What does 2 centimeters dilated and 50 percent effaced mean?

Answer 1

The cervix must dilate from closed to 10 cm. for you to begin pushing the baby through the birth canal. As you get closer to going into labor you cervix gets thinner, this is called effeacement. If you are 50% efeced it means your cervix has thinned half way. The pressure of the fetuses head and uterine contractions cause dilation and effacement. The cervix must dilate from closed to 10 cm. for you to begin pushing the baby through the birth canal. As you get closer to going into labor you cervix gets thinner, this is called effeacement. If you are 50% efeced it means your cervix has thinned half way. The pressure of the fetuses head and uterine contractions cause dilation and effacement.

Answer 2

this means that your cervix is begining to thin but your not yet dilated. If this is your first baby you will usally efface before you dilate. If this is not your first baby you may likely dilate before you efface.