Dilation and effacement are terms that doctors and other birth professionals use to describe the changes in the cervix that are required for vaginal birth. Even if you've heard these terms, you may ...

Near the end of the third trimester, the cervix will soften in order to begin the process of effacing (thinning and stretching) and dilating (opening up) in preparation for your baby's birth. An open ...

Patients with cervical insufficiency typically present with a history of 1 or more lost pregnancies characterized by early cervical dilation. Cervical insufficiency (CI), also known as incompetent ...