Let the games begin....

In this morning's visit, Dr. Lee has served notice. Age is now 1 cm dialated and effaced. Which to me, sounded like we're jumping in the car and it's time to get to the hospital! With a little help from the internets (couldn't resist a little W jab!), things are not as dire as I had thought. From "Ask a Nurse"...

Cervical dilation is the actually opening of the cervix. A women must get to ten centimeters to be completely dilated.

Effacement is the thinning of the cervix. Normally the cervix is about 2 inches long, so a cervix that is 70% effaced is less than 3/4 of an inch.

Effacement and dilation go together, not on over the other. However, just becaues she is dilating and effacing doesn't mean that labor will begin within the hour, or the day, or even the week. Nor does it mean that the woman who is not effaced or dilated will be pregnant for another week as some would have you believe. I've even had students walk around at five cetimeters for about 2 weeks.

So....could be tonight, could be tomorrow, could be anytime in the next two weeks!!!