The Primiparous Patient Has Asked the Nurse Why Her Cervix

Multiple Choice

The primiparous patient has asked the nurse why her cervix has only changed from 1 to 2 cm in 3 hours of contractions occurring every 5 minutes. The best response by the nurse is:

A) "Your cervix has also effaced, or thinned out, and that change in the cervix is also labor progress."
B) "When your perineal body thins out, your cervix will begin to dilate much faster than it is now."
C) "What did you expect? You've only had contractions for a few hours. Labor takes time."
D) "The hormones that cause labor to begin are just getting to be at levels that will change your cervix."