After examining the laboring woman, the physician tells her that ...

[rmenurse]

After examining the laboring woman, the physician tells her that her cervix showed some effacement. Later, the woman asks the nurse what effacement is. Effacement is best described as:
 
  a. Enlargement of the cervical os to permit the fetus to pass through
  b. Relaxation and stretching of perineal muscles
  c. Shortening and thinning of the cervix
  d. Loss of the mucous plug

Question 2

Several hours after she was admitted in early labor, a woman's cervix is dilated 4 cm. This is significant because:
 
  a. The woman's labor will probably progress to completion.
  b. The cervix is almost completely dilated.
  c. It means effacement is complete.
  d. The mucous plug will come out.

[dellikani2015]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
The uterus is normally pear shaped, with the cervix at the narrow end. As labor progresses, the cervix becomes shorter and thinner. This is called effacement.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Once the cervix dilates to 4 cm, labor will probably progress to completion. Complete dilation is 10 cm. Dilation is a measure of the cervical opening, not cervical effacement. The mucous plug would have been expelled earlier than this.

[rmenurse]

Thank you

[dellikani2015]

No problemo