What does it mean to be at -2 during labor and 30 percent effaced?

Being at -2 station during labor means that the baby's head is positioned about two centimeters above the pelvic inlet, indicating that the baby is still in the process of descending into the birth canal. Being 30 percent effaced means that the cervix has thinned out to 30 percent of its original thickness, which is an important step in preparing for labor. Together, these measurements suggest that labor is progressing, but the baby has not yet fully engaged in the birth canal.