What does it mean when the cervix is ​​ten fingers dilated?

What does it mean when the cervix is ​​ten fingers dilated? I believe that many expectant mothers want to know the answer to this question. In response to this question, the editor has collected the following content to answer our doubts. Friends who want to know the answer, please read the following content with me.

When the contractions become regular and occur approximately every 5 minutes, you can go to the hospital to prepare for delivery. The doctor will perform a digital examination, and you can go to the delivery room when the cervix is ​​about 3 fingers dilated. The doctor uses his fingers to check how dilated the cervix is. Generally speaking, one finger measures 1 cm, and ten fingers of dilation means the cervix is ​​10 cm dilated. In fact, most people's fingers are wider than 1 cm, and the width of a palm is usually close to 8-9 cm. The so-called ten-finger opening does not mean putting both hands inside to check the degree of cervical dilation.

1. The doctor can observe the degree of opening of the uterine opening.

2. The doctor can also use digital examination to explore the condition of the cervix. Usually an anal or vaginal examination is done. The doctor, wearing sterile gloves, inserts a finger into the vagina, places the finger on the opening of the uterus, and uses the finger to measure the opening of the uterus. Anal examination is only done when delivery is imminent, because the vagina is not far from the cervical opening, with a relatively thin peritoneum in the middle. Anal examination is used to detect the opening of the cervical opening through this place. Regardless of whether the cervix is ​​dilated or not before delivery, repeated vaginal exploration will cause iatrogenic infection, so digital rectal examination is used to make the diagnosis.

When a pregnant mother is about to give birth, her uterus contracts regularly, pulling on the uterine muscles and surrounding fibers at the internal os of the cervix. In addition, the amniotic fluid sac is wedge-shaped in front of the fetal presenting part, causing the internal os of the cervix to expand upward and outward, and the cervical canal gradually shortens until it disappears. The external cervical opening is usually only the size of a fingertip. As labor progresses, the external cervical opening expands to a diameter of 10 cm, allowing the full-term fetal head to pass through. This process is called cervical dilation.

Cervical dilation curve

The first stage of labor is divided into the latent phase and the active phase.

The latent period refers to the time from the onset of regular uterine contractions to the cervical dilation of 3 cm. During this period, the dilation rate is slower, with an average of 1 cm dilation every 2-3 hours, requiring 8 hours and a maximum time limit of 16 hours.

The active phase refers to the cervical dilation of 3-10cm. During this period, the dilation speed increases and takes 4 hours, with a maximum limit of 8 hours. The active phase is divided into three phases: the acceleration phase refers to the cervical dilation of 3-4cm, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes; the maximum acceleration phase refers to the cervical dilation of 4-9cm, which takes about 2 hours; the deceleration phase refers to the cervical dilation of 9-10cm, which takes about 30 minutes.

Through the above content, the editor tells us in detail the answer to the question of what it means when the cervix is ​​ten fingers dilated. After reading it, do you know what this means? I hope every expectant mother can take good care of her body and give birth to a healthy and lovely baby.