Is it possible to make yourself more dialated??

Okay, I am watching A Baby Story on TV and the women is at 4cm and they won't give her the epi till she is at 5cm so she pushes like she is going to give birth because she heard it will help her dialate. When when the doctor comes back to check her she is already at 7cm! Is it the pushing that did it??

Re: Is it possible to make yourself more dialated??

I don't know the actual answer. But, from what I've heard from my OB and at my class at the hospital, if you push a lot before you are ready to push you have a higher chance of tearing. You should only push once they tell you its time and the OB, midwife, nurse or whoever is helping you massages you and helps you to stretch while you push.

Re: Is it possible to make yourself more dialated??

It could just be a coincidence. I was always told that pushing before you are ready could cause your cervix to swell up. If you were in that situation I'm sure walking would help more