Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms, Week by Week Pregnancy Guide

Cervical dilation or Dilation is a process of the opening of the cervix which usually takes place at the time of childbirth. Dilation may also occur during miscarriage, induced abortion or during a surgical procedure. In most cases, dilation occurs naturally but in certain cases, it may have to be induced by either a medical method or a surgical procedure.

During the process or period of pregnancy, the cervix is already open a few centimeters but during labor, it tends to widen more and upto about 10 cm. There are many dilation in pregnancy symptoms and to know more about them, you can read the following given information:

Increased Braxton Hicks Contractions:

Braxton Hicks contractions during the time of pregnancy, but as the labor gets closer, they may increase in rate. They might be marked by a little pain and this is a sign of cervical dilation. These contractions slow down by having extra fluid and taking rest.

Feeling like the Baby has Dropped:

If you are feeling the change in the position of the baby in the uterus, then that might indicate cervical dilation. This happens due to the fact that the baby drops lower into the pelvis and leads to an uncomfortable feeling for the mother to be.

Loss of the Mucus Plug:

The mucus plug is a thick covering of or layer of mucus which plays the role to protect the opening of the cervix during the time of pregnancy to avoid any kind of infections. As the cervix begins to dilate in the final months of pregnancy, the mucus plug may come out this results in a white discharge. This is another common sign of dilation in pregnancy. But all women do not notice the loss of the mucus plug and hence this sign might be missed by most of them.

Blood Show:

Blood show is yet another sign that the cervix is beginning to dilate during the last months of the pregnancy period. This procedure generally happens along with the loss of the mucus plug and might continue through the entire labor period. This will make the mucus pink, red or brown in color.

Pain:

If you are experiencing a pain which is similar to menstruation pain, then this might also indicate that the cervix has begun to dilate.  This happens because the uterus contracts so as to let the cervix dilate.

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, then you be experiencing cervical dilation.