Effacement is when the cervix shortens, becoming softer and thinner in preparation for your baby's birth. During pregnancy, your cervix is about 3.5 to 4 centimeters long.

Here’s more about effacement throughout late pregnancy and labor, how it’s measured, and how long the process might take. Related: 8 ways to naturally induce labor. Effacement vs. dilation.

As you approach your due date and delivery, you might be wondering how to speed up the process. Here’s what you need to know about inducing labor and dilating faster.

The first stage of labor is when your cervix softens, shortens, and thins out, which is called effacement, and opens, which is called dilation. This stage allows your baby to move into the birth ...

Study: Black women at disadvantage in childbirth 02:36. NEW YORK-- Black women are at a significant disadvantage while pregnant and giving birth.. That's according to a new study that shows Black ...

The group that received the primrose oil showed significant signs that labor was about to begin, such as dilation and effacement, the thinning of the cervix. Another study was done in 2018 on ...