Being 2 cm dilated means the cervix has started to open but labor is still in an early phase. From 2 cm dilation, it can take several hours to more than a day for active labor to begin and for the cervix to fully dilate to 10 cm, especially if this is the first pregnancy. On average, cervical dilation progresses about 1 cm per hour during active labor, but before that, early dilation from 0 to 6 cm can take from a few hours up to about 12 hours or more. Some people may remain around 2 cm dilated for weeks, while others progress more quickly. It depends on individual factors like whether it's a first or subsequent pregnancy and the strength and frequency of contractions. Full dilation at 10 cm is needed before pushing and delivery.
