The purple line and the degree of labor dilation
The purple line is the alternative technique to vaginal examination to know the degree of dilation at the time of delivery, it is used in deliveries performed at home.
The possibilities offered to a mother when giving birth are increasingly different. As are all things that have to do with childbirth . There are various alternatives to both natural childbirth and the preparation of the mother for the moment of giving birth or techniques to help the baby or to know how the dilation is going .
In this article we will focus precisely on the latter, on an alternative technique to know the degree of dilation of the uterus and, in this way, to know in what phase of labor the mother is and when she will give birth. It is about the purple line, a different way of knowing the dilation, beyond the vaginal touch.
The vaginal examination is the most used when it comes to knowing in what phase of dilation the mother is in the different phases of labor. Even so, it is still uncomfortable, even painful, for the woman and can lead to infections that will make it difficult for the mother to recover after childbirth.
Index
LESS INVASIVE OBSERVATION
The purple line tactic is based on observing a line that is between the end of the anus and the tailbone or tailbone. Before delivery it does not have any color, a small straight line can be differentiated , but it does not have a defined tonality. If anything it is somewhat lighter than the color of the buttocks.
Once the woman’s body prepares for labor and dilation begins, the purple line will change. Little by little it will be seen that the line grows and that increase will be in proportion to the dilation of the uterus . The longer the purple line lengthens, the more dilation there will be and the closer the time to give birth will be. The purple line begins to become visible when the dilation is two centimeters , which usually means there are still days to delivery. Little by little it grows until it reaches 10 centimeters of dilation, at which time the woman’s body is ready for childbirth.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE PURPLE LINE
Although it is called a purple line, there may be color variations depending on the mother’s skin type. It is usually blue, purple, pink or purple, but the color is visible enough to distinguish it. So that there is no doubt, it is best to observe the place of the purple line weeks before the woman is due to give birth. In this way, what is achieved is to know the natural tonality and to be able to distinguish any difference at first glance.
It must be taken into account that the purple line begins to be visible in the upper part of the buttocks when the dilation is two centimeters, taking into account that the same length will be the one that the line has may not be too obvious. Hence, it is important to have prior knowledge of the upper area of the buttocks.
Although observing the purple line is an alternative technique to vaginal examination, it is not always advisable to completely renounce the examination with the fingers. It is common for the woman to be dilated several times during childbirth, so combining both techniques is not ruled out.
To have a correct observation of the line, the woman has to get on all fours on a surface in such a way that the buttocks are erect and the line can be seen clearly, clearly.
REGULAR USE AT HOME AND INTIMATE SETTINGS
The observation of the purple line is a relatively novel technique, especially if the references of deliveries that we have are those that take place in hospitals. This system is not used there and the vaginal examination continues to be used continuously.
The purple line is usually taken as a reference in the case of natural births that take place at home or in intimate spaces where the mother feels especially comfortable. Taking into account that, as we have already mentioned, the line must be observed days in advance to be able to recognize the changes, the delivery must have the participation of a person close to the mother, such as her partner or a relative.
The purple line is a tactic used by midwives and doulas who attend births at the mother’s home. To be able to observe it, the mother must feel comfortable and safe with those who accompany her during the delivery and the space chosen to give birth to her child.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.