Consuming too much sodium is serious business because it's a risk factor for high blood pressure. High blood pressure, in turn, can lead to stroke and heart disease. Most U.S. adults consume the equivalent of 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt or 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day.
Before labor, your cervix is firm, kind of like the tip of your nose. Itâs closed and points toward the back of your vaginal wall. As your body prepares for labor, a few things happen: Your cervix will start to move forward until it's tilted toward the front of your vaginal wall.
After the cervix begins to efface, it will also begin to open (cervical dilatation). Cervical dilatation is expressed in centimeters from 0 to 10. Zero means that the cervix is closed, and 10 means that it is completely dilated. Your cervix must be completely dilated before you can begin the pushing stage.