Cervical dilation is the widening of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus. It occurs naturally during labor to allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. Checking cervical dilation is an important part of prenatal care and labor management. It can help to determine the progress of labor and whether or not an intervention, such as a cesarean section, is necessary.
There are two main methods for checking cervical dilation: digital examination and ultrasound. Digital examination is performed by a healthcare provider, who inserts a gloved finger into the vagina and feels the cervix. Ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to create an image of the cervix. Both methods can be used to measure the dilation of the cervix in centimeters.