Cervix Dilation Chart: What to Expect During the Stages of Labor

When it's time to give birth, your body will have to move through three stages of labor. The first stage of labor is focused on cervical dilation, which is when the cervix opens and thins in preparation for a baby to pass through. It's completely normal to have questions about this process, especially if it's your first time giving birth.

The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus and it connects the uterus to the vagina. In preparation for the birth of your baby, the cervix effaces (thins and stretches) and dilates (opens) so the baby can fit through the birth canal. Some people compare the uterus with the cervix to a blown-up balloon: the cervix is the neck of the balloon that stretches and opens as the baby moves down to exit.

If you're delivering vaginally, you're ready to push and deliver once your cervix opens to the magic number: 10 centimeters.

Being able to visualize what's happening in your cervix, especially if it's your first time having a baby, can help you feel more in control of the process. Keep reading to learn more about how cervical dilation progresses throughout the stages of labor, and check out our handy cervix dilation chart that helps you picture what cervix dilation looks like.

Cervical Dilation Chart in Pictures

During your labor, your doctor may check your cervix to track how your labor is progressing. For instance, your doctor or nurse may perform a cervical check and inform you that you are "3 centimeters" dilated. But what exactly does that mean? Three centimeters translates to roughly the size of a banana slice.

To help you visualize what it looks like when your cervix is dilated, we've created a cervical dilation chart, using familiar foods as a point of comparison.

Here's what cervix dilation sizes look like when compared with everyday foods:

• 1 cm dilated: Cheerio
• 2 cm dilated: Grape
• 3 cm dilated: Banana slice
• 4 cm dilated: Cracker
• 5 cm dilated: Lime slice
• 6 cm dilated: Cookie
• 7 cm dilated: Orange slice
• 8 cm dilated: Halved apple
• 9 cm dilated: Donut
• 10 cm dilated: Cantaloupe

Cervical Dilation During the Stages of Labor

Labor happens in three stages, but cervical dilation only occurs in the first stage of labor, The three stages of labor are :

• Stage One: Cervical effacement and dilation happen during this stage, which can be further broken down into three phases: the early phase, the active phase, and the transition phase.
• Stage Two: During the second stage, the pregnant person pushes and delivers the baby.
• Stage Three: The pregnant person delivers the placenta after giving birth to the baby.

Keep reading to learn more about each stage of labor, plus what to expect with your dilated cervix.

Stage One of Labor

During the first stage of labor, the cervix opens and thins, which allows for vaginal delivery. The first stage of labor further breaks down into three phases: the early phase, the active phase, and the transition phase.

The early phase

In this phase, the cervix dilates to around 3 or 4 centimeters. The time between contractions ranges from five minutes to 30 minutes, and the contractions last around 30 to 45 seconds each. This stage can last a long time and usually involves mild contractions, so many people spend this stage at home. The phase lasts about 6 to 10 hours for first-timers and 2 to 5 hours for those who've given birth before.

The active phase

The active phase is characterized by contractions that are more intense and frequent, arriving every 3 to 5 minutes. Labor pain may radiate around your abdomen, back, and thighs. Your cervix is also dilated around 4 to 7 centimeters. Someone who has never given birth before may be in active labor for around 3 to 6 hours; a person who's done it before might take 1 to 3 hours.

The transition phase

The most intense contractions occur in the transition phase—and it can potentially trigger sensations of nausea, pelvic pressure, shakiness, and fatigue. In this phase, your cervix will finish effacing and dilate to the full 10 centimeters. This phase may take anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours.

Stage Two of Labor

Your cervix is fully dilated at 10 centimeters during this stage of labor and the baby descends down the birth canal. Eventually, your body begins pushing (your health care provider may coach you to push if you've had an epidural) and you deliver the baby.

Stage Three of Labor

After giving birth, you'll have a few more contractions that will help you deliver the placenta (or "afterbirth"). This stage commonly only lasts for several minutes but can take up to an hour without intervention. Once the placenta has been delivered, your cervix will start the process of going back to its pre-delivery size. However, as your uterus shrinks back down over the next six weeks, your cervix will also stay slightly open and you will experience bleeding similar to a period.

Somewhere around six weeks, when your uterus returns to pre-pregnancy size, your cervix should close and will resume slight opening and closing with your postpartum menstrual cycle if you menstruate.