Centimeters and Fingers

Everytime I see anyone mention effacement it's in percentages and dilation is in centimeters. When I go to the docs, I'm given a cervical length in centimeters and am told I am dilated using the term "finger". Anyone have any ideahow to translatecervical length is in percentages from cm's? Or how many cm.'s dilated each finger is? I know I need to ask my docs but I was so sore and there were other things going on at the time, so I forgot to, and now- unless things really progress- I won't see them until Thursday. It's nothing urgent. I'm just curious.  

Ok so I'm officially an idiot!   I googled and found this article:

"When doctors or midwives do vaginal exams, they are able to feel three different things with their fingers. They measure cervical dilation, which is the amount that the cervix has opened, and fetal station, which is the relationship between the largest part of the fetal head and the midpoint of the maternal pelvis. If the cervix is dilated far enough, they can even feel the position of the baby’s head. (See Chapter 12 for details on fetal positions.)
Cervical dilation is easy to measure. After identifying the cervical opening overlaying the baby’s head, the practitioner slips one or two fingers into the opening cervix. If only one finger can be admitted, the cervix is approximately 1 cm. dilated. If two fingers can be placed in the opening, the cervical dilatation is 2 cm. or greater, depending on how wide the fingers can spread. As the cervix approaches full dilatation, an ever-smaller rim of the cervix can be felt at the outer edge of the fetal head. At 10 cm., no cervix can be felt at all.
As the cervix dilates, it is not only opening wider; it is also thinning out, or effacing. Before labor begins, the cervix is 2 to 3 cm. long. As labor progresses, it becomes shorter. This effacement is described in relation to the original length of the cervix. When it is half as long as the original measurement, the cervix is 50 percent effaced. When it is paper thin, it is 100 percent effaced. "

So there's my answer. Thought I'd post it for anyone else who was wondering the same stuff I was. 

Quoting snugglymama:“ Ok so I'm officially an idiot!   I googled and found this article: "When doctors or midwives do vaginal ... [snip!] ... is 100 percent effaced. " So there's my answer. Thought I'd post it for anyone else who was wondering the same stuff I was. ”

I think you're officially One Smart Cookie! That was VERY helpful! Thanks ;0)

Quoting Kathleen S:“ I think you're officially One Smart Cookie! That was VERY helpful! Thanks ;0)”

LOL- Thanks! Glad I could help.