When Does Effacing Start?

Most effacement usually happens during the first stage of labor, when your cervix is dilating to 6 cm. This process can take several hour or days, and will likely be accompanied by early signs of labor such as Braxton Hicks contractions and losing your mucus plug.

What does effacement feel like?

Effacement: Thinning of the cervix

As labor begins, your cervix softens, shortens and thins (effacement). You might feel uncomfortable, but irregular, not very painful contractions or nothing at all. Effacement is often expressed in percentages.

Does effacement mean labor is near?

Effacement means that the cervix stretches and gets thinner. Dilatation means that the cervix opens. As labor nears, the cervix may start to thin or stretch (efface) and open (dilate). This prepares the cervix for the baby to pass through the birth canal (vagina).