Patient's question:
Now my wife is 40 weeks pregnant, so today is her due date, and we went to the hospital for labor. When the doctor performed a careful examination, they said the cervix had softened. How long does it take for cervical softening to indicate the start of labor?Doctor's answer:
Generally, women should go to the hospital to start labor about one or two days before their due date. The entire pregnancy period is approximately 28 days, though some may experience early or delayed occurrences. However, a delay of two weeks after the due date is still considered normal. If, during a doctor's examination, the cervix is already soft, it indicates that the baby is about to be born. However, this varies from person to person, as some women may give birth within three to five hours after their cervix becomes soft.