Cervix must dilate to about blank centimeters before a baby can be delivered

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During labor, the cervix must open enough to let the baby pass through the birth canal. The standard amount of full dilation is ten centimeters, which provides enough space for the head to emerge and for delivery to proceed. Six centimeters is partial dilation, eight centimeters is close to full but not quite there, and twelve centimeters isn’t used as a normal measurement for cervical dilation. Therefore, the required dilation before vaginal delivery is ten centimeters.