This process takes about 5 to 7 hours if you're a first-time mom, or between 2 and 4 hours if you've had a baby before. The exact duration of this stage is different for everyone. Once your cervix is 10 cm dilated and 100 percent effaced, you're ready to start pushing.

How long can you be effaced before labor?

When it is 100 percent effaced, it is "paper-thin." Effacement can happen over days before labor starts. Or, it can happen over hours as labor progresses. With a first labor, it can take quite a while for the cervix to completely efface.

Does effaced mean labor soon?

When you go into labor, the cervix thins out and becomes softer and shorter. This is called effacement. It's measured in percentages from 0 to 100 percent, the latter of which means you're fully effaced.