10cm cervical dilation

When I tell the laboring patient about their labor progress, I am very excited to tell them that they are already 10 cm. Mostly, they are so relieved and more excited than the midwives. 10 cm cervical dilation is the time that the patient will push her baby out. Pushing before 10 cms will make the cervix swell making it hard to open more so that the baby's head can pass through the opening. When the cervix swell it make the labor longer and more painful.