When after nine months of waiting the moment of delivery finally arrives, it is normal to be nervous, have doubts and concerns, more than you already imagined. For example, sometimes, it may be that even though the time of pregnancy is fulfilled, no water breaks or begins to give birth, it can also be difficult to get the necessary dilation to give birth or there may be other delays. Therefore, it is vital to be with doctors and follow the advice they give in each situation.
Anyway, there are some homemade and natural methods, that is, you can practice both at home and in the hospital and without medication, to achieve the necessary dilation. In oneHOWTO we explain how to dilate faster in labor. Take note!
How many centimeters to dilate during childbirth
Dilation is undoubtedly a sign that the baby is on the way and in a few hours it will be born. In addition, it is the longest and most painful part of labor, so it is best to walk slowly and breathe deeply to better manage this part and all the symptoms it entails.
To give birth it is necessary dilate the birth canal to about 10 cm. This means that the average is in this measure but it is true that new mothers or first-time mothers may need to reach these 10 cm for the baby to start coming out and take longer to achieve it, while those who have already given birth can give birth with a few centimeter of dilation less without problems and take less time.
In the event that the usual time for dilation and delivery passes and the minimum number of centimeters necessary for the baby to come out is not reached, the doctors may decide that the woman in labor performs some exercises to help this process or else end up performing a cesarean.
In this other oneHOWTO article we tell you which is better: cesarean section or natural childbirth.
How long does labor take to dilate?
It is also worth knowing a little about the normal time of labor dilation, because in this way you can realize if you are taking too long to dilate and you need to do something else to get it or the help of a doctor. Dilation of the cervix begins when uterine labor contractions occur and is, in fact, the longest phase of labor. Exactly, the labor of dilation is divided into 3 phase known as latent, active, and deceleration.
- In the latent phase of dilation, stronger and more frequent contractions occur. The first contractions can last a few hours or last some day, although it is not the most common, until the next phase. In this part of the process it is dilated up to 3 cm or 4 cm.
- The active phase in dilation It is the one that occurs when the cervix dilates more quickly. The body has to maintain between 3 cm or 4 cm reached in the previous phase and manage to dilate up to 8 cm or 9 cm. This part usually lasts an average of 5 hours in new mothers, but in those who have already been mothers before it usually takes about 2 hours.
- The last part is the deceleration phase and it is so called because the dilation of the cervix begins to slow down again. Here the complete dilation occurs and the baby already begins to pass through the uterine canal until birth. This last part of dilation now only involves increasing one or two centimeters, but it can take about 3 more hours on average.
Thus, in mothers who are having their first child, it is normal for the part of the dilation between 4 cm and the final 10 cm to last an average of 8 hours.
What’s more, the time limit for this process is 18 hoursIt is considered that it is unlikely that there will be more, but if it is the case, the doctors never let them exceed themselves and act. In mothers who have already had other children, it is normal that the 12 hours in this part.
How to Dilate Faster in Labor with Home Remedies
In case the doctors consider that you are starting to go slower than usual in the dilation part, you can try various home remedies such as exercises, postures and infusions among others. Take note of how to dilate faster for labor:
Have sex
It’s one of the best home remedies to dilate during labor. However, the doctor must approve this measure, as it is not advisable if during pregnancy there has been a time when the specialist has prohibited intercourse or complete rest. This way of improving dilation is effective because the muscle contractions that occur during intercourse, as well as during orgasm itself, increase contractions in the uterus and help stimulate the opening of the cervix. In addition, semen has a substance that facilitates this task, as it helps to mature this part by increasing its flexibility, which causes it to dilate.
Exercise to stretch more
Although it is not advisable to overdo it or force it, but if you keep moving and do certain exercises to stimulate the birth canal to expand. You can use a pilates ball and sit on it with light, smooth movements back and forth or in circles. Another option is walk to dilate more, something simple that is very effective to further enlarge the cervix. In addition, these exercises keep you focused and in less pain than if you were fully stretched and still during this phase of delivery. You also have to remember that you need to breathe well, so be mindful of breathing in labor to control pain during dilation and you will see that you relax and feel less pain.
Boost your oxytocin production
It is the hormone responsible for producing uterine contractions, which will cause the cervix to dilate, and also stimulate milk production. To increase your production of oxytocin, take infusions of raspberry leaves, eat dark chocolate, stimulate the nipples, laugh a lot and have relationships with your partner. These are tips that stimulate the uterus, the baby to move and the production of this hormone itself.
Postures to dilate more in labor
- Lying on the left side and with a pillow between your legs, in this way you will relax your lower back and improve circulation in your legs and pelvic area. It is better that it is on the left side because this favors the circulation towards the placenta.
- Another useful posture that you can do in bed is the following: kneel on the bed with your legs as far apart as you can, but bringing your toes together.
- To achieve your goal, rest your knees and hands on the floor or on the bed and rock back and forth and, in addition, combine this movement with making circles with your hips also supported in this way. You will notice that you expand more and the pains are relieved.
- The last posture that we recommend is that you sit on a chair but with it upside down, that is, looking at the back with your legs open, placing one on each side of the chair and you can lie on the back to rest. This posture will help you to relieve the tension in the lower back, you can relax by resting your legs, shoulders and neck, and the pressure of the baby in the pelvis is reduced. Therefore, this position serves to rest and stretch the birth canal, so you can combine it with the previous ones.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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