During labor, your cervix will dilate to open up the birth canal. Visualize the process with our handy cervical dilation chart, which uses fruit for an easy-to-understand comparison.

Learn about the stages of dilation and effacement, what they mean for your labor and delivery, and common symptoms at each phase.

Labor and delivery nurse Tricia Brockway created a dilation diagram using food items to illustrate how much the cervix opens during childbirth.

As you approach your due date and delivery, you might be wondering how to speed up the process. Here’s what you need to know about inducing labor and dilating faster.

As effacement and dilation progress, the healthcare provider or midwife uses the extent of the cervical opening to help make treatment decisions.

Back in 2018, the group published a Cadbury Egg Dilation Chart in an effort to explain what happens to the body while it's in labor.