The early phase of labour, when the cervix is less than 3cm dilated, can be very slow. But dilation isn't everything.'The cervix both opens and becomes paper-thin. You may have gone from having a relly thick cervix to a really thin one, so even
Midwife Nikki replies:There are several possible reasons why the cervix is slow to dilate or stops dilating. It's often due to weak contractions. If that's the case, a hormone drip can sometimes strengthen their intensity. It can also be due to a
Midwife Nikki replies: This fairly common finding appears on an antenatal scan as black spots on one or both of your baby's kidneys.It indicates a build-up of fluid due to an obstruction in the flow of urine. But as the tubes from your baby's bladder grow, the urine will flow mor...
vaginally because the angle of his head is simply too wide,' says midwife Annette. 'For this, you would need to have an emergency C-section. Similarly if the baby is lying across the womb, this will always result in a Caesarean.'What if... I'm not dilating
Dr Rob: These spots sound like they could be angiokeratomas, which are harmless red or purplish raised spots formed of tiny dilated blood vessels, but it's important that you see your GP to check and confirm this. There doesn't seem to be a reason
criteria that need to be met, the main one being that you have to be in established labour. This means that it can't be given unless you're having regular contractions that are causing the cervix, the entrance to the womb, to dilate. Many obstetric units
to dilate. Cervical incompetence or weakness describes the situation whereby the cervix dilates without any contractions. This results in either miscarriage during the middle trimester (12 to 24 weeks), or in your baby being born very prematurely. What
the labour became more active. At first I declined the gas and air and slowly rocked on the birthing ball.Ten minutes later I asked for the gas and air.10.45am Christmas Eve: I was 5cm dilated. (I had dilated 3cm in 45minutes.) I was screaming for an epidural
Obstetrician Leonie says: Vulval varicosities are varicose veins of the vulva. A varicose vein is a vein that has become unusually dilated and full of blood.In pregnancy, the valves in the veins work less well due to pregnancy hormones, which can
Most women's waters break at the end of the first stage of labour, when the cervix (neck of the womb) is almost fully dilated. But for around 15% of pregnancies, breaking waters is the first sign of labour.It can be a gush of up to a litre or just a
