During the latent phase, the cervix

During the latent phase, the cervix dilates slowly, or not at all. Although previously believed that the shift to active phase often occurs at approximately 3 to 5 cm of cervical dilation,1,13 a newer labor pattern, based on a large contemporary cohort, demonstrates that the transition to active phase occurs at 6 cm of dilation in both nulliparous and multiparous women9 (Figure 44.2).