One of the most amazing things mothers do is give birth to their children. And while the thought of giving birth might seem scary, this “hands-on, wooden chart” will help set your mind at ease. This educational tool shows how much a woman’s cervix dilates when giving birth, which shows how the body prepares for giving birth.
Here’s more info on this helpful product and how getting to know the childbirth process will help alleviate some of your fear.
How the Chart Works
The wooden device is simple in design. Circular in shape, the tool has circular holes around its circumference showing the various stages of dilation that a woman goes through during the birthing process. The straightforward nature of the device helps to educate expectant mothers, doctors, and anyone who is trying to determine if children are for them.
Where Can You Find It?
Originally, a photo of this device was shared by the SCV Birth Center, a nationally accredited CABC (Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers) birth center located in Santa Clarita, California. Established in 2010, the center has served as a provider of natural childbirth options for its patients, as well as follow-up personalized maternity and well-woman care personalized to each individual.
To purchase one of these wooden charts, check out Etsy. Once you have yours, you can use it for child birthing classes if you are a single mother or couple expecting a child. In addition, doctors, nurses, and midwives can use the device to easily illustrate what exactly happens when giving birth.
The Dilation Process
While the tool helps to illustrate perfectly the size of the cervix at certain points of the birth process, it doesn’t really explain what is happening. The dilation of the cervix falls into many different stages when giving birth to a child.
In the beginning, contractions start as the baby moves down into the pelvis area in preparation of giving birth. Initially, the cervix remains relatively small, but grows much larger as the time between contractions decreases. You might not even have any initial contractions as the cervix dilates and opens the first few centimeters.
Depending on the individual, the cervix dilation process could take anywhere from a few hours to several days. As the mother progresses further into the labor process, the cervix continues to open even more. It is at this point that the active labor stage of childbirth has begun.
The final stage before full dilation of the cervix is the transition stage from the child moving down the birth canal to the act of giving birth. It is during this stage that the cervix reaches its largest size at 10 centimeters. Once the cervix has reached full dilation it is time for the mother to push and give birth to her newborn child.
Why Does the Cervix Dilate?
The cervix serves as a barrier between the uterus and the outside world, protecting the baby within from bacteria. To help with this process, the cervix is blocked by a thick mucus plug. When your child is ready for birth, the cervix starts to open, helping to loosen this plug and make way for the baby as it comes down the birth canal.
The Device in Action
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As you can see, this simple, wooden device illustrates perfectly the size an expectant mother can anticipate the cervix to get to at various stages in the birth process. This knowledge can help set their minds at ease, especially when it comes to a question such as “how can something the size of a child fit through something seemingly so small.
