So you’ve started having cervical checks and you’re barely dilated, hardly effaced and baby hasn’t dropped. You’re getting worried, thinking nothing is happening and you want to figure out a way to get dilation started. Well, before you read on, you need to know this:
- Dilation, effacement and dropping mean ALMOST nothing in relation to labor progression.
- They can begin to happen months or weeks before labor OR you can be closed up tight as a drum and then dilate 6cm in an hour.
- Many mothers worry about these numbers when they are in fact static calculations which are only relevant at the exact moment they were checked.
- The only time you should be trying to get dilation to happen:
- If you’re faced with a medical induction and want the highest chance of a successful labor.
- If you’re reaching 42 weeks and about to go into the overdue stage of pregnancy.
So now we’ve got that out of the way, how can you make yourself dilate at home? Well you can try this list of:
48 Natural Ways To Induce Labor
or
10 Ways To Have a Safer and Easier Medical Induction of Labor
Raw dates, evening primrose oil, sex and walking are the most likely options for getting dilation started.
Susannah is a Birth Doula qualified through Childbirth International. She's also studying to be a Postpartum Doula and Breastfeeding Counsellor. Susannah is the mother of two children and has also lost two pregnancies to miscarriage.
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