any skill, the ability to “listen and hear” can be developed.

The main task of active listening is to listen, and not to evaluate what has been heard and express one's point of view. This is possible only in conditions of safe communication with full attention and respect for the interlocutor.

Respect for the interlocutor appears when we realize that by listening to him, we get new information, expand and deepen our understanding of the situation, phenomenon, process. The thoughts and beliefs of the interlocutor may not coincide with ours, but by respectfully treating the interlocutor, correctly expressing our disagreement, we expand the space for dialogue.

Full and unconditional attention builds trust and thus more open and informative conversation. Do not interrupt or try to object until you have listened to the end, as formulating objections will divert your attention from what the speaker is saying.

Safety is ensured by the absence of aggression and irritation, value judgments and criticism. Calm and friendly dialogue convinces a person of the significance of his thoughts, encourages him to continue the conversation. And it gives you the opportunity to better understand the interlocutor, highlight the main thing in his words, come to an agreement faster or find a way to help.

What techniques allow you to hear and understand the interlocutor?

Focusing attention. Turn to face the speaker, maintain eye contact, do not be distracted by the phone, show with gestures and facial expressions that you are listening carefully to the speaker. If it's something pleasant or interesting, smile, nod your head, encourage you to continue by saying "yes", "yeah", "what next?". If this is not a very pleasant conversation, a smile will be inappropriate, it is enough to say “I understand (a)” from time to time. Don't nod if you don't agree with what you hear. If this is a business meeting, presentation or meeting, capture the main thoughts of the speaker, mark key points, this will help you not to be distracted, and then formulate clarifying questions if necessary.

Echo response. Repeat some words or phrases of the interlocutor with clarifying or interrogative intonation, but not too often, so as not to cause irritation. By repeating the part of the phrase that interests you the most, you can direct the conversation in a direction that is important to you, by repeating emotionally charged words, you show understanding and support.

Retelling and clarification. Listening is a priority. But from time to time, retell what you heard in your own words. Formulate the main ideas of the conversation, highlighting the facts, without judgment. Use affirmative sentences, they are perceived more friendly than questions: "Correct me if I'm wrong, you think . ..", "The main idea, as I understand it, is that ...", "Sorry, I did not quite understand the idea of ... » So you show that you hear and correctly understand the speaker, get additional explanations. By asking clarifying questions, you will again demonstrate your attention to the interlocutor and interest in the topic of conversation.

Empathy. In the course of the dialogue, it is important and necessary to show that you understand the feelings and emotions of the interlocutor, and report your attitude to what you heard: “I understand that this is very important for you”, “I probably would have reacted the same way”, “I I understand how you feel…” When interpreting emotions, try to avoid evaluations and judgments, add the words “seems”, “probably”, “maybe”.

Summary after a pause. After your interlocutor has finished his story, it is quite natural to be silent for a minute or two to think. This will allow you to understand the meaning of the conversation, to summarize what your interlocutor said, to formulate the result of the conversation and, perhaps, the direction of further actions.