VAGINAL EXAM | Cervical Dilation and Effacement in Labor + Visuals

What does a Wine bottle, a lima bean and a coffee cup have to do with vaginal exams? In today's Midwife Monday Video, Midwife Kira gives us a few quick visuals on how to determine your cervical dilation and effacement in pregnancy or in labor.
** If you liked this video or want to learn more, then be sure to watch my video on Cervical Dilation and Effacement Explained: • Dilation and Effacemen...

[@hannahb5864]

Hey I just wanted to let you know your doing great things for moms everywhere and we are very thankful!!

[@CajunStork]

Oh thank you so much!

[@samanthamarvels]

As a holistic doula and birth educator, I use your videos for everything. Thanks for making things so easy to digest...you're awesome!!

[@CajunStork]

That’s awesome! Let me know if you’d like me to shoot something for your clients. Email me!

[@samanthamarvels]

@@CajunStork You're the best! Would love to hear your feedback on HypnoBirthing :) I know my mamas do incredible with it and I'd be interested to hear about your perspective.

[@YotaBoy305]

Wow, I just learned a lot more than what I was thinking. Didn't know much about dilation. You all go through the greatest miracle to give us such a Beautiful gift. Thank You for the video.

[@ChristSaves88]

Thanks for explaining this in depth and showing a visual! This was really helpful. Today I am 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant. 😊

[@CajunStork]

This was a fun video to shoot. Glad you found it helpful! Your body is amazing!! Good luck

[@ChristSaves88]

@@CajunStork Thank you!❤️❤️

[@AVSgirl1985]

That visual is insane😲😳😲! And very informative! Makes it seem like I'm getting to know my body better vs all of it being shrouded in mystery of how my first 3 were born.

[@missloretta]

Wow that discussion about effacement makes me feel a lot better about myself at 60% effaced, 0cm dilated.

[@Jason-o5s]

Cheer~~~the action of dilating a vessel or opening or the process of becoming dilated..(good information)...I thank you immensely.😊

[@Marwa-bv9mb]

I love every video you post! you’re amazing i learned a lot from you! I really wanted to deliver my baby naturally like i did with my first one but my baby is breech and i’m 36 weeks 5 days now 💔🤞🏼 i watched all of your videos about breech baby and i hope he turns his head down so i can deliver naturally 🥺❤️

[@abigailhlalele7991]

Meme please update 🙏 I'm 31 weeks and 1 day today, my baby is also breech. My OB has stated the C-section conversation 💔💔

[@CajunStork]

How did it go?!

[@bubaclairechannel5521]

Very informative..thank u.. 40 weeks in two days..

[@TheMariangel95]

Good to know it's big enough for a baby to pass through, I would always worry and wonder if it was big enough 😟

[@shakiaedmond8586]

Hey can you do a video on the placenta. Benefits of keeping it attached until it falls on it own, how to safely keep up with it. Vs delay clamping vs encapsulating and whatever else people do with their placenta

[@CajunStork]

Sooo good! Yes I’ll add that to my shooting list

[@maayamour]

Hi Kira, I heard that flaxseed helps when it comes to the ring of fire and I was wondering how accurate is it

[@LaurieKayIntl]

I've heard it too. The lady I listened to said her baby slipped out. She didn't feel any ring of fire

[@CajunStork]

I’ve never heard that??

[@trulygrateful7217]

Flaxseed gel?

[@LaurieKayIntl]

She said about 4- 6 weeks to her due date, she started taking 1 tablespoon of flax seed powder mixed with warm milk or water daily.

[@arrobinson2191]

Thank you. I want to know do we contract more when we move around vs being rested?

[@fatimahmumtaz8971]

I think moving around makes giving birth easier. But contractions get more painful. From my experience.

[@zoebrugg7594]

Not pregnant but writing a fanfiction story about a character pregnant in a post-apocalyptic world.... Holy mac! How is it even possible for a body to do that? I'm not married yet and want a family, but that right there makes me nervous!

[@foodbyhemishah2432]

I am 37 weeks pregnant but doctor said it's tym for delivery, he suggested C section because he said that during P/v Os closed, it's not open. Plz telle about normal

[@djkbrown]

That is savage. 😮 it's huge

[@austinmerrifield9836]

Hi Kira, I have a question! Can midwifes and doctors avoid cervical exams entirely? The thought of cervical exams during labor gives me so much anxiety. I've heard about the purple butt line as a way to monitor dilation--is the line a common practice in birthing centers versus hospitals? Thank you!

[@CajunStork]

This is such a great question!!! I’d love to post a video on this.

[@austinmerrifield9836]

@@CajunStork That would be awesome! ♥

[@tcarrasco4498]

I had only one cervical exam at each of 2 births before being admitted to the hospital (and none earlier in pregnancy). For my other birth the baby came before we made it to the hospital and I had 0 cervical exams. Next time I intend to give birth at home and will most likely not have any cervical exams.

[@tigar0485]

@Happily Merried you don't have to agree to anything. There is always a waiver you can sign stating your refusal if it's something the caregiver is concerned with getting in trouble for not doing.

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

You can say no to ANYTHING. it is your body. If any so-called professional gets snippy with you at a hospital, tell them you will leave AMA and they will not see a red scent of insurance money from that. They straighten up fast. Better yet, give birth a home. I always do. Couldn't be happier.

[@dr.safwanghaleb5561]

Thank you for explaining

[@jackvictorfirewing8304]

nice explanation...natural birth is best

[@kalpananepal967]

wow thank you dear❤️❤️

[@msc8245]

Informative. But why is it necessary to constantly check a woman during labor or to tell her when to push. Won't her body do this all on its own without constant involvement? Thanks

[@msc8245]

To add, why is birth treated like a sprint, and hurried along? I don't understand. No other mammal birth the way we humams do, especially the way it's done in hospitals. It's very unnatural and strange. I'm trying to understand.

[@jirib428]

To check the progress of labour, to see if the labour is going the way its supposed to go and to check if the fetus is okay. They used to be several cases where the mother and the child have died during labour and you can see how that has decreased due to medical advancements. And they check the woman every 4-6 hourly to see if there are progressing well or if they need any medications which will help them progress and to avoid C Section.

[@wheremywildthingsare1748]

Thank you! Is there a trick to how I can check by myself at home? Also how far should I go before I head to the hospital? I just want to labor at home as long as possible.

[@taleahatyson9970]

I pushed my second child out when I was 6 cm no wonder it hurt so bad. Goodness my first birth was horrible but my second was the worst pain ever

[@tiffanystewardbenn7922]

Excellent

[@Leurn989]

Can you do a video about the fetal ejection reflex?

[@Sama_09]

So do we need to insert the cup to measure !!

[@beckygeee8044]

Hey i am not clear on the effacement and the percentage ,i need more explaination or maybe a diagram ....??

[@MamaSita-w7u]

I’m soooo scared and this is my 3rd baby

[@aamna4431]

Hey can u pls tell me how much vaginally delivery is painful ?

[@atefe.taheriwomancare9934]

hi you are great midwife...why didnt some your videos have subtitel in another languages?/

[@CajunStork]

Thanks. I’m trying to subtitle them but it’s difficult for me to find the time as I run a full time midwifery practice and two birth centers. Sorry!

[@abianbu4434]

I am a second time pregnant women, first baby was with a c section. I am very afraid of the vaginal birth or pelvic examination. Please help me mam.with lots of love abi

[@yolandamendoza732]

My daughter was taking to the hospital yesterday at 5 pm now we are next day 6:00 am and with perusing during the night she open to 7 cm by the way she ask for the epidural 🙏😱

[@jessalynfleck6521]

I had an apointment today I'm 37 week and 3 days and she said I'm at 4cm

[@rwothomiyoemman9907]

Thanks so much

[@jeyavena0820]

Hi thank you for making this video kira!keep on watching ur uploaded videos. I hav a question about reaching 10cm?why is it still not possible to give birth naturally even having that 10cm dilation? My friend just went through it 😞

[@heatherbixby415]

I have been wondering about this same thing! I just missed my due date. But I wonder if it’s that some people may not have enough effacement going on? Or maybe the amniotic sac is just a bit too thick?

[@CajunStork]

Wow! This is such a great question!! I will shoot a CAJUNSTORK SHORT about this ASAP!

[@jo-annmishchuk6483]

@@CajunStork wondering if this ever got answered. Both my boys were delivered at 9cm. One birth with a midwife and one with an OB. Both times the care team were freaking out and telling me I can't deliver but my body just couldn't stop. I was blessed with great care team that managed to save me from tearing but both times complained about a "lip remaining" which is why I wasn't allowed to deliver. I'll add, once was with epidural and once fully natural. Both times the urge to push took over and i delivered at 9cm. Pregnant a 3rd time and trying to research if this is my norm or not.

[@Ms.MM084]

Hi Kira thank u for your videos they are super helpful

[@CajunStork]

Thank you 💕

[@ireneopoku7241]

Pls I want to known how to do viginal examination as a beginner (midwife)

[@CajunStork]

Practice on anything circle. They also sell neat tools on Etsy for practice

[@BeyondBirthingPelvicFloorPT]

Such great visuals! Thank you!! 💜💜

[@halimadhk]

Goody goody KIra, need subtitles.

[@Svetsaint]

My pelvis kinda hurts just looking at the difference between 1cm and 10cm 😭😭😭💀💀

[@CajunStork]

lol! It can be done!!

[@AFSARmohd999]

Sugar cup 🤠 Coffee cup 😸

[@pakamanjula4059]

Superrr

[@reneaknowles9909]

Why is my milk come out and I am till pregnant

[@hilbot6612]

OM 🙏🙏

[@hajrawaqas1129]

Hi kira I wanted to know if my first baby was born with c section can I deliver my second baby naturally as I heard alot that if you have your first baby with c section you can't have your second one naturally🤔🤔 is that true or its just a myth

[@shinningangel3451]

Its not true my sister delivered 2 of her babies with c section and the third one was vaginal birth

[@hajrawaqas1129]

@@shinningangel3451 hey thanks alot for the guidance👍🏻

[@CajunStork]

Yes. It’s called VBAC (vaginal birth after csection) and it’s VERY common and very likely to be successful

[@hajrawaqas1129]

Thanks alot for giving me hope currently pregnant 33 weeks 3 days and so excited plus super worried anxious what's going to happen thanks for the hope

[@anabelgheorghe4822]

Is there anything you can do to help dilation?

[@CajunStork]

Labor at home :) eat and drink in labor. Give it time.

[@hilbot6612]

PERU

[@hilbot6612]

#HILBOT007

[@Nerojett]

Whys no one freaking out in comments I'm never having kids f that

[@CajunStork]

Lol!! Dilation and effacement doesn’t hurt, so that’s the good news!!

[@jpmarie9]

Lol😂😂it does look pretty messed up. And yes. It hurts, ive had two naturally and currently working on my 3rd. Soooo, you do forget the pain but this video has reminded me lol☝🏽😅But its alllllll worth it and once you get your precious baby in your arms its HEAVEN!!😇🥰seriously. Theee best.

[@REwalker29]

onh no sorry thats not something anyone does

[@alimatthews2048]

hi

[@chisan3354]

Holy MOLY, IM NOT A MOM YET, NOR MARRIED. THATS HOW BIG IT GETS, DURING LABOR 😱😱😱😱

[@CajunStork]

Your body was made for this! Don’t worry

[@DiamondTheConqueror]

This is my fourth pregnancy and I’ve never seen a visual for dilatation. I’m already 1cm at 37 weeks but seeing the difference between 1 and 10 cm almost made me pass out 🫣

[@CajunStork]

Our bodies are amazing, aren’t they?!