Dilated/effaced/engaged

[CaseofEllen]

Hi all,

FTM here. Had my 40 week MW appointment today and had sweep done.

Wondering if anyone can explain what this means, MW said I'm:

2cm dilated

Not effaced

Fully engaged

The 'not effaced' confuses me the most

Any insight gratefully received!

Effacement (in very basic terms) is your cervix becoming thinner.

Did you say you’re a first time mum? If so, then as a midwife I’m also confused. For a first baby, effacement is what happens before your cervix starts dilating (for subsequent vaginal births it happens simultaneously). Before your cervix starts to open, it first goes soft and stretchy, then has to go from being a 2-3cm long thick “tunnel” to being as thin as tissue paper...only then does it start to dilate. Similarly for a first baby, I’d expect your baby to have begun engaging from approx 36 weeks (subsequent babies might not engage until the last minute).

From what your midwife has written and that she was able to do a sweep, I’d think she meant that your baby is nice and low, your cervix isn’t fully thin or opening yet, but is soft and stretchy enough for her to stretch it to 2cm and do a sweep. That’s all really positive. For a lot of first time mums at 40 weeks a sweep isn’t even possible because the cervix hasn’t yet started to soften enough to stretch it open.

Try to be mobile and otherwise carry on with life, babies are like watched pots x

Thanks so much for explaining. Makes more sense now and I'm glad it all sounds positive! Hoping baby comes out soon 🤞🏼