What Does It Mean When You Start to Dilate?

Dilation is the gradual opening of the cervix (the narrow, lower part of your uterus) to let your baby pass through. Dilation happens when you go into labor, and often begins even before labor starts.

What causes a woman to dilate?

During labor, intense contractions of the uterus help move the baby down and eventually out of the pelvis, and into the vagina. These contractions put pressure on the cervix and cause it to expand slowly.

What happens when you start dilating?

During the first stage of labor, your cervix will start to open (dilate) and thin out (efface) to allow your baby to move through your birth canal. Dilation starts at 1 centimeter (less than 1/2 inch) and goes all the way to 10 centimeters before there's enough space to push your baby into the world.