Most effacement usually happens during the first stage of labor, when your cervix is dilating to 6 cm. This process can take several hour or days, and will likely be accompanied by early signs of labor such as Braxton Hicks contractions and losing your mucus plug.

Does effacement happen before dilation?

First-time moms tend to efface before they dilate. The opposite may be true if you've already had one or more babies. Most of the effacement happens in the early stage of labor, when your cervix is dilating from 0 to 6 centimeters.

How do you know if you are dilating and effacing?

Discharging a brown or pink-tinged mucus is an early sign of cervix dilation. Effacement of the cervix causes small blood vessels to break. This causes the mucus to appear as pink or brown. It's important to seek medical advice about vaginal bleeding.