Can You Feel Yourself Dilating or Effacing

Can you feel your cervix dilating? As your cervix starts to thin and soften, you may or may not notice twinges and sensations in that area of your pelvis. This can be as much you trying to convince yourself something is happening though!

How can you tell if your cervix is effacing?

• Slowly insert your index and middle fingers into the vagina — being careful not to spread bacteria from the anus.
• Reach to the end of the vaginal canal and feel for the texture and thickness of your cervix.
• If what you feel is very hard and thick, you’re likely not very effaced.

Can you be effaced and not dilated?

So, yes, it’s possible to be effaced but not dilated, Thiel says. … “Typically, first time moms will efface and then dilate, whereas moms who have had vaginal deliveries or dilated before can dilate before their cervix will efface,” Pelletier says. Cervical effacement gets you closer to labor and delivery.