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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Quick silly question, How do they tell how dilated you are?

17 replies

sarahbear · 25/05/2004 18:48

I know they use two fingers, but its always amazed me how they can say how many cm you are. It obviously has to be guesswork, but I am sure I couldn't guess that accurately. I know they tend to say one fingertip is 1 cm but there are differenmt size fingers! Presumably as labour progresses, you use two fingers in the cervix and open them, but even with the biggest hands, you wouldn't be able to pull your fingers 10 cm apart! Maybe full dilation you just go by not being able to feel any cervix at all, but what about 7, 8 or 9, you wouldn't open them that far either!

Sorry, know its a daft question, just bugging me and also worrying that I wouldn't be able to become a midwife cos it would be too hard for me to tell. I would love to be a midwife!

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jampot · 25/05/2004 18:54

I've often wondered this Sarahbear. During labour with dd I was told I was 10cm and to push which I did for 4 hours - got to theatre and the doc doing the op went mad at the midwife and said I was only 8cm (!) When I had my ds I had to hold my notes whilst sitting in another bloody queue and so I opened them to have a little look (like you do if you're nosey) and there on the notes of my labour was 7cm underlined several times in red (then the notes were taken off me!) How can they tell? Having said that they couldn't work out whether dd was anterior or posterior either

Lisa78 · 25/05/2004 18:55

I suppose they guess sarahbear, unless they sort of walk their fingers across your cervix!!!

ks · 25/05/2004 18:57

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ks · 25/05/2004 18:57

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suzywong · 25/05/2004 18:59

I think it is also to do with what parts and how much of the baby's head they can feel, IIRC,

LunarSea · 25/05/2004 19:04

And why is it always 10cm? Surely if people come in different sizes, the maximum dilation must be, say, 9cm in one person, and 11 cm in another?

lou33 · 25/05/2004 19:06

Maybe they need one of those electronic room measuring things, that estate agents use. Can you imagine?

Original poster

sarahbear · 25/05/2004 19:57

lol lou33, I have often wondered why they dont use a tape measure!

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pupuce · 25/05/2004 20:01

It's not that precise.
1 finger is 1 to 2 cm
2 fingers is 3 or 4 and so on... 10 is NOT exactly 10 cm.... it's when the cervix has completely effaced and you can't feel any...
Some women are told you are 9.5 (sorry what a joke !) - but in reality it often means you have an "anterior lip" i.e. a part of the cervix that is still "feelable". You can't push on an anterior lip as it only swells the cervix and makes it harder!

So the measurement of the dilation is not precise enough to be accurate liek "2.5"cm - also I have seen a MW and an OB do a vaginal examination back to back and have a different assessment ! So don't attach too much importance to the exact number, read it more like an idea how the labour is going...
Before 3cm you are not in established labour
between 7 and 10 you are in transition (hardest phase)
After 10 you can push....
Hope this helps.

ks · 25/05/2004 20:32

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Piffleoffagus · 25/05/2004 20:35

ha ha, all they said to me was, you're pushing you must be dilated, 10 mins later out popped a baby.
In neither of my deliveries did I get an internal. all happened a bit quick I think...
It doesn't bear thinking about really LOL

pupuce · 25/05/2004 20:43

6cm is indeed a good "score" to turn up in hospital.... or later if you can bear it! It means you are well on your way... at 6cm I always feel the worst is yet to come (pain wise) but if you can manage it... stay off the drugs as it will soon be offer if you stay mobile and in good conditions to labour (not always possible in hospitals though )

ks · 25/05/2004 20:52

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madgirl · 25/05/2004 20:57

i was under the impression that you are entitled to read your notes from either gp or hospital whenever you like - is that right?

pupuce · 25/05/2004 21:00

Yes but you may struggle to get a hold of tehm quickly... it's ideal to keep a photocopy of them right after the birth - you keep them for 10 days! My MWs always suggested it!

madgirl · 25/05/2004 21:05

thanks for that pupuce - yeah i remember now from ds - having another baby in july so just might copy the notes whilst i have them! shame we don't keep them as would be interesting reading for 2nd time round!

acnebride · 25/05/2004 21:32

i've asked to see my notes - not just the typed up version i hope but also the actual notes that the midwife wrote during the delivery. i've got no real problems with what she did or with what happened - except that it was childbirth LOL - but would just like to see them. It's going to take a while as I had to apply in writing and they are going to send someone round to explain them to me, but I'm glad it's going to happen. Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990 you must be given access to records held about you in most cases. Hope this isn't a waste of space...

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